Top of the Rock, located on the 67th, 69th, and 70th floors of 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Midtown Manhattan, is one of New York’s most iconic observation decks. As part of a recent revitalization effort, the owners aimed to introduce new, immersive visitor experiences that involved installing two amusement rides on the roof of the historic skyscraper. Construction had to be meticulously planned so that the observation deck could remain open to patrons throughout construction. In recognition of the project’s creative approach to adaptive reuse, it was honored with the 2025 AISC IDEAS² Award for Excellence in Adaptive Reuse of Steel Structures.
The redevelopment introduced two major attractions:
- The Beam: Inspired by the iconic “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper” photo, this amusement ride lets patrons recreate the historic photograph. The Beam Ride extends 12 feet above the roof while rotating 180°. The mechanics for the Beam Ride are housed in an equipment pit that is suspended from the 69th floor framing.
- The Skylift: A 30-foot-tall by 13 foot diameter telescoping and rotating glass-and-steel platform lifts visitors above the 70th-floor deck, offering unobstructed 360° views. When not in use, it retracts to be flush with the roof level. The equipment for the Skylift is supported on a new level of framing that is located approximately 3 feet lower than the former gift shop and is sandwiched vertically between the elevator staging area and the 70th floor roof and laterally between three elevator machine rooms.