A striking new addition to Manhattan’s skyline, the One Vanderbilt rises 73 stories and 427 meters, making it the fourth-tallest tower on the island. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, the skyscraper stands at the corner of 42nd Street and Vanderbilt Avenue, right next to Grand Central Station. Replacing older, shorter buildings, it has quickly become a must-see for architecture and height enthusiasts. At nightfall, it becomes even more iconic thanks to a dynamic lighting system powered by Pharos Architectural Controls.
A unique urban experience at One Vanderbilt
Fronting a newly created pedestrian plaza and directly connected to both the train station and subway, One Vanderbilt is a commercial tower primarily housing offices. Its glass facade with custom terracotta panels adapts to the tower’s tapered silhouette and the dramatic slope changes at each level. Open to the public are the second floor—home to Michelin-starred restaurant Le Pavillon—and floors 57 to 59, where you’ll find Summit One Vanderbilt. Among the most spectacular observation decks in New York, Summit offers a full 360° panoramic view from an immense mirrored floor space, alongside adrenaline-filled attractions such as cantilevered glass balconies and external glass elevators running along the facade.
Dynamic lighting at One Vanderbilt
The crown and spire of One Vanderbilt are lit by a dynamic lighting system featuring Color Kinetics fixtures by Signify, controlled by Pharos Architectural Controls. The UK-based company specializes in advanced lighting control for architecture, theme parks, airports, stadiums, bridges, shopping centers, and art installations. For One Vanderbilt, they deployed high-performance hardware to manage the tower’s lighting sequences.
The selected controller is the Designer LPC X, built for large-scale LED lighting installations and tested for reliable 24/7 operation. This platform allows pre-programming of lighting scenarios for recurring events like Independence Day, New Year’s Eve, and Valentine’s Day, as well as custom light shows for special occasions such as Pride Month, local sports team victories, or the 80th anniversary of the Intrepid Museum.
Michael Grosse, Regional Sales Manager for the Americas at Pharos Architectural Controls, commented: «One Vanderbilt is a fantastic example of New York City’s constant evolution—always ready to deliver new and fresh experiences to visitors. We’re proud that Pharos can be part of this new chapter and contribute to shaping the most iconic skyline in the world».