St Helens - Glass made by Pilkington in New York skyline

Pilkington has supplied specialist glazing for the Skylift project, a revolving observation platform crowning New York’s 70-storey Rockefeller Center, three floors above its famous Top of the Rock deck.

The curved, low-iron glass panels offer visitors uninterrupted 360-degree views of Manhattan and were designed to meet the unique demands of a public platform 850 feet above ground.

Glass manufactured by Pilkington has been installed at the top of New York’s Rockefeller Center (Image: Submitted)

Adrian Parker, regional sales manager at Pilkington UK, said: "The Rockefeller Center is one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, and at the top of it now sits glass produced by a trans-Pennine team—manufactured in St Helens and processed in Huddersfield."

The glazing was fabricated by Specialist Glass Products in Huddersfield using Pilkington Optiwhite™, a glass selected for its clarity and processability.

Kuraray worked alongside the team to create the toughened and laminated glass using its SentryGlas® ionoplast interlayer, originally developed for hurricane-resistant glazing in the US.

This technology ensures the glass can withstand the harsh weather conditions at the top of the Rockefeller Center while delivering both safety and transparency.

Mr Parker said: "Creating a viewing platform like this requires balancing visibility with structural integrity to offer an unrivalled view of New York while ensuring it remains safe for the public to use.

"Working with Specialist Glass Products and Kuraray has allowed us to provide a product that will achieve this and bring a new panoramic experience to the city’s skyline."

Glass manufactured by Pilkington has been installed at the top of New York’s Rockefeller Center (Image: Submitted)

Andrew Taylor, director of Specialist Glass Products, said: "Delivering the curved, low-iron glass panels for a structure at this height required absolute precision at every stage of the fabrication process.

"The combination of Pilkington Optiwhite™ and Kuraray’s SentryGlas® interlayer allowed us to achieve both the clarity the design demanded, and the structural performance required for an exposed rooftop installation in New York.

"It’s a fantastic example of UK manufacturing expertise contributing to one of the world’s most recognisable buildings."

Allan Gibson, global product manager for Kuraray, said: "Recent advancements in interlayer technology open up exciting new possibilities when it comes to using glass in architecture, and our work with Pilkington UK on the Rockefeller Center is a clear example of this.

"A glass structure sitting at the top of New York’s skyline will have to endure some harsh weather conditions throughout the year, but together we’ve been able to provide a product that means this won’t be an issue for the Skylift platform or those who get to enjoy this exciting experience."