[ Venue notes ]
Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers
A one-level event venue at the end of Pier 60, opened in 1998, with the Hudson River on three sides and floor-to-ceiling windows the length of the room. Part of The Pier Sixty Collection with The Lighthouse and Current.
Last checked November 12, 2026; each fact shows its source and the date it was checked. Official site: piersixty.com/pier-sixty. XPOSRE hasn't photographed an event here yet; this page is research, not a portfolio.
[ The building ]A room at the end of a pier
No elevators to wait for, no floors to stack. Pier Sixty is one long level at the end of Pier 60, with the river on the north, south and west and a small mezzanine of private suites.
[ The rooms ]The rooms, drawn to one scale
The ballrooms run in a line along the south windows and open into each other. Combined, they make one room 220 feet long. At the river end, a glass terrace and an open veranda face west.
| Room | Floor | Sq ft | Size (ft) | Theater | Banquet | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquitania, Oceanic + Majestic (combined) | Main | 12,600 | 220 × 55 | 1,600 | 1,200 | Floor-to-ceiling, south wall |
| Majestic | Main | 6,000 | 100 × 60 | 700 | 500 | South; west via terrace |
| Olympic | Main | 3,600 | 60 × 60 | 350 | 300 | North; west via terrace |
| All-Season Terrace | Main | 2,400 | 120 × 20 | 200 | 140 | Glass-enclosed, facing west |
| Aquitania East | Main | 2,200 | 40 × 55 | 260 | 200 | South wall |
| Oceanic | Main | 2,200 | 40 × 55 | 260 | 200 | South wall |
| Gallery (pre-function) | Main | 1,960 | 140 × 14 | — | — | Interior corridor |
Source: Pier Sixty venue page, November 12, 2026. "Not stated" means the venue doesn't say.
[ Before you book it ]The ships came first
Look at the room names: Aquitania, Oceanic, Majestic, Olympic, and suites called Cunard and White Star. These were the liners and lines of the old Chelsea Piers. The venue doesn't explain the names; the history does.
- 1910The Chelsea Piers open
The city opens a row of ocean-liner piers with pink granite faces, designed by Warren & Wetmore, the firm also designing Grand Central Terminal. The Bowery Boys: New York City History, November 12, 2026
- 1936Jesse Owens sails from Pier 60
The U.S. Olympic team, Jesse Owens among them, sails from Pier 60 on the SS Manhattan for the Berlin Games. Untapped New York, November 12, 2026
- 1935–58The liners move on
Bigger ships outgrow Chelsea and move to the new midtown terminal. Passenger service here ends, and the piers turn to cargo, then to a tow pound and storage. The Bowery Boys, November 12, 2026
- 1998Pier Sixty opens
The event venue opens at the end of Pier 60, its rooms named after ocean liners. Pier Sixty about page, November 12, 2026
[ Venue facts ]Pier Sixty at a glance
| Fact | Detail | Source and date checked |
|---|---|---|
| Location | End of Pier 60, Chelsea Piers, between 19th and 20th Streets; cross the West Side Highway at 20th Street | Pier Sixty visit page, November 12, 2026 |
| Opened | 1998; The Lighthouse (Pier 61) followed two years later and Current (Pier 59) in 2015 | Pier Sixty about page, November 12, 2026 |
| Capacity | 20,560 sq ft in all; up to 1,800 theater, 1,300 banquet and 2,000 reception across the spaces | Pier Sixty venue page, November 12, 2026 |
| The room | Column-free; floor-to-ceiling windows the length of the room with electronic and blackout shades; a rigging grid; airwalls that make five breakouts | Pier Sixty venue page, November 12, 2026 |
| In-house AV | KVL Audio Visual & Lighting, the exclusive AV partner | Pier Sixty recommended vendors, November 12, 2026 |
| Arriving | Parking lots on Piers 59–61 at Chelsea Piers rates; taxis and rideshares drop at the glass front doors and may wait up to 20 minutes free | Pier Sixty visit page, November 12, 2026 |
[ Photography and production ]What to plan for
Published by the venue, plus what isn't.
| Topic | What we found | Source and date checked |
|---|---|---|
| Daylight or black box | Blackout shades on the floor-to-ceiling windows mean the same room can be daylit or fully dark. Decide with the AV team which you want for each part of the day; it changes how the room is lit and shot | Pier Sixty venue page, November 12, 2026 |
| Power | Five three-phase drops (60, 100 or 200 amp) in Pier Sixty, ordered and paid for on the venue's form at least 10 days ahead | Pier Sixty electrical services form (PDF), November 12, 2026 |
| Photographers | The venue lists recommended photographers; its page doesn't say outside photographers are barred. Confirm your vendor approval with the venue | Pier Sixty recommended vendors, November 12, 2026 |
| Load-in | Ground-floor load-in. Dock size, load-in hours, insurance and union rules aren't published; ask the venue's event team | Pier Sixty venue page, November 12, 2026 |
| Ceiling height | Not published by the venue. One directory gives 15 ft for the whole space; confirm before planning truss or a camera riser | Pier Sixty venue page, November 12, 2026 |
[ Shot list ]Frames this building gives you
Ideas for a shot list, worked out from the building's layout. They're suggestions to check on a walkthrough, not photos we've taken here.
- Sunset at the river end
The terrace and veranda face west over the Hudson. An evening reception there is a sunset shot; check the sunset time for the event date and schedule a few minutes for it.
- The 220-foot room
With the airwalls open, the combined ballroom runs 220 feet along the windows. From the east end, a long lens shows the whole event with the river along one side.
- Shades up, shades down
Shoot the room with the shades up during the day and down for the evening show. Two looks of the same space tell the story of the day.
- Arrivals at the glass doors
Guests are dropped at the glass front doors at the end of the pier. An arrival shot there shows how far out on the water the event is.
[ Around the building ]What's around, for planners
Pier Sixty is spectacular because it's out on the water, and that's also its one logistical catch: the subway is a long walk away. Plan arrivals, hotels and the group photo around that.
Getting there
- M23 SBS bus drops inside the complex
The easiest instruction for guests: subway to any 23rd Street station, then the M23 SBS west. It stops inside Chelsea Piers on the north side, a couple of blocks from Pier 60. Pier Sixty visit page, November 12, 2026
- 7 train, 34 St–Hudson Yards 10–15 min (venue)
The venue's own estimate for the walk south. Pier Sixty visit page, November 12, 2026
- C/E at 23rd and Eighth about 15–20 min, computed
The nearest of the 23rd Street stations: four avenues west and three blocks south. Pier Sixty visit page, November 12, 2026
- Taxis and cars
Drop-off at the glass front doors; drivers can wait up to 20 minutes free. Pier lots at Chelsea Piers rates, and a Citi Bike dock at 20th Street. Pier Sixty visit page, November 12, 2026
Overflow and VIP hotels
- The Standard, High Line about 10–12 min, computed
848 Washington Street at 13th; 338 rooms, the largest confirmed nearby, with group sales and its own event spaces. The Standard, November 12, 2026
- The High Line Hotel about 7–8 min, computed
180 Tenth Avenue at 20th, the closest hotel. Small: speakers and VIPs, not a block. The High Line Hotel, November 12, 2026
- The Maritime Hotel about 13–15 min, computed
363 West 16th at Ninth Avenue; about 125 rooms per the Michelin Guide. Michelin Guide listing, November 12, 2026
- No big hotel nearby
No 500-room hotel is within a ten-minute walk; a large group will need rooms split across two or more hotels, or a shuttle from Midtown. Largest confirmed nearby: The Standard, 338 rooms, November 12, 2026
Off-site dinner or reception
- Classic Harbor Line yachts, Pier 62 about 3 min, computed
Private yacht and schooner charters from the same pier complex, year-round; the largest boat takes about 135 guests. Classic Harbor Line, November 12, 2026
- The Standard, High Line about 10–12 min, computed
Several event spaces, from a 20-seat wine room to a covered terrace and the Biergarten under the High Line. The Standard, November 12, 2026
- Whitney Museum of American Art about 12–14 min, computed
Griffin Hall takes 550 for a reception or 350 seated, with Hudson views. Corporate events are a benefit of Corporate Membership. Whitney, corporate entertaining, November 12, 2026
- The sister venues next door
The Lighthouse on Pier 61 and Current on Pier 59, from the same team, for a second night or a smaller dinner. Pier Sixty visit page, November 12, 2026
The group photo outside
- Hudson River Park, right outside 0–2 blocks
The esplanade and piers around the venue. Permit: The park's rules require Hudson River Park Trust permission for any commercial photo shoot. Apply early, and confirm lead time and dates with the Trust. (Trust permits) Hudson River Park rules (PDF), November 12, 2026
- The High Line about 0.3 mi, computed
The elevated park two avenues east. Permit: All shoots need approval; small shoots are capped at 10 people including crew, with one tripod. A conference group photo doesn't fit. (High Line) Friends of the High Line, November 12, 2026
- Little Island about 0.4 mi, computed
The park on Pier 55. Permit: Says it is "unable to accommodate" commercial photography and bans tripods. Rule it out. (Little Island) Little Island, November 12, 2026
Local knowledge: The room faces west, so sunset decides the outdoor group photo: on 12 November the sun sets at 4:41 pm, and on 21 December at 4:32 pm. For a winter evening event, take the group photo by about 4:30, or it becomes a night shot. Guests walking in cross the West Side Highway at the 20th Street crosswalk. U.S. Naval Observatory; Pier Sixty visit page, November 12, 2026
Distances are walking estimates. Where the venue publishes its own times we use them; otherwise we count Manhattan blocks from the addresses. Places listed are suggestions, not partners; nothing here is paid placement. Permit rules change and depend on what you plan to do: confirm with the property or agency before scheduling a shoot.
[ Official plans ]Floor plans from the source
The venue's own drawings are the ones to plan from. We link to them rather than copy them:
- Pier Sixty floor plan (PDF) (checked November 12, 2026)
- Pier Sixty capacity chart (venue page) (checked November 12, 2026)
- Electrical services order form (PDF) (checked November 12, 2026)
[ Related ]Planning an event here
More on events in New York City. Other venue notes: Javits Center · Marriott Marquis · Hilton Midtown · Sheraton Times Square · Convene 360 Madison. Services: Conference Photography · Corporate Event Photography · Trade Show & Exhibit Photography · Conference & Corporate Headshots · Onsite Photo Printing · Event Videography.
Tell us about your event
The date, venue and hours are enough to start. We reply with a quote and any questions we have.
Request a quote