Step into the Oculus to experience a modern transportation hub and mall located within the World Trade Center complex.
The Oculus stands 160 feet high and 350 feet long. It's made with 12,500 tons of steel and is one of the busiest commuting hubs in the city with 12 New York City transit lines, as well as connection to the PATH.
The eye-catching structure was built in March 2016 to complement the 9/11 Memorial campus at the World Trade Center site.
The Oculus was designed to bring in natural light through its vertical columns and massive skylight to create an inspiration of hope for both commuters and visitors alike.
"The structure allows us to think about hope, and if you look at the structure, it looks like hands opening up, releasing a dove," says Amber Greene, of the Port Authority. "It's an opportunity to think through and see how beautiful the structure is."
About 80 retailers are located within the Oculus. Prior to the pandemic, more than a 1 million commuters passed through the transportation hub on a weekly basis.