The Oculus is one of New York City’s newest transit stations, opened in March 2016 after years of construction at the site of the World Trade Center, where the Twin Towers were destroyed in the 2001 terrorist attacks. The project cost a record $3.9 billion, making it the most expensive subway station ever built.
The Oculus is a massive underground transportation hub that connects seven New York City subway lines as well as two PATH trains linking New York with neighboring New Jersey.
The station’s defining architectural feature is its striking entrance pavilion, designed by the renowned Spanish-Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava. True to his signature style, the structure resembles a giant futuristic sculpture — a snow-white ribbed dome with long, asymmetrical beams stretching upward. Despite being relatively low compared to the surrounding skyscrapers, the building immediately captures the attention of anyone nearby.
Inside, the station opens into a vast oval-shaped lobby located directly beneath the above-ground dome — essentially its underground continuation. The minimalist interior mirrors the bright white exterior, creating a clean, almost cathedral-like atmosphere. Upon entering, visitors step into a dramatic atrium surrounded by two underground levels filled with shops and boutiques featuring well-known global brands.
Viewed from above, the structure resembles a giant eye framed by eyelashes — which is exactly how it got its name. “Oculus” means “eye” in Latin.
Beyond its record-breaking cost, the Oculus is also one of the busiest transportation hubs in the world, serving more than 290,000 passengers daily. Many commuters travel through it to reach offices in the newly built World Trade Center towers, all of which are connected to the hub’s lobby through an extensive network of underground passageways.
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