Get a 360-Degree Tour of the World's Most Expensive Transit Hub
This video gives you a virtual tour of New York City's $4 billion World Trade Center transit system. The architecture itself is stunning. The upper levels allow for natural light to flow in, and the white aesthetic throughout gives the train stop an unexpectedly airy feeling. At the heart of the hub is the Oculus, the focal point of the entire building. It includes "78,000 square feet of multi-level state-of-the-art retail and dining." There's also an additional 290,000 square feet of retail and dining space not found in the Oculus. This space serves 250,000 daily commuters in addition to the thousands of tourists to Lower Manhattan.
When the World Trade Center collapsed on September 11, 2001 during the New York City terrorist attacks, the once-thriving hub was destroyed. The skylight opens on sunny days and every September 11 in remembrance of those who died in the attacks. Officials quickly laid out plans to rebuild the area, yet the project experienced seven years of delays. It finally opened last March.
However, the biggest talking point with the new hub comes at its price. At $4 billion USD, the Hub cost doubled its original budget. That's more than one completed World Trade Center building. Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava designed the 'bird-like' structure.
"Personally, I am very proud to have participated in such a complex and unique project," said Calatrava in a statement. "I honestly believe that the station is going to follow in the footsteps of other iconic structures in the city, such as the bridges over the Hudson and the East Rivers."
Via Gizmodo