Oculus Transportation Hub

Overview

The Oculus is home to 12 subway lines, the World Trade Center PATH station, and dozens of retailers, serving over a million people every week.

The main floor bustles with commuters, shoppers, and visitors, plus weekly programs, from farmers' markets and art exhibits to musical performances and retail events.

The Oculus has access points across the entire 16-acre World Trade Center campus, including private entries into commercial office towers (One World Trade Center, 3 World Trade Center, and 4 World Trade Center) and connects to Brookfield Place through the West Concourse.

Check out our Getting Here page for more information on traveling to and through the Transportation Hub.

The Oculus and Transportation Hub are owned and operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. World Trade Center retail is leased and operated by the private entity Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. Learn more about Shopping and Dining at the Oculus.

ARCHITECTURE

The Oculus was positioned as part of the World Trade Center masterplan by Daniel Libeskind and designed by Santiago Calatrava. The structure’s white metal-clad steel ribs reach up and out in a monumental move symbolic of a hand releasing a dove.

The structure's orientation serves as a lasting reminder of the attacks of September 11, 2001. It is in alignment with the sun’s solar angles on each September 11, from 8:46 am, when the first plane struck, until 10:28 am, when the second tower collapsed. Its central skylight fits this alignment and washes the Oculus floor with a beam of light.

Hours

Oculus street level access is limited overnight from 1:00 am to 5:00 am.

Location

World Trade Center Oculus

50 Church Street
New York, NY 10007

Directions

Getting Here

The exterior of the Oculus with 3 and 4 World Trade Center in the background

Did you know?

Big Red lift from the west side of the Oculus floor

Meet "Big Red"

The TEUPEN TL 156AX, or “Big Red” as it is affectionately known, is a custom-built crane designed to suit the special needs of the Oculus. It has an articulated arm that can reach the highest point of the Oculus skylight at 160 feet above the floor and can extend over 50 feet horizontally.

Oculus Lights

As part of our commitment to sustainability, about 13,000 lighting fixtures have been replaced throughout the Oculus to reduce energy consumption and increase the life expectancy of the lamps. The program also brought a new feature to the Oculus that allows the rib-uplighting to be changed to any color.