Zero wing opening9/19/2023 ![]() It’s called the “Way Of Light.” Calatrava positioned the building slightly tilted from the street grid in order to achieve the effect. (the time of the collapse of the second tower). The angle of the windows is particularly placed so that every year on the anniversary of the attacks, the sun shines directly through the skylight and illuminates the main hall at 10:28 a.m. This opening also allows sunlight to pour in each morning. Take a look up through the windows, and you’ll see Freedom Tower. Oculus is the Latin word for “eye,” which, in architecture, refers to a round or eye-like opening with a view of the sky. The name comes from the strip of windows, or skylights, along the spine of the roof. You can almost feel the New York sunshine. Here’s a group photo we took on one of our tours. Together, this series of columns forms a pair of 350-foot wings. ![]() You can see it in the tall, crossed steel columns that make up the exterior. He intended it to resemble a dove leaving a child’s hands. The Oculus was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. City planners decided that the new station would be a combination transportation hub and shopping center - a place that attracted residents and tourists alike. When rebuilding plans were discussed, one of the first major issues to tackle was building a new station. The entire World Trade Center, all seven buildings, were completely destroyed, along with the PATH train station that served millions of commuters traveling to Lower Manhattan. Many people tend to forget how much damage was really caused by 9/11. History of the Oculus: Building After 9/11 There’s no building like it in the world, and a visit here is a nice capstone to your tour of Ground Zero. As a project with a commercial and artistic focus, the Oculus has come to represent the city’s strength and a beacon for resilience.Įven if you don’t plan on using any of the transportation available at the hub, visiting the Oculus is unforgettable. ![]() These plans included the idea for a transportation hub that would bring business and people back to the area - the Oculus.īy 2004, construction had begun, and 12 years later, the Oculus opened to the public. Why the Oculus Was CreatedĪfter the devastating September 11th attacks, plans were quickly put in place to rebuild and reimagine the World Trade Center. In this post, I’ll share a little about the history of the Oculus, including its design, Ground Zero connection, and how to visit when you’re here in New York. If you’d like to see this magnificent structure up-close, you can. The building is one of many that were included in the city’s plan to rebuild the World Trade Center after September 11. That’s the Oculus, a transportation hub and shopping mall built alongside the One World Trade Center. When you visit the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero, you’ll probably notice a large white building with steel, wing-shaped tips reaching toward the sky.
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