Oculus, The Station You Want To Stop At

JUNE 24, 2018

“Oculus” is a much needed and celebrated transport infrastructure hub at the World Trade Centre in downtown Manhattan. It combines the latest transport centre and station hub with a shopping mall. Built at a cost of $4 billion, it comprises about 75,000m2 of retail space, in over 50 shops, including a two storey Apple store. The hub connects 11 subway lines and attracts over 250,000 commuters a day. I stood at the top of the stairs and watched as commuters alighted from their trains and came towards me like a stampede of fast moving but well-mannered steers.

Oculus is exquisite. It is designed by Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava to look like a dove in flight. It is light and white and a tribute with its skeletal structures advancing upward to the sky. 

Oculus is a statement by the City of New York and its people. It replaces structures which were torn down by 9/11 and it breathes new life and connectivity for the downtown workers of Manhattan, New York who come to and leave the city.

Instead of a dark, dingy and smelly underground setting, Oculus brings plenty of natural light into the main thoroughfare and invites fast moving commuters to stop and shop whilst conveniently close to their next train. Oculus is a lesson in smart, new public infrastructure.