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10 Photos: Inside NYC's $4 Billion Shopping/Transit Center

March 08, 2016
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3 min read
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10 Photos: Inside NYC's $4 Billion Shopping/Transit Center
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The main hall of Lower Manhattan's massive transportation hub is finally open to the public. Over the weekend, TPG Editor-in-Chief Zach Honig dropped by to check out the city's $4 billion investment.

Last week, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that the main hall of the city's new transit hub, called the "Oculus," was finally open to the public. The second level and all of the retail spaces remain closed, unfortunately, but if you want to head into the main hall to grab a selfie or two (like the dozens of other people I saw over the weekend), you're more than welcome to do so.

You'll enter the Oculus pathway at 4 World Trade Center, just across the street from the WTC Memorial's south reflecting pool.

The Oculus' exterior is certainly a unique figure in the Financial District's skyline — I've heard many people refer to it as "the stegosaurus," but it looks even less friendly than an armored dinosaur. You'll get one of the best views of the building from the 3rd floor restaurant at the Hilton Hotel across the street.

The Oculus may be partially open to the public, but the escalator leading down to it is closed for repair (already!) and much of the hall is still under construction.

The hall is the creation of Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and was designed to let a lot of natural light into the station.

The Oculus certainly accomplishes that — there's plenty of natural light in there, even on the cloudy day I visited.

As you can see in the map above, the Oculus is located in the middle of the WTC complex — if you're stopping by to visit the museum, Memorial or the World Trade Center observatory, it's worth a visit.

The Oculus will soon house a handful of retail stores as part of the 100-store Westfield World Trade Center mall, including an Apple Store located in the main hall.

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Construction on the Oculus began in the summer of 2012, and it's still ongoing today. It's expected to be completed later this year.

The Oculus' sister structure, the Fulton Center transit hub, is open to the public as well and is located at the corner of Broadway and Fulton. If you're taking the 4 or 5 train to or from Fulton Street, it's hard to miss.

The Fulton Center will house a handful of the Westfield mall's stores — most of the retail spaces are still covered up, but a candy store and a coffee shop are open now. There's also free Wi-Fi and building-wide advertising that rivals that of the Barclay Center sport complex just a few stops away.

What do you think of NYC's $4 billion transit hub?

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

American Express® Gold Card

TPG Editor‘s Rating
4 / 5
Go to review

Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.