10 Interesting Facts About the Oculus in New York City

The Oculus in New York City (or the World Trade Center) serves as a terminal station that is, in turn, served by the Newark WTC and the Hoboken WTC, where the latter serves only on weekends.

The station, which is located in the WTC of the Financial District, Manhattan, itself was opened for public on March 3, 2016, after replacing the temporary station that had been placed after the gruesome attacks of 9/11.

Although there have been many controversies attached to the station, savor the facts below that only a few people know. These facts are meant to present a separate image of the station.

10 Interesting Facts About the Oculus in New York City

1. The steel used is unique

Since the projects of the architect Santiago Calatrava are known for their unique curves, only a special type of steel can withstand them. The Oculus is made with the same special steel that is manufactured by only four companies in the world. The Italian and the Spanish companies out of these four were capable to deliver the kind of steel required for Oculus.

2. It can be termed as the “twin” of Calatrava Train Station

The Calatrava’s Train Station outside Lyon was built by the same architecture and probably, this is why both of these have striking similarities.

3. Flatcars were used to deliver the materials

After the steel was delivered by trucks using the Manhattan Bridge, it was closed for any further transportation of materials. Instead of this, $3 million worth flatcars were used to get the things transported along the PATH.

4. It is the world’s most expensive train station

The total $4 billion spent on the train station makes it the world’s most expensive train station.

5. The roof was initially meant to retract

In the original plans, the roof of the Oculus was meant to retract. It’s ‘wings’ were designed to retract like a Venus flytrap. However, due to the rising costs, the idea was called off. Still, the skylight panels of the construction do retract.

6. The cranes used in the building of Oculus were the largest in NYC

Almost 185 ft. high, the two cranes used in building the Oculus had been the largest cranes ever used in the city to erect something. They were designed especially for the project by the Trade Center Transportation Hub.

7. The design of the station is the simplest

Around the world and in New York City, the train stations are always very dim-lit and people find it hard to find their ways. This is exactly why Santiago Calatrava designed the station so that even his mother could find her way through the station without straying confusedly here and there. He confessed this to a local magazine – the Architectural Digest.

8. The station has a hallway with a historic plaque

There’s a hallway in the station that was opened in 2013. On its right wall, a plaque depicts an agreement that was signed to protects the remnants of the WTC Slurry Wall and the Hudson River Bulkhead.

9. There’s a fireproof coating on the steel

The surface of the steel is bumpy because of the presence of a fire-proof coating on it, which could have been smooth if the client had spent some extra money, according to Mr Calatrava.

10. 60% of the area is meant to be used for businesses

The hallways of the Oculus are meant to house retail shops and restaurants and that would cover 60% of the area.

The Oculus was created to become the icon of NYC in the transportation industry. However, as we see it now, it is larger than what it was initially thought to be.

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