Offices in the One World Trade building have been occupied since late 2014, and have already weathered a rat infestation – but the viewing platform on the uppermost floor of the building is yet to open its doors to the public.


Due to be the highest skyscraper viewing platform in the western hemisphere, the One World Trade Centre Observatory will open at some point this spring. Covering the top three levels of the tower, it’ll include video installations, a theatre, restaurants, and, of course, panoramic views over Manhattan.

The image above was taken during a press trip to the observatory in 2013 while the building was still under construction. As you can see, the building’s sheer height allows visitors to see beyond the river to the outer boroughs. 

The slogan listed on the observatory’s website, however, promises something rather more dramatic:

We’ll believe it when we see it, guys.

The One World Trade building is 417m tall (546m if you include its spire), making it the fourth tallest building in the world, and the tallest by far in New York City. The tower was built on the Ground Zero site, and is the same height as the taller of the two World Trade Center buildings.