Last night, Times Square rang in the New Year with the dropping of a new ball above One Times Square, a 26-story commercial tower that recently completed its $500 million renovation at 1475 Broadway. Designed by S9 Architecture and developed by Jamestown, the project involved a full gut renovation and re-cladding of the 395-foot-tall steel-framed structure, the addition of new LED displays, and the construction of an outdoor public observation deck. SLCE Architects was the architect of record for the property, which is located on a trapezoidal plot bounded by West 43rd Street to the north, West 42nd Street to the south, Broadway to the east, and Seventh Avenue to the west.
The remainder of the new LED billboards were installed since our last update in late August, including the modernized Zipper news ticker above the ground floor. A secondary digital ticker was also added along the Broadway elevation above the Times Square–42nd Street subway entrance and the viewing deck access doors.
One Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
One Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
One Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
One Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
One Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
One Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
One Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
One Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
One Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
Last month, YIMBY attended a preview opening at One Times Square to tour its new public-facing spaces. Visitors enter along Broadway, then climb to the second floor to access the external glass elevator that whisks riders up to the 19th floor.
One Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
Photo by Michael Young.
The doors open to a room containing an installation of 7-foot numbers used for the previous New Years Eve countdown, along with a display of the mini crystal sphere used to launch the 60-second countdown of the ball drop.
One Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
One Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
Photo by Michael Young.
This area leads to the outdoor viewing platform, which cantilevers on all four sides and is lined with glass railings for unimpeded visibility over the crossroads.
Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
One Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
One Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
A glass floor at the southeastern corner of the viewing deck allows visitors to look directly down at the crowds and cars below.
One Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
One Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
One Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
The viewing deck also offers visitors a clear view of the new Waterford Constellation Ball, the ninth iteration of the world-famous New Year’s Eve ball. The following photograph was taken a few days before the numerals were updated.
One Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
The 12.5-foot-diameter Constellation Ball weighs 12,350 pounds and is covered in 5,280 handcrafted circular glass crystals in three different sizes: Infinite Beginnings at 1.5 inches wide; Infinite Light at 3 inches wide; and Infinite Joy at 4 inches wide. Each is embedded with a distinct geometric pattern and individually attached to round metal “pucks” fitted with LED lights.
Photo by Michael Young.
Photo by Michael Young.
Photo by Michael Young.
Photo by Michael Young.
A subsequent visit on December 30 brought multiple photographers and news outlets to the 26th-floor roof of One Times Square, where the ball was lit and tested several times.
One Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
One Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
One Times Square. Photo by Michael Young.
Waterford used triangular crystals in previous years, as seen below.
Photo by Michael Young.
America250, a nonpartisan organization created by Congress, relit the ball shortly after midnight to recognize the upcoming semi-quincentennial celebration of America on July 4, 2026. The post-midnight spectacle was the first of its kind for Times Square since the ball drop began in 1907, and was marked by a round of red, white, and blue confetti. At the same time, the 2026 numbers and Waterford crystal ball were illuminated in patriotic colors.
Photo by Damon Haimoff/America250 via AP.
The year numerals were also upgraded with 594 new LED light pucks capable of displaying an array of colors and patterns to match the choreography of the ball drop.
New Years Eve 2026 will build upon the birth of America and Waterford’s Infinite Edition series with three new crystal designs called Infinite Life, Infinite Liberty, and Infinite Happiness, a symbolic nod to the phrase “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” inscribed in the Declaration of Independence.
The four-inch Infinite Happiness crystal. Image courtesy of One Times Square.
One Times Square’s website offers standard tickets starting at $37, plus an additional $3 online booking fee. This ticket only allows access to the 360-degree viewing deck.
Another ticket option provides the standard 360-degree viewing deck access, plus an up-close view and photo opportunity with the Waterford Constellation Ball. This experience costs $220 and includes commemorative 2025 crystals.
A timed-entry ticket is required for admission and can only be purchased online. Hours of operation are from Monday to Sunday from noon to 8:00PM, but can change seasonally and vary by ticket experience.
One Times Square sits directly above the Times Square–42nd Street station, served by the 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, W and the Shuttle to Grand Central Terminal.
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Great addition to Times Square.
100% agree.
Great for the City and Times Square.
With all these great additions this proves that casinos in midtown were never needed. That was the great decision of 2025 that spanked those greedy casino owners .
Respectfully disagree. Gaming strikes me as entirely appropriate and complementary in what is already an 24/7 entertainment district.
Casinos destroy many individuals and families as gambling becomes addictive. Better for them not to exist.
It would not be a theater district for very long if casinos came into it. Casinos would have their own live entertainment, and much of Broadway has become, in the words of one observer, Vegas for plays. It wouldn’t be long before no one came to the theaters and they would be red developed into something else, landmarking or not.
The history of vice related entertainment has shown that it’s always best to keep it physically isolated from other businesses. A lot of time, effort, and certainly money was spent to turn Times Square into a family-friendly environment. No one benefits from losing that.
There are so many ways a person can gamble now with the state lotteries and scratch off cards at many venues, I fail to see how casinos would worsen matters. I realize gambling addiction is a serious matter, but there are many opportunities at present.
I can remember when the original 1904 facade was removed around 1964. Only the steel framework was left. The replacement facade is now gone as well.
The modern ball is quite a wonder with all the various patterns it can display. It reminds me of squid and octopus that can change their appearance.
The Times they are a changin.
The modern ball is not worth it . Move it to a park area. The area needs huge cleanup afterwards. People. ant move for hours , no bathrooms provided.
‘Reportedly’ ( I’m not sure how they could check this 😀 ) there was a big run (sorry) on adult diapers bought by people who got to Times Square many hours before midnight, to get a prime viewing spot..no bathrooms.
Exactly there are few to no outdoor bathrooms
And people lose their place . In addition it is to cold and disease spreads like the flu . End this nonsense. Then the city has tens of millions in clean up costs.
RP – Debbie Downer.
no one is forced to go. Most New Yorkers I know do it once as a bucket list item.
you dont like it dont go. simple
and it adds so much to the city in good will. literally the whole world’s eye is on NYC that night.
you cant buy that kind of PR.
The biz improvement district BID pays for much of it .
you seem to hate so much of NYC and its traditions why do you chose to live here? beyond your inherited rent controlled apt
A $500 million renovation – that’s rather shocking.
Nothing says Romance at NYE like adult diapers.
Happy new year everyone!
China has spent half of that to construct the highest bridge in the world!
On 68th and Lexington they spent $150 million on an elevator . That’s why they claim they need more funding . They set up their friends with these lucrative construction jobs. China said they could do it for $10 million
One of my favorite projects, very sleek for the surrounding context and can’t wait to check out the observation deck. Another chapter in the times buildings unique life.