Centre 360, a new free public observatory, opened today atop the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building at 1 Centre Street in the Civic Center section of Lower Manhattan. The experience is located more than 500 feet high within the Beaux-Arts cupola of the landmarked 40-story skyscraper, and is part of a $6 million renovation by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). The property is located at the corner of Centre and Reade Streets, directly east of City Hall.
The following first-look photos above and below showcase the panoramic views from the cupola, as well as some of the detailing within the space, including the new glass panels installed between the perimeter columns.
Looking west from 1 Centre Street. Photo by Michael Young.
Looking north from 1 Centre Street. Photo by Michael Young.
Looking east from 1 Centre Street. Photo by Michael Young.
The cupola at 1 Centre Street. Photo by Michael Young.
Looking up at the top of the cupola at 1 Centre Street. Photo by Michael Young.
Wall panels detail the construction of the skyscraper, the history of the Civic Fame statue, and David N. Dinkins’ career.
1 Centre Street. Photo by Michael Young.
1 Centre Street. Photo by Michael Young.
1 Centre Street. Photo by Michael Young.
1 Centre Street. Photo by Michael Young.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani first announced the experience in February, and work on the renovations quickly progressed over the last few months. Temporary scaffolding was installed on the exterior of the upper floors, as shown in the below image.
1 Centre Street in April 2026. Photo by Michael Young.
“It shouldn’t cost a cent to take in the unbeatable views of the city we call home,” said Mayor Mamdani. “After a $6 million restoration, we’re opening the doors of this iconic building and inviting New Yorkers and visitors to see the city from a new perspective. Just in time for a summer of soccer, we’re making one of New York’s breathtaking views available to everyone, for free.”
Designed by McKim, Mead & White and constructed between 1909 and 1914, the building was designated a New York City landmark in 1966 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The structure was formerly known as the Manhattan Municipal Building, but was renamed in 2015 in honor of David N. Dinkins, New York City’s first Black mayor, recognizing his decades of public service and the years he spent working in the building.
Online reservations are required for Centre 360, with timed slots available on the experience’s website. Walk-ins are not accommodated. New tickets are released on the first day of every month. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, with eight viewing sessions between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Each viewing session is limited to five people at a time.
The property is located directly above the Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall subway station, which is served by the 4, 5, and 6 trains.
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This building was erected by McKim, Mead, and White following a seemingly cursed architectural competition to replace City Hall. To prevent another Boss Tweed courthouse scandal, the proposals were identified only by a number. Then the key to who did what was lost. Eventually, it came to light, but by that time, there was great feeling against demolishing the old City Hall. Also, the City found none of the proposals satisfactory and refused to award the prizes, resulting in lawsuits.
The lot on which the Municipal Building was erected was not symmetrical, and the building was distorted to fit it. The tower is actually a bit oval.
Another fun fact, the infamous Chambers St station on the J and the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building were planned and built together. Because the station was designed first, McKim, Mead & White had to carefully position the building’s massive concrete caissons to avoid the subway tracks and platforms below.
When the station was constructed, it was envisioned as a “City Hall Terminal”, a downtown equivalent to Grand Central Terminal. It was built to handle immense crowds arriving from Brooklyn via the Manhattan Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge. Three years after it opened, the station was so heavily used that its platforms were described in the press as more dangerous during rush hour than those at Grand Central. However, due to the construction of the Nassau St loop in 1931 (which meant trains no longer terminated at Chambers and the middle platform wasn’t necessary), the construction of the Chrystie St Connection in 1967 (which severed the station’s connection to the Manhattan Bridge), and the shift to Midtown moving a lot of business professional from Lower Manhattan further uptown the station’s ridership dropped significantly and it became a quiet cavernous station.
It’s nice to have an observatory that instead of towering over everything is more in the midst of the concrete jungle..
I agree. It’s cool seeing the buildings high above, but not too high to feel separated from the street.
I 100%+ agree!
Nice to have another observatory in the city, especially one in a landmark building, but why is it open only on weekdays and not Saturdays and Sundays, which are the biggest tourist days of the week?
Because it’s on top of a city municipal building, which is closed on weekends
Great free landmark Observation!!! Thank you Mayor Mamdani!!!
Check out Cleveland’s Terminal Tower, sister building to this structure. Excellent observation deck as well! Looking forward to visiting this one 🙂