New York City is packed with things to see, from the sweeping views at Top of the Rock and the Empire State Building to historic neighborhoods. But the city’s museums deserve an entire chapter of their own. From the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Museum of Modern Art, the city is home to some of the world’s most celebrated institutions, covering everything from ancient history to contemporary art.
And then there’s Mercer Labs: Museum of Art and Technology, which takes the traditional museum experience in a very different direction.
Inside Mercer Labs, where art leaves the frame
Mercer Labs – Dark Matter.
Opened in 2024, Mercer Labs occupies 36,000 square feet at 21 Dey Street, near the Oculus and One World Trade Center. The museum features 15 interconnected rooms, each built around a different combination of art and technology.
One of its most striking installations is The Dragon, where more than 507,000 suspended LED lights create shifting, three-dimensional images that appear to float around visitors. There’s also The Map, a 5,000-square-foot gallery that transforms classic masterpieces into constantly changing cinematic projections using 26 laser projectors and 360-degree spatial sound.
Mercer Labs: Museum of Art and Technology
For something you can actually feel, head into 4DSOUND, a room designed to surround visitors with sound from every direction, with speakers and floor vibrations that turn music into a physical sensation.
Other spaces include The Infinite, a mirrored environment; a pink hydrangea-filled sanctuary; a drawing station where visitors can bring their creations to life on the walls; and a ball-filled play area. The museum also features robotic musicians and a giant robotic arm that recreates famous artworks in sand.
The experience typically takes 60 to 90 minutes, making Mercer Labs an easy addition to a Lower Manhattan day of sightseeing.