Much of the world associates One Times Square with a particular night: New Year’s Eve, and for many New Yorkers, most days are spent looking up at its billboards and video screens.
Now there is a new life for the structure originally built as the headquarters for the New York Times at the turn of the 20th century — as a destination for tourists and New Yorkers seeking a unique view of the busy area.
What You Need To Know
One Times Square now features a viewing deck
There are various new experiences for visitors to check out at the building, including an up-close view of the New Year’s Eve Ball
The deck is 19 stories above Times Square
It’s 19 stories above the busy streets, for a heck of a view of the “Crossroads of the World.” The public hasn’t regularly visited the building in many years.
One Times Square general manager Delfin Ortiz showed NY1 around the 360-degree wraparound viewing deck, which features not only views of Times Square but more of Manhattan from river to river.
“Take in Times Square or learn more about Times Square, learn about what’s happening around Times Square and see what plays in,” Ortiz said.
The building at 42nd Street and Broadway received a $550 million overhaul by Jamestown, its owner and operator.
For decades, it was vacant and essentially just billboards and the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop, but that has changed.
The public is invited to see the big numbers used for each New Year’s celebration, check out the countdown podium and make a wish on a piece of confetti that will be collected and dropped at midnight on Dec. 31.
Visitors can also take a look at the retired Centennial Ball or get up close and personal with the current ball — the Constellation Ball — which was brand new this past New Year’s Eve.
“We also have an experience we will be presenting later this year where you will be part of a crystal exchange, where visitors can remove a crystal from the ball — these are 2026 crystals — and place a 2027 crystal on the ball, and the 2026 crystal will be yours to keep,” Ortiz said.
On three other floors, there is the “i Candy in NYC” experience, which allows visitors to walk around a colorful mockup of the city past landmarks and through neighborhoods with a bucket and fill it with themed candy.
“It’s an experience, and you get to take something home with you,” Ortiz said.