New York City officials on Friday announced changes to accommodate growing demand for Centre 360, the free observation experience atop the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building that has consistently sold out since opening this summer.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Yume Kitasei said the city will increase group sizes from five to eight visitors and introduce walk-in access when slots become available. The changes will allow nearly 2,000 people each month to visit the cupola, which offers panoramic views from more than 500 feet above street level.
“Since we opened the cupola this summer, New Yorkers have shown us just how much they want to experience this iconic landmark,” Mamdani said. “When demand is this strong, our job is to find a way to open the doors wider.”
Centre 360 launched in June following a $6 million restoration that repaired the historic cupola, installed glass safety barriers and restored the rotunda landing. Reservations have booked out within two minutes each month since the opening.
“Due to the overwhelming popularity of the Centre 360 experience, we are excited to open more slots and begin accepting walk-ins,” Kitasei said. “The views from Centre 360 are breathtaking, and it has been a goal of this administration to ensure as many New Yorkers as possible can have this experience.”
The observation deck operates Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering eight viewing sessions each weekday. Under the new system, each session will accommodate two reservations for groups of four people. Walk-ins will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis when last-minute cancellations or no-shows create availability.
Visitors must reserve tickets through an online system and present valid photo identification upon arrival. Reservations open on the first day of each month. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and must be at least 42 inches tall.
The David N. Dinkins Municipal Building, designed by McKim, Mead & White and constructed between 1909 and 1914, houses more than 2,000 employees across a dozen city agencies. The building was designated a New York City landmark in 1966 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.