­Observatory atop newly-constructed World Trade Center building in Lower Manhattan offers stunning panoramic views, painful memories

One World Trade Center Tower seen from West Street in New York.

New York’s One World Trade Center on Wednesday treated invited guests to a sneak peek at the panoramic views from the observation deck atop the newly opened tower, which rises nearly 400 metres above the streets of Lower Manhattan.

The ‘pre-opening’ of the three-floor aerie at the crown of the Western Hemisphere’s tallest building marks the latest milestone in the rebuilding of the site where the Twin Towers were destroyed in the attacks of September 11, 2001.

“There’s always the thought of 9/11 but you can’t really think like that,” said Robert Domino, a 20-year-old maintenance worker who has gone to the observatory to do cleaning work. “Going up there is a beautiful thing to experience.”

One World Observatory, housed on the 100th, 101st and 102nd floors of the building that’s also known as Freedom Tower, will open to the public next week, on Friday, May 29, according to Legends, the facilities operator that runs the attraction.

There’s always the thought of 9/11 but you can’t really think like that

Floor-to-ceiling windows offer stunning views of New York Harbor and the skyline of Midtown Manhattan, as well as seemingly endless vistas of Long Island, New Jersey and the Atlantic. On a clear day, visibility stretches for up to 80 kilometres, said David Kerschner, president of attractions at Legends, who hosted the preview for media and other guests.

The observatory will compete against Rockefeller Center and the Empire State Building. At 386 metres, it stands a scant 5.5 metres above the Empire State.

A view of New York harbour and a military ship participating in the Fleet Week parade of ships.

But height is not the only draw, according to Kerschner, who said the observatory is also counting on high-tech bells and whistles to attract visitors.

“This is unlike any observation deck any place in the world,” he said. “Because rather than being just an elevator ride up, seeing the beautiful view and an elevator ride down, we’ve created a 45 minute to an hour entertainment experience.”

The attraction features Sky Pod, a bank of five elevators that whisk visitors to the top in 47 seconds while playing a video recreating the rise of the New York skyline. The film includes a glimpse of the old World Trade Center towers, even at the risk of evoking painful memories for many.

Demand is strong, Kerschner added, with some 350,000 tickets already sold or reserved at $26 to $90 each.