The Oculus Quiz: Calatrava's Winged World Trade Center Hub

This The Oculus quiz stands beneath the white steel ribs of the World Trade Center Transportation Hub. Play 10 interactive questions on architect Santiago Calatrava, the image of a bird released from a child's hands, its 2016 opening, a skylight that opens each September 11, PATH trains, its shopping hall, its huge cost and Calatrava's Turning Torso.

Start the Oculus Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

City
In which city is the Oculus?
Site
Which site does it serve?
Architect
Who designed the Oculus?
Image
What image inspired its shape?
Open
When did the Oculus open?
Color
What color are its steel ribs?
Sky
When does the central skylight open?
Trains
Which trains connect at the hub?
Hall
What fills part of the main hall?
Other
Which twisting tower in Malmö is another Calatrava design?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: In which city is the Oculus?
Answer: New York
It is in Lower Manhattan.
Q2: Which site does it serve?
Answer: The World Trade Center
It is a transportation hub.
Q3: Who designed the Oculus?
Answer: Santiago Calatrava
He is from Spain.
Q4: What image inspired its shape?
Answer: A bird released from a child's hands
Its ribs look like wings.
Q5: When did the Oculus open?
Answer: 2016
Construction took years.
Q6: What color are its steel ribs?
Answer: White
They rise over the street.
Q7: When does the central skylight open?
Answer: Each September 11
It honors the anniversary.
Q8: Which trains connect at the hub?
Answer: PATH trains to New Jersey
Subway lines link nearby.
Q9: What fills part of the main hall?
Answer: Shops
It is also a mall.
Q10: Which twisting tower in Malmö is another Calatrava design?
Answer: Turning Torso
It twists 90 degrees.

Wings Over the World Trade Center

The Oculus is the main hall of the World Trade Center Transportation Hub in Lower Manhattan, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. It opened in 2016, connecting PATH trains to New Jersey with subway lines nearby.

Calatrava said the design was inspired by a bird released from a child's hands. White steel ribs rise like wings over the street, and inside a vast white hall is lined with shops. A long skylight runs along the top and opens each September 11 to honor the anniversary.

The hub took years to build and became one of the most expensive train stations ever. Calatrava is also known for bridges and for the Turning Torso in Malmö, Sweden, a tower that twists 90 degrees.

What This Quiz Teaches

Architecture fans will enjoy these questions.

Where it stands
Who designed it
What inspired it
How it is used
What else Calatrava built

Did You Know?

The floor is white marble.
Daylight floods the hall.
Critics debated its cost.
It links to the memorial plaza.
Calatrava trained as an engineer.