The city has opened the cupola of 1 Centre, aka the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building, to public tours — an effort that has been several mayors in the making but finally came together with the necessary renovation of the 114-year-old building’s spire. And while I already did a post, they invited press for a visit and it was a good chance to take a look at some neighborhood developments: 45 Park Place, 267 Broadway, Independence Plaza and then, a look at other supertalls from that vantage point.

The Department of Citywide Administrative Services manages the building, and some of you might remember the agency’s current commissioner, Yume Kitasei, from the start of her career when she was chief of staff for Councilwoman Margaret Chin. She made opening Centre 360 her day-one promise and set aside $6 million to make the repairs and enhancements for access.

It’s pretty special, and it is also a tough ticket to get — especially because it’s free. DCAS staff, operating out of the City Store, only takes five people up per hour, eight hours a day, and only on weekdays. Tickets open up on the first of each month.

“This was a necessary renovation, but the spirit of this is providing this kind of view for New Yorkers,” Yume said. “It was a full city effort with partners from other agencies. To me it sets the standard of what we can do.”

Access requires two elevators, the second of which opens directly into the 360-degree cupola — in fact the “experience” is called Centre 360. Before the second elevator, there are information panels on the history of the building, including some cool closeups of Civic Fame, the golden goddess who adorns the top of the cupola. The main attraction of course is the view, and it does not disappoint. DCAS installed glass panels across the balustrades for safety, but they don’t get in the way.

1 Centre is still one of the biggest office buildings in the world, the commissioner said. It currently houses 4000 city workers, including a couple thousand DCAS workers. DCAS, which manages city property, illuminated the tower in 2021.

Designed by McKim, Mead & White and constructed between 1909 and 1914, the building was designated a New York City landmark in 1966, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and renamed for Mayor Dinkins in 2015.

45 Park Place

Independence Plaza

267 Broadway