The Winter Garden Atrium is a 120 ft (37 m), 10-story glass-vaulted pavilion on Vesey Street in New York City's Brookfield Place (formerly World Financial Center) office complex.
Designed by Diana Balmori, the Atrium was originally constructed in 1988, and substantially rebuilt in 2002, after it was damaged by the collapse of the World Trade Center during the September 11 attacks.
[4] Reconstruction of the Winter Garden required 2,000 panes of glass, 60,000 square feet (5,400 m2) of marble flooring and stairs, and sixteen 40 ft (12 m) Washingtonia robusta palm trees at a cost of $50 million.
[7] In 2013, the site of the former pedestrian bridge was partially replaced with a large glass atrium, primarily serving as the entrance to an underground tunnel concourse leading to the World Trade Center PATH station.
Upon its reopening in 2002, the atrium held ballets, concerts, a performance by the Big Apple Circus, and a production of The Downtown Messiah, a modern interpretation of Handel's classical oratorio, directed by Richard Barone.
[10] In early 2003, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation installed an exhibit documenting the recovery process of the World Trade Center in the atrium.
[12] The Winter Garden continues to serve as a venue for art exhibits, music, and shows, as well as hosting movie screenings during the TriBeCa Film Festival.
Drawing inspiration from the festive Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, he created the "Luminaries", an interactive installation of 650 lanterns that hang from the ceiling of the Winter Garden.