Open House 2025 has begun: how to see buildings that are usually off-limits to visitors

The annual Open House New York festival once again opens the doors to rare and typically closed-to-the-public spaces. From October 17th to 19th, residents and visitors alike can explore spaces typically off-limits. Time-out tells in more detail.

This year, over 300 people are included in the program. sitesAmong them are an exclusive rooftop garden at Rockefeller Center, an urban composting plant, a ship from Ellis Island, and a private gallery inside the World Trade Center building.

Even familiar public spots like Wagner Park and the Astoria Pool have prepared special behind-the-scenes tours. Almost half of the program is completely free and requires no advance registration. But some objects available only by tickets, which usually sell out very quickly.

History of the festival

Open house new york has been held since 2003. Architects, engineers, historians, and curators make their projects and spaces available to city residents.

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The festival emerged after the events of September 11th. It was founded by enthusiastic architects led by Scott Lauer. They were guided by the idea that "the openness of our shared urban space is the foundation of civil society."

"Open House New York Weekend is founded on the simple yet radical act of sharing a city," said Open House New York Executive Director Christine Labuz. "This festival gives curious New Yorkers the opportunity to explore the people, projects, and places that make this city the greatest in the world."

What new places have been added to the list?

New sites in 2025:

• Wagner Park is a climate-resilient green space at the confluence of the Hudson River and New York Harbor;
• Jack Shainman Gallery is the renowned art dealer's new space in the Clock Tower building in Tribeca;
• The Starrett-Lehigh Building, a former cargo terminal, reopened after a $150 million renovation. It now houses stylish offices and a trendy restaurant;
• Bike Tour of Floyd Bennett Field – a ride through the grounds of New York City's first municipal airport with panoramic views from the old air traffic control tower;
• Fulton Fish Market is a behind-the-scenes market where seafood is delivered to the city's residents around the clock;
• Printemps is the first American store of the French chain with Art Deco decor;
• Yankee Ferry - a ship from Ellis Island converted into a luxury houseboat;
• Radio Park at Rockefeller Center is a rooftop garden with views of St. Patrick's Cathedral, known for its private parties;
• Owls Head Waste Water Resource Recovery Facility is a plant that treats 454 million liters of water daily for 800,000 Brooklyn residents;
• MADE Bush Terminal is a new waterfront hub for makers, designers and entrepreneurs;
• Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch at Grand Army Plaza, an 1892 monument recently restored at a cost of $8,9 million;
• Iron Workers Locals 40 & 361 Training Center - a place where they teach welding and metalworking for high-rise buildings;
• DSNY Staten Island Compost Facility is the city's largest facility where food waste is converted into "black gold" for fertilizer;
• 3 World Trade Center - access to the 79th and 80th floors to a private gallery, murals, and artist studios;
• General Theological Seminary, a Gothic-style site in Chelsea that Vanderbilt University has transformed into a modern campus;
• Anable Basin - boating on the East River from the boathouse in Long Island City;
• La Bodega is a recording studio and film set in the Bronx with an exact replica of a city street;
• Red Hook Resilience & Art Walk – a walk through a neighborhood where art and infrastructure are helping combat the impacts of storms and climate risks;
• Brooklyn Banks at Gotham Park is a former skate park under the Brooklyn Bridge that has been converted into a public space.

Returning sites:

• Noble Signs - over 50 vintage signs, from neon to store signs, collected from all over the city;
• Ford Foundation - a charitable foundation office with a green atrium in the center of the building;
• The Woolworth Building is a Gothic "cathedral of commerce" built in 1913 by the owner of a chain of cash stores;
• Tall Ship Wavertree is a beautifully preserved 19th century tall ship with a saloon;
• New York Transit Museum Archives - photographs and artifacts covering 121 years of subway and bus history;
• Hangar B at Floyd Bennett Field is a hangar housing a dozen historic aircraft at the city's first municipal airport;
• Brooklyn Army Terminal is a former industrial complex transformed into a hub for startups, workshops, restaurants, and shops.

How to plan a visit

The site Open house new york You can filter properties by interests: affordable housing, steel construction, family playgrounds. You can also search by district, opening hours, and available features for visitors.