[Photos] First Look at Second Avenue Subway's 96th St. Station

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Features of the new 96th St. station for NYC's Second Avenue Subway, unveiled on Dec. 22, 2016, include access for the disabled, climate control to maximize customer comfort, modern computerized signage, and column-free construction for an open, airy atmosphere. The station spans three city blocks at 1,591 feet long and 57 feet wide, and was built with high-ceiling and column-free design to create an airy sense of openness. Its two-tiered mezzanine design is a fixture of the Second Avenue Subway stations and improves the flow of riders, reduces crowding on the platform and enhances the overall subway experience for riders.

Revenue service will begin at noon on January 1, when the first uptown Q train to Second Avenue departs from the 57th-7th Avenue station. Trains will run every six minutes during peak hours and will run from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. for the rest of the first week. Overnight service will begin on Monday, January 9. Photos: Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo

The station features high ceilings, column-free design, vibrant lighting, and world-class contemporary artwork. Photos: Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo

The artwork that visitors will see at the 96th Street Station features familiar objects – sheets of paper, scaffolding, birds, trees, and foliage – caught up in a whirlwind velocity that picks up speed and intensity as the composition unfolds throughout the station. Called “Blueprint for a Landscape,” the installation by Sarah Sze is applied directly to nearly 4,300 unique porcelain wall tiles, spanning approximately 14,000 square feet. Photos: Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo