New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Monday that the city will open the cupola and rooftop of the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building for free public tours beginning in June 2026, marking the first time the historic observation area will be accessible to the public, officials said.
The announcement was made at a press event on the second day of Black History Month at 1 Centre Street in Manhattan, where Mamdani and Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Yume Kitasei outlined a $6 million renovation project that will repair the cupola, install safety glass and refurbish the rotunda landing to support guided tours.
“From the tower of 1 Centre Street – also known as the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building – the ‘gorgeous mosaic’ that Mayor Dinkins spoke of reveals itself in its totality,” Mamdani said in prepared remarks. “As we celebrate Mayor Dinkins’ legacy, we’re making that unique view available to the people of New York City.”
The free tours, scheduled to launch in time for the FIFA World Cup this summer, will be led by city staff and booked through an online portal, with groups of six departing from the NYC CityStore at the base of the building.
The David N. Dinkins Municipal Building, one of the largest government office buildings in the world, was completed between 1909 and 1914 and renamed in honor of the city’s first Black mayor in 2015. It houses offices for the city comptroller, public advocate, Manhattan borough president and several agencies.
Julia Kerson, deputy mayor for operations, said the renovations are intended to “make a truly one-of-a-kind space available for the public to enjoy.”
DCAS Commissioner Yume Kitasei described the expanded access as a way to preserve the historic building and create new ways for residents and visitors to experience the city.
City Comptroller Mark Levine and Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams, both present at the announcement, also praised the initiative as a means to broaden public engagement with civic spaces.
The tours are expected to offer panoramic views of the city skyline and surrounding boroughs, a vantage point long closed to the general public.
