The new TKTS ticket booth on Father Duffy Square in New York City has opened its portholes after several years of design and construction. The new booth, a glass structure in the heart of New York’s theatre district, was officially declared open by New York City Mayor Bloomberg at a gathering last year.

Huge pieces of ultra-clear Saint-Gobain Diamant glass envelop and protect the futuristic white ticket pod. The glass steps above it are claret red in the shadow of the surrounding buildings but turn brighter as the midday sun reflects off the colored interlayer. At night, when the booth’s light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are switched on, the whole structure glows.

Visitors who make the short climb up the 27 glass steps are offered a unique view of New York. The amphitheater can accommodate more than 1000 visitors as they wait for tickets, eat their lunch, or just sit and watch the hustle and bustle of the Times Square district.

The steps comprise three layers of Saint-Gobain Diamant ultra-clear glass, laminated with a red interlayer and surface-treated for slip resistance. The 1½-in.-thick steps are designed for maximum durability, while the ultra-clear walls structurally support the steps, serving as a balustrade and protecting the administration pod inside. All of the glass panels were developed and manufactured at Saint-Gobain’s Eckelt Glas factory in Austria.

Visit www.saint-gobain.com/us or www.saint-gobain-glass.com for more information.