New York City is renowned for its skyline filled with high-rise structures, ranking third globally after Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China, for the number of skyscrapers. Among these towering edifices, there are a few that spark curiosity, particularly those whose purposes are not immediately clear.
One such building stands out due to its complete lack of windows, a rare architectural feature.
33 Thomas Street in New York has long intrigued locals and online communities, prompting much speculation about its true function.
Some daring individuals have even attempted to venture inside to uncover its secrets. However, real insight would likely come from someone with firsthand experience working in the building, and fortunately, such a revelation has occurred.
In a 2023 interview with the Daily Mail, a man, under the condition of anonymity, recounted being invited with his son in the early 2000s to work as a steamfitter, which involves installing wiring and pipes within the structure.
The son noted that certain areas were off-limits to them.
He explained: “There were rooms we couldn’t get into. They specifically told us not to enter, and we couldn’t ask what’s inside or why we can’t go in.”
He asserted that he, his father, and their team were ultimately required to install wires around these restricted zones.
Additionally, he mentioned that the team reportedly stumbled upon confidential documents in a basement cabinet, which intriguingly included instructions for responding to a radiation attack.
Officially, the building serves as a telephone interchange, previously known as the AT&T Long Lines Building, primarily a hub for extensive phone line networks.
According to a TikToker, the building possesses “enough gas, water, and electricity to operate independently for up to two weeks and is designed to withstand a nuclear blast, within reason.”
Despite this information, various theories have emerged regarding the building’s purpose.
One hypothesis speculates that it functions as a nuclear shelter, a rather far-fetched idea even for conspiracy theorists.
Another theory suggests it serves as a listening post for the National Security Agency (NSA), known as ‘Titanpointe,’ with an investigation by The Intercept indicating parts of the building are dedicated to surveillance.
Nonetheless, until further information surfaces, the most straightforward explanation likely remains true: the building is used for telephone interchange.