Mercer Labs

Such a cool experience!! Perfect for an activity with friends, date night, or family afternoon. there was something for everyone!! Time stopped as soon as you stepped inside and you were removed from the outside world. Awe struck by landscape created with visual and audio affect to transport you to a world with your own thoughts and imagination. Definitely recommend!

Mercer Labs is an immersive/interactive museum not far from the One World Observatory. My boyfriend and I were in the area and decided to check it out. After buying our tickets we were shown into a room and asked to put on foot coverings. (On the second level, there are floors made of mirrors, so the coverings protect the floors.) Keeping with the lab theme, all the staff members there wear lab coats.

There are two exhibits on the first floor, four on the second, and three on the basement level. The first room on the second floor was maybe the most unusual, as it was a dim room with blue lights and more of a soundscape than visual art. It was art that you feel, not see. Two rooms on the second floor had flashing light displays that were a bit disorienting, but it was still fascinating. Before going to the cellar level, relax in the last room on the second level, a room of flowers, where you can buy fruity drinks (one lychee and one yuzu) in cans. My boyfriend and I got one of each, and they were both delicious.

The most fun part of the cellar is a table where you can pick the outline of a monster, color it in, give it to an attendant, and watch your creation come to life.

You are never too old to enjoy a good interactive/play museum.

Came here a few weeks ago. Was really looking forward to checking it out as I heard awesome things about it and that I needed to go see it.

I was first on line on the day I went and that was fine. They really do open right on time! So that is a plus. Anyways, when we go in and get through security and ticket checking person we are lead into a dark room with benches on either side and are told to put on shoe coverings for the exhibit which is fine. But at least have some more light so people can see what they are doing/ if they are putting the coverings on the right way.
This is a self guided tour that takes about 45-1 hour. The first room after the shoe covering room was another dark room with cool projections on the walls and they had at least 2 swings hanging from ceiling that people were allowed to go on.Then there was another room where it was smoke and you are supposed to lay on the floor and like feel vibrations.. I don't know I didn't really get this room. Then forgot what the next room was but some rooms were deff cooler than others. There was a mirror room where the wall ceiling and floor were mirrors with alot and I mean alot of LED lights hanging from ceiling. It was cool but kind of made me dizzy and also, some of the floor was a bit unsteady which I told one of the workers and he was glad I brought it to his attention but he knew about it. Not sure how long it has been broken but hope they get that fixed soon!
Another room was covered in what seemed to be flowers I think where there was a tasting lab and you could order a drink. They had three diff flavors. I went with the watermelon basil one. I had no idea what I was ordering. So, I had asked what exactly is this drink and the barista said seltzer water with a few chunks of watermelon and basil or mint, I can't remember what it was. I said oh ok cool. I thought these were free but nooo.. 10.00 for this! In my head I said they could have told us this before ordering or have a sign that says it somewhere.
Went through some other rooms that were cool but, honestly the price I paid for a ticket for this place was not worth it. If I had a child with me it may be worth it more.
When I got to the gift shop that had some cool/ nice products. One of the salesman was trying pretty hard to sell me one of two sweatshirts left they had collabed with Tribeca film festival... meanwhile these sweatshirts were a size xxl and I was like that is too big for me. They had other sweatshirts and shirt but they were just saying Mercer labs on them. And even these were pretty pricey too. And through out this exhibit it was a bit hard to understand the staff that were stationed at each or most rooms as to hear what they were about.
In my opinion this place is not worth the money unless you bring kids with you.

We came here for a staff retreat on a Thursday afternoon. First you are instructed to put on shoe coverings and then you go through different rooms to see each exhibit.

Each room was very aesthetically pleasing. I especially loved "The Line," "4D Sound" and "The Dragon" room. But the markings for each room could get a bit confusing at times. Additionally, if it wasn't for my boss getting us the tickets I don't think I would have ever gone. $50 is quite steep in terms of price. There was also a section where they were selling Spritzers. For that admission cost they could be giving each person a small can instead of selling it for an additional $10 a can.

Additionally, the whole downstairs just smelled like a dirty bathroom. It was so gross. Not sure if they had some sort of plumbing issue going on?

All in all, though the rooms were beautiful, I'm not sure if it's worth the cost especially with the fact this immersive experience mirrors many other ones in the city and also had the added con of sewer smells on the bottom floor area.

We went to Teamlab Planets in Tokyo last year and loved it. We hoped this would be a similar experience but it was a let down.

It was very easy to get tickets, which should have been a clue.

This is an immersive art experience where you travel from room to room. The first room is large and pretty interesting. You feel like you are surrounded by the ocean. The rooms get smaller and less interesting as you go.

The installations are fairly simple and not that interactive. One is described as a 4D sound room where you can lay on the floor and "feel" the sound, one of the only places in the world they say. Well if you have ever been to a concert or on an airplane you have felt more sound than this.

At Tokyo Teamlabs (not associated with this) you are literally immersed in the art, finding your way through mazes, controlling the light patterns, wading in water. At Mercer Lab the art is much more sterile. You walk past it but don't interact as much.

We left feeling let down as we awkwardly emerged into a gift shop with overpriced hoodies and tshirts only available in XL.

I predict this will be closing soon.

Pros: fun experience with my friends

Cons: been to so many exhibits like this. Not unique anymore.

This museum was a wonder of lights and sound. As other posters have noted the imagery is enhanced by mirrors and follows a similar theme throughout.

Some of the staff are impatient with people who don't move or listen to their instructions immediately. We watched one group get yelled at to sit down to place the shoe covers on.

That same group of millennials failed to be quiet in the 4D sound room which was a bit irksome. But if you wait long enough for them to snap their pictures they move on.

You can stay in each room as long as you like to get the full experience. We tended to stay until the piece began to repeat what we'd already seen and heard.

At $52 a person it was a cool enough one time experience.

WOW. If you're in the FIDI area (Financial District) don't miss out on this! It's a feast for your visual,auditory & tactile senses!

There really is no context to understand the exhibits, but it was a pretty cool immersive experience. Yes, it would have been nice to know more about the artist and his exhibits but that didn't detract from the experience. Just research Roy Nachum before you go, so you know more about the reasoning for the incorporation of braille and braille crowns covering the eyes of a boy and girl.

Before you enter the exhibits, you donn shoe booties/coverings. The employees donn a faux lab suit and direct you where to go next on certain exhibits.

There are flights of stairs to navigate. Also there is no coat check or place to store personal belongings so the less you bring the better.

It's a blending of art, science and technology. It's way better than a glorified screensaver like Beyond Van Gogh( Although, that was neat but not worth the price point -Beyond Van Gogh).

The moment you walk in you are surrounded by moving images that transport you to a different place. In certain places they have foam rocks to lounge on and enjoy the experience.

The Dragon Room was my favorite. That was a wild ride!
The pool of balls was fun too! But it is super shallow. The slide itself lights up which adds to the attraction. It was awesome to see so many people enjoying the pool of balls (all adults). Many taking fun pics and some literally swimming through it haha.

There are bathrooms, but they are located halfway-ish through the exhibits. You will see a line of lighted mirrors and sinks and stalls on both sides. It's a CO-ED bathroom, but with no actual door to the entrance of the general bathroom. Don't worry there are actual doors on each stall.

You know you will have reached the end of the museum once you find yourself at the robotic arm drawing in the sand. You will exit through the gift shop of typical over priced souvenirs and a counter that sells mochi ice cream.

It's right near the Oculus and World Trade Center.

Looking for something entertaining and out of this world?
Well look no further, because i got u covered, this new immersive exhibition is called " MERCER LABS. "
Definitely recommend, rating this a 10/10.

Each room is unique and mind blowing.
I do wanna take a moment to say that people who suffer from flashing lights and fast movements might have a hard time enjoying this. None the less if you end up going theirs no time limit so u can explore it and keep moving forward. Not all rooms have flashing lights.

Everyone is welcomed. Kids and Babies included.
They do give you shoe covers so no need to be so fancy with your shoes. Also, dress cute but comfortable. You wanna be able to enjoy and experience everything without feeling so uncomfortable.

They also have a bathroom but, you have to go thru each room to get to it. Just adding this in here because i know some people likes to be reassured of restrooms.

Phenomenal job done to this exhibition. Seriously!!


Phenomenal job done.

What an AMAZING place. Words cannot describe how mind blown I was by everything here. It's just something you need to experience. I was not expecting what I received and I was overjoyed. I love lights, mirrors and mindfulness. This was a combination of all three. Please go. Please go and take me with you..

Even as a write this, I am wavering between three and four stars. I think immersion experiences are ripoffs. Essentially getting people to pay big bucks for a Van Gogh screensaver and some instagram pics. Initially I was worried I had been catfished by Mercer labs because their ad looked really cool, not like a Van Gogh or Artechhouse setup. It was presented as an innovative art exhibit. Well, it was neither an innovative art exhibit, but not as bad as a screensaver in a warehouse. So in a way, I was catfished, but I guess it could have been worse?

This first, opening exhibit is by Roy Nachum. The first room is essentially a screensaver room, but with darker, more interesting content than random lights and images (though there is some of that too I think). A lot of Nachum's work revolves around braille and a child with a gold crown covering their eyes. According to the website, "The Crown Kid symbolizes blindness born from displaced values and desires."

There are several light installations. One is a room full of tubes with a pink or blue light running through the tubes. This isn't particularly intriguing. There is a room that's cooler than the others, with floor to ceiling lines of lights that do various formations. Even if you are there just for the photos, everyone else is standing around in the way trying to get their own photos.

There are a few more representations of the crown--a room of fake flowers and a monkey. A girl standing on a horse with flowers and a torch. Without context, these don't mean much.

I did think the chess room was kinda neat, and because everyone was distracted by the ball pit next door, I was able to get some cool photos of it. Still, though, what does it all mean?!? aside from instagram fodder?

And a ball pit? I'm no germophobe, but I'm not going to jump into a ball pit for giggles.

And the sound room . . . How could I forget--laying on the floor surrounded by blue fog, with couples making out all around you, while speakers pump bass into the room. It might be some people's kinda thing. If nothing else, unique?

At the end, there is a giant machine drawing in the sand. I think it was drawing a crown in the sand. The other woman in there had set her phone in the corner so she could film herself looking amazed and entranced.

The staff were nice. They were dressed all in white with a badge proclaiming, "mercer labs," like dystopian, futuristic crew members from some space horror movie. You have to wear booties, which is fine. There is no coat check, which is NOT fine. I sweated like crazy until I gave up and just started carrying my puffer around.

Now that I'm at the end of this review, thinking about the 54-ish dollars I spent to do this, realizing it's better than a screensaver of Van Gogh, but not by a whole lot, I realize what else I could have been doing with that cash. A nice meal. Three cocktails. Another two or three museums. Lots of free galleries and a taco crawl. Three stars it is, and only because it could have been worse.