Mercer Labs

This blew my mind. These immersive art experiences are something that can keep on keepin' on in my book. Try not to google it or research too much- the element of surprise is what makes it so special. 4 stars because It was expensive, but we were there for awhile so it was probably worth it, I just had an initial sticker shock.

Someone asked me if it was too stimulating for children. This is how I answered that, but know that, of course, every child's threshold is different and only you can make that decision in the end!

The exhibits when I visited seemed to switch between stimulating and thought-provoking. There was a meditation room and then 2 others that allowed for a mental rest for children: kinetic sand and coloring. My kids were ok in there, but if you're worried I would call Mercer Labs and ask more questions in case the exhibits have changed.

Overall, I still think about this exhibit months later.

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.

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.

There were student discounts. The museum has nice visuals but not for those who have light sensitivity and epilepsy. They make you wear shoe covers before you enter. Be careful of mirrors which are reflection, you can actually walk into one. There's multiple rooms to view exposing you to each sensory: touch, auditory, vision, taste, etc. It is an ultra sensory museum. The visit ended with a gift shop.

I visited Mercer Labs a week or so ago when I was in NYC for a solo Labor Day weekend. I was really underwhelmed by it and definitely won't visit again or recommend it to friends visiting NYC. So Mercer Labs calls itself a "Museum of Art and Technology" and is one of those immersive art experiences that have been popping up all over the place in the last 5-10 years. I have visited a few in the past couple of years; in fact, I recently visited one in Montreal that I actually really enjoyed a couple of months ago. When they're good they can make you think about or experience art in a new or different way. When they're not as good, they seem like a series of rooms of selfie walls, more social media than art. Mercer Labs fell into the latter for me. Some of the rooms are really attempting to create an immersive, sensory experience, an opportunity to think about sight and sound, but I got very little out of the experience and quickly made my way through it. At about $60 for a visit and since I was only in NYC for 2.5 days, I'm not that thrilled that I spent time here and it would take a lot for me to be at all interested in going back. NYC has so much amazing art, public art, museum art, gallery art...I just don't think Mercer Labs is worth a visit (especially if you're visiting and you're time limited). It's twice the cost of the Met. TWICE. Maybe it's just not for me. Computational art and these immersive experiences can often be a miss for me. But for $60, I think it might be a miss for a lot of people.

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.

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.

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.

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.