What is the truth about mystery skyscraper with NO windows that looms 40-storeys tall in the middle of New York City?
People on social media are mystified by a mysterious 40-story skyscraper in New York City.
The eerie and disturbing building stands out against the people around it and has caught the attention of many confused passersby.
They are concrete towers 40 stories high, but no windows can be seen, making people wonder what the hell is going on inside?
From an office for vampires to the headquarters of Men in Black, crazy theories exist about what lies behind the doors.
Every few years, images and videos of the eerie skyscraper recirculate on social media – in 2017, even Tom Hanks tweeted ‘This is the scariest building I’ve ever seen! WTF is happening inside??’
After videos of the building were shared on Twitter and Reddit this week, commenters began conspiring about what was inside, with one person writing “Gives off MI-6 vibes,” and another quipping “Lizard people don’t need windows.” ‘.
The eerie and disturbing building stands out against the people around it and has attracted the attention of many confused passersby
After videos of the building were shared on Twitter and Reddit this week, commenters began joking about what was inside, with one person writing “Gives off MI-6 vibes,” and another quipping “Lizard people don’t have windows necessary’.
What was the building used for?
The truth behind what the building actually is doesn’t quite live up to the wild theories of aliens and “lizard people,” but it’s interesting and reportedly holds some dark secrets.
It is located at 33 Thomas Street in New York City and is also known as the Long Lines Building.
It was designed and built between 1969 and 1974 to house telephone switching equipment from AT&T (the American Telephone and Telegraph Company) – one of the major telecommunications hubs in the US.
The equipment required a lot of space and a secure location, which is why the floors of the building are higher than average.
Despite being as tall as a 40-story tower, it actually only has 29 stories.
It is also rumored that the skyscraper was originally designed to withstand a nuclear explosion and had enough food to keep 1,500 people alive for two weeks in the event of a catastrophe.
What is it used for today?
Since its construction, it functioned as AT&T’s long-distance telephone exchange until 1999, when the company moved elsewhere.
Today, the windowless skyscraper is sometimes still used for its original purpose of telephone switching by some local telephone exchanges.
Other parts of the building are reportedly used as a high-security data center.
It is now more commonly known as 33 Thomas Street, rather than the AT&T Building or the Long Lines Building.
It is located at 33 Thomas Street in New York City and is also known as the Long Lines Building
It was designed and built between 1969 and 1974 to house telephone switching equipment from AT&T (the American Telephone and Telegraph Company) – one of the major telecommunications hubs in the US.
The dark secrets behind it
However, one research from The Intercept revealed in 2016 that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to this building.
Along with a host of conspiracy theorists, they believe it to be a secret NSA (National Security Agency) base.
Their investigation, which includes leaked documents from Edward Snowden, provides “convincing evidence” that 33 Thomas Street has served as an NSA surveillance site, codenamed TITANPOINTE.
The Intercept claims that, according to a former AT&T engineer, “there is a large international ‘gateway switch’ that routes telephone calls between the United States and countries around the world.”
The agency reportedly monitored these calls from a secure facility in the AT&T building, one of the most important National Security Agency surveillance sites in the United States.
The leaked Edward Snowden documents claim the structure was used for spying on phone calls, faxes and internet data and was first developed under the name ‘Project X’.
The NSA declined to comment to The Intercept about the investigation, and what really goes on behind the building’s doors remains a mystery.
Surrounded by other normal-looking buildings, 33 Thomas Street sticks out like a sore thumb and towers into the sky
The Intercept, along with a host of conspiracy theorists, believes it to be a secret NSA (National Security Agency) base
The Intercept claims that, according to a former AT&T engineer, “there is a large international ‘gateway switch’ that routes telephone calls between the United States and countries around the world.”
What are the other theories?
Some social media users lean on the wild theories, while others are not so convinced.
One Redditor wrote, “Probably a data center and not inhabited by humans,” while another added, “It’s a central telecom office, not a big mystery at all, most major cities have several.” It is air-conditioned because of the equipment.’
Meanwhile, users on Twitter theorized, “So is this where all the vampires live now?” and “Looks like something that should be in Dune.”
The vampire theory proved popular, as users joked that they wouldn’t be able to work if sunlight streamed in through the windows.
Others are convinced that little green aliens and other aliens are kept hidden from the world, behind the eerie walls of the building.
One user said ‘this is where they hold the aliens’, and another user added ‘100% Lizard HQ’.
Another guessed, “I believe this is Man in Black headquarters,” while another guessed, “Gotham City?” questioned, joking that the skyscraper belongs in Batman.