World Trade Center Transportation Hub set to open Thursday, take a look inside!

LOWER MANHATTAN (WABC) -- The New World Trade Center Transportation Hub and Shopping Center took a decade to build and cost $4 billion.

Eyewitness News took an inside look at the enormous project.

"It is the eighth wonder of the world," said Steven Plate, Port Authority.

Plate has overseen this project for the Port Authority for 10 years. It was designed in 2004 by Santiago Calatrava. Ground wasn't broken until 2010. In two days, part of the World Trade Center Transportation Hub will open.

"We're connecting to everything to everything, all of the different subway lines in Lower Manhattan, the PATH system, ferry system, truly an intermodal facility to rival that of Grand Central Station," Plate said.

And with a soaring bird like structure, it's a totally different feel than Grand Central. It's airy and luminous, white and peaceful, with a lengthy retractable skylight. It's a way to honor those who died in the September 11th attacks. It's not just a place to pass through, but a place that's meant to inspire.

"It will be, in my opinion, an important tool for the development of the whole community and emphasize the evolution of downtown," Calatrava said.

There will be 75,000 square feet of food and retail there. An Apple Store is slated to go there. It will become a destination beyond just a transportation hub. But as for the design, not everyone loves how it looks.

"It looks fine really, not really interesting, not really beautiful. It just looks really large, and wide, and spacious," one commuter said.

"I think it's a really beautiful building. I mean, the train station is like the nicest one, a lot nicer than going to Penn Station, so I prefer taking the PATH to here," another commuter said.