Atrium

The Atrium serves as a hub connecting several sections of the Welcome Center complex together. Jack must pass through here during the events of Bioshock.

History
After the new citizens of Rapture arrive at the Welcome Center complex, they could gain information and experience the luxuries of their new underwater utopia. The Atrium connects several different portions of Rapture together from the tunnels leading to the Bathysphere Station to the elevator bank leading to several businesses. The area consists of a public waiting area and the actual Atrium located further up a flight of stairs. Like most of Rapture, the Atrium suffered serious damage from the Civil War. At some point, a lone Thuggish Splicer took up residence in the alcoves of the waiting area.

Waiting Area
The bulkhead to the tunnels immediately seals behind Jack after he walks through; there's no going back now. Jack finds himself in a small waiting room, but the door leading ahead is sealed. While gathering the abundant loot in the room, a Thuggish Splicer skulks around. Atlas teaches Jack the "One-Two Punch," it proves effective. Afterwards, another splicer will unlock the bulkhead and enter the room. Shortly after dispatching with him, the bulkhead leading to the tunnel will buckle.



Atrium
The Atium stretches several stories high, it is decorated with a small reflecting pool and pro-capitalism art including several banners and a giant Great Chain monument. At one end of the room is an elevator bank with six elevators adorned by a gilded statue and a cascading waterfall. The elevators lead to several different businesses including a Le Marquis D'Epoque and the Kashmir Restaurant. However, all businesses except for the Kashmir have been shuttered and most of the elevators have fallen into disrepair.

As Jack climbs the broken staircase, a man is overheard begging for his life with another person. Apparently he failed Ryan in some way and now pays the price. Just as Jack reaches the top of the stairs, there is an explosion and an elevator crashes to the bottom floor. A Thuggish Splicer engulfed in flames emerges from the elevator bank. Jack takes out the fiery enemy, boards the last remaining express elevator up, and observes a Thuggish Splicer trapped on one of the landings banging on a locked door. As Jack rides, Atlas pleads with him to save his family in Neptune's Bounty. The elevator reaches the top and a deeply disturbed female Thuggish Splicer is seen hunched over a baby carriage singing a demented lullaby. Jack is forced to deal with her and afterwards comes across the pistol. On one side of the landing is a closed Le Marquis D'Epoque with a memorial to Winston Hoffner at the base of the security gate. Beyond the carriage is the entrance to the Kashmir Restaurant.

Trivia

 * Upon entering the elevator bank, the doors will seal. The waterfall has been emptying onto the elevator bank's ceiling for some time, but after Jack enters the space, the glass celing will crack and then break. The space will start flooding as the water pours in, even extinguishing the fire in the crashed elevator. However, Jack cannot drown as the water will only rise to knee heighth.