One World Trade Center Tops Out
One World Trade Center in New York has become the world's third-tallest building after topping out at a height of 541 meters. A 124-meter steel spire was installed on May 10, pushing the skyscraper's height to 1776 feet - a number commemorating the year of America's independence.
One World Trade Center is now the tallest structure in the USA and the Western Hemisphere, although there is debate over whether the spire is actually a removable antenna - a vital distinction in measuring buildings. Built at a cost of US$ 3.9 billion, the tower also has the distinction of being the most expensive office building in the world.
Previously known as the Freedom Tower, the building is located in the northwest corner of the site where the former World Trade Center towers were destroyed in the 11 September 2001 attacks. On March 30, 2009, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed that the building will be known by its legal name, One World Trade Center, rather than the colloquial name, Freedom Tower.
Originally designed by Daniel Libeskind - the architect behind the master plan for the entire Ground Zero site - the tower underwent numerous revisions before US firm SOM was brought in to oversee its design.
Following the destruction of the original World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, there was much debate regarding the future of the World Trade Center site. Proposals began almost immediately, and by 2003, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation organized a competition to determine how to use the site. Public rejection of the first round of designs, the "Preliminary Design Concepts," led to a second, more open competition in December 2002, in which a design by Daniel Libeskind was selected.
A final design for the One World Trade Center was formally unveiled on June 28, 2005. On April 26, 2006, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey approved a conceptual framework that enabled foundation construction to begin, and a formal agreement was drafted on the following day. Although the symbolic cornerstone of One World Trade Center was laid in a ceremony on July 4, 2004, tower's construction began in May 2006 with a formal ceremony that took place when the first construction team arrived. The building's topping out occurred on August 31, 2012, and was completed on May 2, 2013.
The tower will officially open when the installation of podium glass and interior construction are completed in late 2013 or early 2014. When finally completed, it will offer 241 thousand square meters of commercial office space as well as observation decks, TV broadcasting facilities and restaurants.
One World Trade Center is now the tallest structure in the USA and the Western Hemisphere, although there is debate over whether the spire is actually a removable antenna - a vital distinction in measuring buildings. Built at a cost of US$ 3.9 billion, the tower also has the distinction of being the most expensive office building in the world.
Previously known as the Freedom Tower, the building is located in the northwest corner of the site where the former World Trade Center towers were destroyed in the 11 September 2001 attacks. On March 30, 2009, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed that the building will be known by its legal name, One World Trade Center, rather than the colloquial name, Freedom Tower.
Originally designed by Daniel Libeskind - the architect behind the master plan for the entire Ground Zero site - the tower underwent numerous revisions before US firm SOM was brought in to oversee its design.
Following the destruction of the original World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, there was much debate regarding the future of the World Trade Center site. Proposals began almost immediately, and by 2003, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation organized a competition to determine how to use the site. Public rejection of the first round of designs, the "Preliminary Design Concepts," led to a second, more open competition in December 2002, in which a design by Daniel Libeskind was selected.
A final design for the One World Trade Center was formally unveiled on June 28, 2005. On April 26, 2006, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey approved a conceptual framework that enabled foundation construction to begin, and a formal agreement was drafted on the following day. Although the symbolic cornerstone of One World Trade Center was laid in a ceremony on July 4, 2004, tower's construction began in May 2006 with a formal ceremony that took place when the first construction team arrived. The building's topping out occurred on August 31, 2012, and was completed on May 2, 2013.
The tower will officially open when the installation of podium glass and interior construction are completed in late 2013 or early 2014. When finally completed, it will offer 241 thousand square meters of commercial office space as well as observation decks, TV broadcasting facilities and restaurants.
