Photo credit: Jason Andrew Layne
Twelve years after the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center removed the iconic southern Manhattan skyline, the newly erected One World Trade Center stands tall in that same location. The appropriately 1,776 foot tower not only replaces the Twin Towers, but it is a part of the 9/11 memorial to those affected by the attacks. The construction has brought new life to lower Manhattan and has illustrated a new standard in architecture and engineering.
The construction of One World Trade Center began in April 28, 2006, almost five years after the Twin Towers were destroyed. According to the official One World Trade Center timeline it took until May of 2013 to place the final piece at the top of the monumental building, making it the tallest building in the Western hemisphere. The tower is expected to be open to the public by late 2013 or early 2014, reports LowerManhattan.info.
The building’s modern architecture was chosen to make One World Trade Center “an innovative mix of architecture, safety and sustainability,” claims Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the agency that oversees the location.
A description on their website states: “Its structure is designed around a strong, redundant steel frame, consisting of beams and columns. Paired with a concrete-core shear wall, the redundant steel frame lends substantial rigidity and redundancy to the overall building structure while providing column-free interior spans for maximum flexibility. The building incorporates highly advanced state-of-the-art life-safety systems that exceed the requirements of the New York City Building Code and that will lead the way in developing new innovative technology for high-rise building standards.”
Building One World Trade Center has been a topic of discussion even before the tower was designed, and the subsequent construction has been emotional and inspiring, with the formerly dubbed Freedom Tower symbolizing more than just advancements in architecture and engineering.