One World Trade Center is the main building of the rebuilt World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Designed by David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, it is the tallest building in the United States, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, and the seventh-tallest in the world.
Photo: Praneeth Thalla
Contrasting with Daniel Libeskind’s original plan, the tower’s final design tapers octagonally as it rises. Its designers stated that the tower would be a “monolithic glass structure reflecting the sky and topped by a sculpted antenna.”.
Photo: Anthony Quintano
In January 2008, two cranes were moved onto the site. Construction of the tower’s concrete core, which began after the cranes arrived, reached street level by May 17. The base was not finished until two years later, after which construction of the office floors began, and the first glass windows were subsequently installed.
An advanced “cocoon” scaffolding system was installed to protect workers from falling, and was the first such safety system installed on a steel structure in the city. The tower’s steel structure was topped out on August 30, 2012.
Photo: FOX 52
President Barack Obama visited the construction site in June 2012 and wrote, on a steel beam that would be hoisted to the top of the tower, the sentence “We remember, we rebuild, we come back stronger!”
On May 10, 2013, the final piece of the spire was lifted to the top of One WTC, bringing the tower to its full height of 541m, and making it the fourth-tallest building in the world at the time.
About the Author:
Bruno Dursin – Managing Director at Believe in Steel. Bruno has more than 30 years of experience in promoting steel & steel solutions. His clients benefit from his extensive network within the building industry.
