NEW YORK | One World Trade Center | 1,776' Pinnacle / 1,373' Roof | 108 FLOORS

[Davidsam52]

It looks as though moisture got inside the KPI 7wtc cam and is now obliterating most of the image :( How long now before this is fixed????:shrug::shrug::shrug:

[pnapp1]

I was down at the site this morning and here are a few things I noticed.

1. West external elevator is coming down right now.

2. What you guys are seeing is the bottom portion of the south entrance being installed.

3. Wind it blowing out of the south west so they are installing curtain wall on the north east mechanical floors.

4. There was a big delivery of materials (skids) at the base which look to be metallic in nature. I can only assume it is the base curtain wall panels (not glass fins). :tup:

[CarlosV]

Looks really messy up there.......

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8507/8436092148_830094c3c2_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ceva321/8436092148/)
1 WTC 02012013 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ceva321/8436092148/) by Ceva321 (http://www.flickr.com/people/ceva321/), on Flickr

[NewYorkDominates]

^ You can finally see it!!!

Amazing CarlosV.

[babybackribs2314]

The only noteworthy element about One WTC is the price-tag. The design is banal. It will still likely be an icon on its own, but the WTC complex in its entirety is much more deserving; One WTC is emblematic of everything wrong in construction/politics today.

[CarlosV]

^ You can finally see it!!!

Amazing CarlosV.

Yes, the spire is visible now

also notice workers climbing on the left crane... :)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8190/8436269554_2d613998b8_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ceva321/8436269554/)
1 WTC Spire 02012013 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ceva321/8436269554/) by Ceva321 (http://www.flickr.com/people/ceva321/), on Flickr

[AlphaCentauri]

The only noteworthy element about One WTC is the price-tag. The design is banal. It will still likely be an icon on its own, but the WTC complex in its entirety is much more deserving; One WTC is emblematic of everything wrong in construction/politics today.

So Edgy! :haha:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brian_matiash/8430623702/sizes/o/in/photostream/

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8090/8430623702_856e818baf_o.jpg

[NYGrail]

I did a new cropping--the new wTc pic is from a posting earlier this week (BrianFortakPhotography I believe).

http://i50.tinypic.com/287ztaf.jpg

[aquablue]

I did a new cropping--the new wTc pic is from a posting earlier this week (BrianFortakPhotography I believe).

http://i50.tinypic.com/287ztaf.jpg

The new building is more impressive during the day compared to the twins which just looked dull in the sunshine. At night it is a different story, but daytime is more important. The new tower has grace, the old towers had brute dominating force.



The only noteworthy element about One WTC is the price-tag. The design is banal. It will still likely be an icon on its own, but the WTC complex in its entirety is much more deserving; One WTC is emblematic of everything wrong in construction/politics today.

Far less banal than the originals, which were just giant grey boxes without a hint of grace. Frankly, the current tower is nicer than the majority of the proposals in the original competition. We could have ended up with a giant tick=tack=toe board, while not banal, would be hideous. Since the architects were so feeble at designing anything, I think we ended up with a decent compromise that could have been a disaster if Libeskind had designed it.

[NYdude]

Rebuilding the Twins would have been a ghostly reminder of that day not only for us New Yorkers but the families of the victims. Besides it would be acting as if nothing ever happened, and it wouldn't be the original towers either way so I think this tower is very fitting, it looks just like the North Tower at certain angles, especially when the mast is done. You'll see soon it will take its spot as an icon just as the originals did.

I completely agree with this. This tower is very fitting. I would not want the originals built. Why should we act like it ever happened. By looking at this tower, along with the others, we see the beauty of it, and we are reminded of the change of Lower Manhattan during the past 12 years or so.

[babybackribs2314]

Far less banal than the originals, which were just giant grey boxes without a hint of grace. Frankly, the current tower is nicer than the majority of the proposals in the original competition. We could have ended up with a giant tick=tack=toe board, while not banal, would be hideous. Since the architects were so feeble at designing anything, I think we ended up with a decent compromise that could have been a disaster if Libeskind had designed it.

I do agree that a disaster was averted, and banal is better than... terrible.

I think the difference between this and the original is that while the Twins were heinous monoliths, they were still extraordinarily innovative in how they maximized floor space. Though ugly, for the 1970s they were cutting edge.

The same cannot be said for One WTC; there are already a multitude of derivatives going up in the developing world (especially China).

[NYguy]

The only noteworthy element about One WTC is the price-tag. The design is banal. It will still likely be an icon on its own

I think it benefits more from being Downtown. With everything that will be going on in Midtown over the next few years, this will stand apart, in a sense the way the Empire State did for so many years. The rest of the complex will rise up around it, but the towers will work together to stand out on the lower Manhattan skyline, which itself is better than many city skylines. It's also a very symbolic tower, both for what it stands for and for where it's built. It will be iconic for those reasons. I don't think its the greatest looking building, but I do think it looks nice. However, I also believe they are in the process of making a mistake with that antenna the way it is. It really should have been so much more, the way it was meant to be. (and as you note, for the price :) )



truskeptic (http://www.flickr.com/photos/truskeptic/8433706637/sizes/l/in/photostream/)

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John Skelson (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnskelson/8436319252/sizes/l/in/photostream/)

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[Surrealplaces]

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New York Cityscape (http://www.flickr.com/photos/iuato/8384175117/) by Marcos Iuato (http://www.flickr.com/people/iuato/), on Flickr



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8228/8404241545_2d49474730_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/iuato/8404241545/)
New York Cityscape (http://www.flickr.com/photos/iuato/8404241545/) by Marcos Iuato (http://www.flickr.com/people/iuato/), on Flickr

[JACKinBeantown]

The new building is more impressive during the day compared to the twins which just looked dull in the sunshine. At night it is a different story, but daytime is more important. The new tower has grace, the old towers had brute dominating force.

Keep in mind that in comparing these two pictures you're looking at the twins being backlit by morning light in the east, and the new 1WTC benefiting from the afternoon sun shining on it from the west. But I agree, all three buildings are basic forms without much detail.

[mrnyc]

from njtransit this afternoon

http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o725/NYCnMore/random/46326355-1E47-43F9-AB89-9EE6C6396A29-569-00000059835ECB8A_zpsaeff9416.jpg

[MarshallKnight]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brian_matiash/8430623702/sizes/o/in/photostream/

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8090/8430623702_856e818baf_o.jpg

(Maybe only tangentially on-topic, but) this photo reminds me how much I would love for someone to complete a version of the Met Life North Tower. Now that One WTC is almost done, that low-rise gulf between Downtown and Midtown seems all that much more significant. And although, when the complex is complete, One WTC won't feel so alone, I think the gulf will only be further emphasized.

Anyway, just daydreaming here, but a supertall masterpiece south of ESB would go a long way to bridging that gap.

(Great shot, by the way)

[marshall]

One question I have which is probably been asked before is what will be the main entrance for 1wtc at street level? I remember when I visited the twins in 1992 and again in 1995 there was turn-in off of west street at the North Tower for taxis, VIPs, emergency vehicles, etc. There was an awning over the west street entrance and I suppose it was considered the main one. I know the layout for 1WTC at street level is somewhat different, but similar. So will the building's main entrance be at west street or another side? Also what about for tourists? When I visited the twins, we entered a door facing the plaza where the fountain was. If someone has an updated rendering of the base as it will appear when finished at street level, I'd appreciate it.

[Thaniel]

The new building is more impressive during the day compared to the twins which just looked dull in the sunshine. At night it is a different story, but daytime is more important. The new tower has grace, the old towers had brute dominating force.

The new building also had the advantage of existing in an era with digital cameras. Also the old buildings probably had about 29 years of dirt and grime covering the aluminum cladding the window cleaners didn't clean. If we had digital cameras in 1973 I'm sure they would have looked shimmering and prettier.

[Thaniel]

I did a new cropping--the new wTc pic is from a posting earlier this week (BrianFortakPhotography I believe).

http://i50.tinypic.com/287ztaf.jpg


I combined the two images and accounted for the difference in the camera angles. The first image is slightly further north than the second and also the first image is closer to the buildings than the second. See what you all think?

http://www3.picturepush.com/photo/a/12093731/img/Anonymous/WTC-1-and-4.jpg

[marshall]

The new building also had the advantage of existing in an era with digital cameras. Also the old buildings probably had about 29 years of dirt and grime covering the aluminum cladding the window cleaners didn't clean. If we had digital cameras in 1973 I'm sure they would have looked shimmering and prettier.

Great point! The twins had the aluminum cladding over the steel skeleton, between which were the windows. The window washers did not clean the aluminum to my knowledge, only the windows in-between. The new tower has the advantage of having it's exterior all glass so it seems like it would be much easier for them to keep it all clean! Will it have the window washing tracks on the roof like the twins?

[OptimumPx]

The new building also had the advantage of existing in an era with digital cameras. Also the old buildings probably had about 29 years of dirt and grime covering the aluminum cladding the window cleaners didn't clean. If we had digital cameras in 1973 I'm sure they would have looked shimmering and prettier.

I read somewhere once that the towers were scheduled for a full exterior cleaning in 2002. They would have really been shined if that had been allowed to happen.

[Yackemflaber69]

Wow the pace of the glass is nice

/

[Hudson11]

this side's cladding will definitely be finished by the end of the month. from the kpitv cams

http://oi49.tinypic.com/162pef.jpg

[Silverfox]

this side's cladding will definitely be finished by the end of the month. from the kpitv cams

http://oi49.tinypic.com/162pef.jpg

It's interesting to see how the mechanical vents are arranged in a 4, 5, 5, 4 fashion, rather than in equal groupings.

[599GTO]

http://i50.tinypic.com/24ysmrk.png

[Lockheed922]

I think it benefits more from being Downtown. With everything that will be going on in Midtown over the next few years, this will stand apart, in a sense the way the Empire State did for so many years. The rest of the complex will rise up around it, but the towers will work together to stand out on the lower Manhattan skyline, which itself is better than many city skylines. It's also a very symbolic tower, both for what it stands for and for where it's built. It will be iconic for those reasons. I don't think its the greatest looking building, but I do think it looks nice. However, I also believe they are in the process of making a mistake with that antenna the way it is. It really should have been so much more, the way it was meant to be. (and as you note, for the price :) )


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8087/8433706637_eea0e684a8_b.jpg



That pic kinda reminds me of 9/11

[marvelfannumber1]

Guys, guys, guys.

There is a thread for the twins here: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=184976

You can continue your discussion there.

Alright let's carry on.

[hunser]

Guys, guys, guys.

There is a thread for the twins here: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=184976

You can continue your discussion there.

Alright let's carry on.

This one is even better: What do you think of the new WTC? (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=166333). The last page was amusing, but very OT.

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Day 30… Urban Landscape NYC (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmurder70/8431291428/) von chris langston photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/cmurder70/) auf Flickr

[Otie]

there was a good amount of activity around there earlier today, not sure if that's mundane or not they are working on the base after all

http://oi46.tinypic.com/11sjhqr.jpg

What you are seeing there at the very bottom of the base is masonry forming the final footprint, what appears to be black is nothing more than waterproofing.
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/2228/masonrywall.jpg

Hopefully podium enclosure will begin next week. :tup:

[NYguy]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8217/8384175117_aa73dcec44_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/iuato/8384175117/)
New York Cityscape (http://www.flickr.com/photos/iuato/8384175117/) by Marcos Iuato (http://www.flickr.com/people/iuato/), on Flickr


Nice pic.


One question I have which is probably been asked before is what will be the main entrance for 1wtc at street level? So will the building's main entrance
be at west street or another side? Also what about for tourists?

Tourist will enter from the West Street (west) side. There will be entrances on all sides.



Gary Dunaier (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gary_dunaier/8436423929/sizes/l/in/photostream/)

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wwward0 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwward0/8436968440/sizes/l/in/photostream/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8238/8436968440_40e1c781c8_b.jpg

[PMadFlyer]

Will it have the window washing tracks on the roof like the twins?

No, it will be around the communications ring. in the renders you can see three closely spaced rings below the first platform, these are the rails. They look slightly like a roller coaster track and serve the same function. The window washing device will roll around the ring and a telescoping arm will allow the actual cleaning part to align with the perimeter despite the distance being much farther from the rings at the corners of the tower than the centers of the sides. I still don't know how the device will be locked into the window washer tracks with the triangular glass faces though, on the twins the tracks were continuous the entire distance from the 7th floor to the parapet.

[QUEENSNYMAN]

From: QUEENSNY121

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpHhhBZ2V6g&feature=youtu.be

Some pictures to come later!

[QUEENSNYMAN]

FROM: NYMAN2010

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8506/8438025243_593e9d36eb_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438025243/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438025243/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8470/8439111438_cf291038e2_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8439111438/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8439111438/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8081/8439110932_483d0a5767_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8439110932/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8439110932/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8225/8439110712_7ee204a956_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8439110712/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8439110712/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8515/8438023959_a4af1a9044_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438023959/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438023959/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8516/8438023563_2e7cce63a4_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438023563/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438023563/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8233/8438023157_eebb67098b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438023157/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438023157/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8463/8438022897_d73278c5d6_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438022897/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438022897/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8213/8438022639_314cf89a64_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438022639/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438022639/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8228/8438022273_56706404cd_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438022273/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438022273/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr

[Surrealplaces]

From Pat Day Images found on Imgur.com
http://i.imgur.com/me94F2b.jpg?1

[Dac150]

Amazing - that's a photo you can spend some time looking at.

[NYguy]

FROM: NYMAN2010



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8516/8438023563_2e7cce63a4_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438023563/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438023563/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8228/8438022273_56706404cd_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438022273/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438022273/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr


Always like the distant shots. The Freedom Tower will stand like a gateway to an island of giants.



NaxoEscobar (http://www.flickr.com/photos/naxothe89/8438097241/sizes/l/in/photostream/)

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http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8052/8438095371_06311ba88a_h.jpg

[NewYorkDominates]

Wow,for some reason the last pic QUEENSNYMAN reminded me instantly of the old WTC.It got my throat all choked up.

[NYdude]

FROM: NYMAN2010

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8506/8438025243_593e9d36eb_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438025243/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438025243/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8470/8439111438_cf291038e2_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8439111438/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8439111438/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8081/8439110932_483d0a5767_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8439110932/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8439110932/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8225/8439110712_7ee204a956_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8439110712/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8439110712/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8515/8438023959_a4af1a9044_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438023959/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438023959/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8516/8438023563_2e7cce63a4_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438023563/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438023563/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8233/8438023157_eebb67098b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438023157/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438023157/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8463/8438022897_d73278c5d6_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438022897/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438022897/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8213/8438022639_314cf89a64_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438022639/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438022639/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8228/8438022273_56706404cd_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438022273/)
One World Trade Center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/8438022273/) by NYMAN2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/51949497@N08/), on Flickr

Beautiful pictures!!

[Davidsam52]

What you are seeing there at the very bottom of the base is masonry forming the final footprint, what appears to be black is nothing more than waterproofing.
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/2228/masonrywall.jpg

Hopefully podium enclosure will begin next week. :tup:

The model that they digitally used in this rendering (the one looking at his smartphone) is hot!! ;)

[IntoTheLens827]

'

[IntoTheLens827]

'

[599GTO]

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[NewYorkDominates]

Lone Rider 1
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8468/8440310552_9fc74cb91e_o.jpg

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[Tectonic]

01.31.13
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/775664_10151693529606038_319184808_o.jpg

http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/820770_10151693528776038_419094742_o.jpg

http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/819175_10151693527296038_1563101919_o.jpg
©tectonic

[NYC GUY]

Some glass on the south side put up.

[NewYorkDominates]

A job that sticks to you
Man takes on matchsticks projects full-time

February 2, 2013
By ANDREW POTTER - Staff Writer, Times-Republican

GLADBROOK - Believe it or not, you can make a full-time job out of gluing matchsticks together.

Just ask Pat Acton of Gladbrook.

The man whose amazing matchstick model pieces are on display at Matchstick Marvels in Gladbrook, retired from his job as a career counselor and now makes his models full-time.

http://www.timesrepublican.com/photos/news/lg/556920_2.jpg

http://www.timesrepublican.com/photos/news/lg/556920_1.jpg

... He has signed a three-year contract with Ripley Entertainment to make three models for its Ripley's Believe it or Not museums throughout the world. He has sold models through the years to Ripley's and currently has work in 14 of its museums in several different countries.

"I get a lot of feedback from all over the world," Acton said. "A lot of people ask for advice."

His current project for Ripley's will be completed by July and is a model of the new World Trade Center in New York City including four towers, the museum and reflecting pools. The total project will include a whopping 500,000 matchsticks. Tower One of this project is complete and stands 15 feet tall. Since the project in New York is still a work in progress, it's made for some adjusting on Acton's part.

"One of the problems I've had is the plans for the buildings keep changing," he said.

It's uncertain which Ripley's museum the World Trade Center project will end up at when it is complete.

When he is completed with his projects, he typically rents a U-Haul or van and takes the work to a Ripley's warehouse in Orlando. He says the structures are sturdier than you might think, but he still is wary of their safety during the trip ...

http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/556920/A-job-that-sticks-to-you.html?nav=5005

[Thaniel]

01.31.13

http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/819175_10151693527296038_1563101919_o.jpg
©tectonic

http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/12108615/img/Anonymous/datglass.jpg

[Thaniel]

A job that sticks to you
Man takes on matchsticks projects full-time

February 2, 2013
By ANDREW POTTER - Staff Writer, Times-Republican

http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/556920/A-job-that-sticks-to-you.html?nav=5005

His 2WTC is about 1/4th too short.

[Guiltyspark]

His 2WTC is about 1/4th too short.

Yeah, I was thinking that. Maybe they are not supposed to be to scale?

[Otie]

It looks pretty spotted on to me.

[-Filipe-]

yea 2wtc is to short looks same height as 3 wtc, either way great work

[mrnyc]

^yikes whats up with that??!


http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o725/NYCnMore/nyc/A555B296-22FB-437F-A8E3-C7F537357A12-1048-00000118B1D47986_zpsd2e848ba.jpg

[Otie]

Someone needs to clean those cameras, or just give some time before ice melts.

[Chapelo]

Yeah the KPI cam atop 7WTC has been covered in ice for the last couple of days. Hauntingly beautiful at night though.

And what's going on with Earthcam?

[NYguy]

That's a great model.



Video in the link....
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20130202/NJCARING/302020006/

VIDEO: South Plainfield steel firm putting finishing touches on spire for WTC Freedom Tower
Workers honored by a place in history


http://cmsimg.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=CN&Date=20130202&Category=NJCARING&ArtNo=302020006&Ref=AR&MaxW=600&Border=0


By Mark Spivey
Feb 3, 2013


At first glance, New York City’s One World Trade Center already appears to be nearing completion, if not fully complete, boldly filling in a gap in the Lower Manhattan skyline that has existed since the Twin Towers fell on Sept. 11, 2001. et there’s still a few hundred feet of steel weighing about 620 tons left to go before the skyscraper informally known as Freedom Tower tops out at its planned 1,776 feet — a symbolic nod to the year of American independence. And the finishing touches on the 18 separate pieces of that spire, to be installed one at a time during the next few weeks, are being applied in an enormous borough warehouse off of New Market Avenue.

It’s a cold, repetitive, and distinctly unglamorous task — but some of the dozen or so workers there on Thursday said there was nowhere they’d rather be. “They jump on a boat or a train and go in to see it (the skyscraper) and take pictures,” MRP LLC foreman Darren Colgan said Thursday, referring to the approximately 270 workers to have participated in what’s by far the biggest project in the borough steel fabrication and engineering company’s 14-year history. “They’re really proud of what they’ve done.”

MRP submitted a winning bid for a big portion of the steel work at the World Trade Center site in 2008, according to company president David Floyd. That included construction work from floors one to 104 at One World Trade Center, but on Thursday a small handful of contractors concentrated on the approximately 50-foot lighting mast, or the spire segment that will be installed last. The cylindrical portion of the very top of that segment, which stood about five feet off the ground Thursday, is only a few inches wide. Soon it will mark the highest point of any man-made structure in the western hemisphere.

The spire being worked on last week is very different from the 360-foot telecommunications antenna that once topped the World Trade Center’s North Tower, explained Floyd, a Manalapan resident and Houston native who got his start in the industry as a steelworker there. For one thing, the spire is taller — about 420 feet, to be exact — and it will contain far fewer communications components. Yet it will boast weather cameras, satellite equipment and electric supply lines running all the way to the top.

A massive aircraft warning light will be installed about 10 feet from the pinnacle, Floyd added, with access achieved only via a combination of ladders and struts, some of them comprised of nothing more than simple steel steps on the exterior of spire sections 1,600 feet off the ground. “I don’t want to be the guy changing this light bulb,” Floyd joked (The bulbs, weighing 25 pounds apiece, typically stay lit for about six years each.).

In less than two weeks, all of the 18 spire segments are scheduled to have been shipped out via flatbed trailers to the World Trade Center site, and during the next three weeks or so after that they’ll be hoisted to the top of the skyscraper and installed, Floyd said. But that process will unfold at the whim of Mother Nature, with winds at the top required to be under 15 mph before work can proceed.

One World Trade Center is the shape of a square at its base, becomes a series of interconnected triangles several dozen stories up and is the shape of an octagon toward the middle. Even the various segments of the spire present similar challenges. “It’s a nightmare,” Colgan said. “It’s as though all the engineers got together in a room and asked ‘Who can make the most complicated design?’ ”

What’s more, the skyscraper had to adhere to new building parameters requiring the kind of strength that could withstand a considerably powerful bomb blast or even moderate seismic activity, Floyd explained, making construction “uniquely redundant” in some respects.

[gramsjdg]

I love how they keep referring to it as a "spire"

What they are installing, precisely, is the skeleton of a spire, and nothing more; all those rings and particularly the "spire" tip frame shown in the photo above are there for one reason only: to hold the radome in place, which will not be installed... yet the public will be led to think that they are "architectural flourishes"... what a frickin' joke, especially as the tower itself is so beautiful.:tantrum::lynchmob:

[TheCap'n]

I wonder exactly how long it will take before people quit complaining about the decision to not include the radome?? Everyone's entitled to their feelings and opinion on the matter, but it's a done deal. It's not going to change, and no amount of bitching about the decision is going to benefit anyone. It's been said over, and over, and over again how much some folks dislike the mast/spire. We all get it. We understand. We feel your pain. Can we just move forward at this point, please?

I'm sure most people, like myself, keep coming back to this forum to check in on the latest progress, view/share new photos, and generally stay up-to-date and watch as this amazing and historically significant piece of architecture is being built. The annoying thing is that every few days, some chronic malcontent will start up the entire discussion about how much they hate the revised plan for the mast/spire and the whining cycle starts anew. It's no longer an issue that anything can be done about, so it would be great if we could simply focus on all of the GOOD things about this project that we actually want to hear about. It would certainly make this a better forum.

Having said that, I'm really excited about the new glass and that we're seeing progress with these additional mast sections going up. Any pics of that from up-top would be greatly appreciated.

"Promote the things you love, instead of bashing the things you hate." Have a great night!

[Yackemflaber69]

i had a dream i saw 1 and 4 world trade center completed

[Sioux City]

Right on, Cap'n!

[NewYorkDominates]

Scoboco
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8185/8443519698_147cdab260_h.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8238/8442427893_35d986f73a_h.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottlynchnyc/

[NYguy]

I wonder exactly how long it will take before people quit complaining about the decision to not include the radome?? Everyone's entitled to their feelings and opinion on the matter, but it's a done deal. It's not going to change, and no amount of bitching about the decision is going to benefit anyone. It's been said over, and over, and over again how much some folks dislike the mast/spire. We all get it. We understand. We feel your pain. Can we just move forward at this point, please?

You can move on, in fact I encourage you to. But the opinions of those who don't like the spire are no more invalid than those who do. We will not start banning people from talking about how much they like the tower, and we won't do it to the people who don't like it. It seems you are the one who can't handle it. But in a forum where people exchange ideas, some of them may not be to your liking or to your way of thinking. Complaining about complaining does not elevate you above it in any way, you should know.



iOTA MAjOR (http://www.flickr.com/photos/underwater_living/8443840154/sizes/l/in/photostream/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8473/8443840154_05761fd39d_b.jpg



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8188/8442541311_84fc415f1d_b.jpg



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8189/8443796602_a7cab18f53_b.jpg



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8492/8443862754_d6228e1378_b.jpg



Scoboco (http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottlynchnyc/8443519698/sizes/l/in/photostream/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8185/8443519698_e788d98167_b.jpg



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8238/8442427893_99f0f29463_b.jpg

[mrnyc]

Right on, Cap'n!

come on cap'n -- this is ny. how long do you think it will be until people stop complaining? don't make me tell you that - :haha:

/willierandolphreply ;)

[TheCap'n]

[QUOTE=NYguy;6000043]You can move on, in fact I encourage you to. But the opinions of those who don't like the spire are no more invalid than those who do. We will not start banning people from talking about how much they like the tower, and we won't do it to the people who don't like it. It seems you are the one who can't handle it. But in a forum where people exchange ideas, some of them may not be to your liking or to your way of thinking. Complaining about complaining does not elevate you above it in any way, you should know.

It seems you've missed my point, so I'll reiterate/clarify for you. Your opinion (or anyone else that dislikes the new mast design) is NOT invalid. You're entitled to it all day long. But harping and moaning about the change in this forum isn't productive any longer. For months we've all had a chance to air our grievances over it, and now that time has passed. That's what I was saying.

Also, I have moved on. Like many on here, I liked the radome look, so I'm in your camp in that respect. I was initially disappointed about the decision to remove the radome for a day or two, and then I had to accept the fact that no amount of my lamenting was going to change matters, and that was that. Many people on here haven't seemed to be able to get over the change. This design change directly impacted my own design work on this project in a disappointing/negative way, but I couldn't do anything about it, so I had to take a step back, assess the best way to deal with the change, and keep moving ahead with my work. Besides, the end result has yet to be seen, so it could still end up having an awesome look in the end. Time will tell.

I don't feel "elevated" as you say, and that's not my argument. I also certainly never suggested anyone be banned for anything. I'm not sure where you got that. I'm merely suggesting people consider focusing on the positive aspects of this incredible project instead of continuously harping over a decision that was made nearly 9 months ago that nothing can be done about. It's distracting and counter-productive to the good work that people actually want to follow in the forum.

Whining about the "spire" at this point is akin to an inability to get over a tough loss by your favorite sports team at the end of the season. They lost. It sucks. Life goes on. Time to look forward to the possibilities of next year. Does that make sense? My intent is not to disrespect anyone on here, just to ask people to think about moving on. That's all. If that's too much for some folks, and they want to get upset by my opinion, then I can't help them.

[NYGrail]

I took yacan546's gorgeous sunset photo and cropped it with a similar view from 'jim-in-times-square' on flickr (from the 90s).

http://i48.tinypic.com/s5k3kh.jpg
www.flickr.com/photos/jim-in-times-square/

[pnapp1]

If I'm not mistaken, it looks like some of the base curtain wall is going up on the south east corner where the squaring off steel is. You can see it on the Memorial Pools KPI TV cam.

[Dense_Electric]

[QUOTE=NYguy;6000043]You can move on, in fact I encourage you to. But the opinions of those who don't like the spire are no more invalid than those who do. We will not start banning people from talking about how much they like the tower, and we won't do it to the people who don't like it. It seems you are the one who can't handle it. But in a forum where people exchange ideas, some of them may not be to your liking or to your way of thinking. Complaining about complaining does not elevate you above it in any way, you should know.

It seems you've missed my point, so I'll reiterate/clarify for you. Your opinion (or anyone else that dislikes the new mast design) is NOT invalid. You're entitled to it all day long. But harping and moaning about the change in this forum isn't productive any longer. For months we've all had a chance to air our grievances over it, and now that time has passed. That's what I was saying.

Also, I have moved on. Like many on here, I liked the radome look, so I'm in your camp in that respect. I was initially disappointed about the decision to remove the radome for a day or two, and then I had to accept the fact that no amount of my lamenting was going to change matters, and that was that. Many people on here haven't seemed to be able to get over the change. This design change directly impacted my own design work on this project in a disappointing/negative way, but I couldn't do anything about it, so I had to take a step back, assess the best way to deal with the change, and keep moving ahead with my work. Besides, the end result has yet to be seen, so it could still end up having an awesome look in the end. Time will tell.

I don't feel "elevated" as you say, and that's not my argument. I also certainly never suggested anyone be banned for anything. I'm not sure where you got that. I'm merely suggesting people consider focusing on the positive aspects of this incredible project instead of continuously harping over a decision that was made nearly 9 months ago that nothing can be done about. It's distracting and counter-productive to the good work that people actually want to follow in the forum.

Whining about the "spire" at this point is akin to an inability to get over a tough loss by your favorite sports team at the end of the season. They lost. It sucks. Life goes on. Time to look forward to the possibilities of next year. Does that make sense? My intent is not to disrespect anyone on here, just to ask people to think about moving on. That's all. If that's too much for some folks, and they want to get upset by my opinion, then I can't help them.

In addition to this, I'd like to add (as I've brought up before) that the posts that consist of nothing but "correcting" someone over using the word spire/mast/antenna instead of mast/antenna/spire or whatever have got to stop. It pisses me right the hell off when people use the word "clip" instead of "magazine," or use the phrase "it begs the question" incorrectly, but you don't see me getting all up in a rage about it. Who cares if someone uses the word "spire" to refer to it? Even if CTBUH rules that it *isn't* a spire, it doesn't change what it is or isn't, even if someone calls it a spire (and vice-verse if they rule that it *is*).

[mat97]

If I'm not mistaken, it looks like some of the base curtain wall is going up on the south east corner where the squaring off steel is. You can see it on the Memorial Pools KPI TV cam.

you're right ;)

[uaarkson]

Well shit, someone take a screenshot!

[Puzzlecraft]

Here's a screen shot of the KPI cam. Something is there near the SE corner.... not sure what's going one... doesn't look like the renders at all.

http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/wtc/20130204_KPI_TV_wtc1_base.jpg

[NYdude]

I could not find a clear answer online, so I figured I would ask it here.

Will the spire/antenna be illuminated in different colors for different occasions?

[pnapp1]

Spire sections 301-303 weighing a jaw-dropping 178.5 tons are now in place atop One WTC.

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/377726_428295370581040_411748085_n.jpg
WTC Progress: Facebook http://www.facebook.com/wtcprogress

[NYGrail]

I've never weighed into the "spire/antenna" situation, but looking at that latest photos, and the fact that they are actually building this structure into the building itself, I have to admit that it doesn't look like an antenna at all. The old North tower looked like an antenna (and i loved it, lol), but this "thing" currently being built within/atop 1WTC, looks very much a part of the building. It doesn't resemble a standard spire, but it's not really a pro typical antenna either--it's very much a hybrid. Just my opinion. I often wonder how much of it we will be able to see from a distance.

[RoldanTTLB]

Once it crests the temporary platform in the next week or two with the next few segments, it will quickly become obvious just how visible it will be. Indeed, once the cranes are gone, it will probably be even more visible still.

[TheCap'n]

I could not find a clear answer online, so I figured I would ask it here.

Will the spire/antenna be illuminated in different colors for different occasions?

Yes,but it will be while the majority of the time. Colors for certain holidays/events.

[NewYorque]

I think we definitely can consider the roof structure as a spire.
It is indeed a part of the building. Not an added antenna.

What makes you doubt is the fact that the spire looks "too thin" to be a spire. But a thin spire doesn't mean that it is an antenna.

Look at the top of "London Shard tower". It looks like a thin skeleton, but it's fully part of the building.

Let's wait to see the spire finished, then we'll be fixed if it does looks like a spire, or not :)

[NYGrail]

Look at the top of "London Shard tower". It looks like a thin skeleton, but it's fully part of the building.

Thanks for mentioning that tower--i've forgotten all about it and just looked up recent pics. It's interesting (not my style but still nice).

[NYGrail]

Yes,but it will be while the majority of the time. Colors for certain holidays/events.

I hope it doesn't get too flashy--i'm not a big fan of the Bank of America's antenna changing colors everything few seconds. It's too gaudy for my taste. Empire does it right.

[Hudson11]

pretty much this, but dimmer.

http://oi50.tinypic.com/33xa5fo.jpg

[NYguy]

Also, I have moved on.

Yeah, wich is why you've followed with this beauty:

Whining about the "spire" at this point is akin to an inability to get over a tough loss by your favorite sports team at the end of the season. They lost. It sucks. Life goes on. Time to look forward to the possibilities of next year. Does that make sense? My intent is not to disrespect anyone on here, just to ask people to think about moving on. That's all. If that's too much for some folks, and they want to get upset by my opinion, then I can't help them.

No one is upset by your opinion. You, on the other hand, can't seem to get over other's. My advice to you is simply to avoid the thread if you don't want to see anyone's opinions, and especially if you don't want opinions of the spire. Because it's just beginning to rise. The more there is to see, the more there will be to criticize. I'm sorry this thread can't simply be a love fest to your liking. But you have options.



Delano Reports (http://www.flickr.com/photos/delanoreports/8444265831/sizes/l/in/photostream/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8217/8444265831_c43055a4ec_b.jpg

[Don098]

pretty much this, but dimmer.

http://oi50.tinypic.com/33xa5fo.jpg

Except that this is a render of the original spire. It won't anything like that now.

[NYguy]

Will the spire/antenna be illuminated in different colors for different occasions?

The spire/antenna will be lit in a variety of colors, but a rotating horizontal beacon will be its most prominent feature at night.

http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/145266216/large.jpg


(Horizontal beacon shown in old spire rendering)

http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/140858125/medium.jpg

[Hudson11]

Except that this is a render of the original spire. It won't anything like that now.

the lighting will be the same, the white radome would have been more visible when illuminated, which is why the antenna illumination will appear dimmer.

[marshall]

The antenna may not be covered anymore, but I definately think this will look much more substantial than people think. It will compliment the tower nicely, and the sections are wider than the old north tower antenna. The antenna is quite an impressive structure in its own right.

[Thaniel]

I hope it doesn't get too flashy--i'm not a big fan of the Bank of America's antenna changing colors everything few seconds. It's too gaudy for my taste. Empire does it right.

Empire 'could' do it the same way though. In 2012 it updated it's flood lights to LEDs so that they can flick a switch and make the top 16 millions different colors instead of the original 9 colors it had. Which is one of the reasons they used the top as a winner indicator for the 2012 Pres election.

I agree though, don't make the top of OneWTC a laser light show. Maybe at MOST change the lighting every hour but no more than that. Different colors for different days would be ideal though. I did love the Christmas colors they did for the building (and the candycane service elevator!). I hope next year they light the whole thing like a giant Christmas tree or something. If only for Christmas Day, some might see that as gaudy but the Helmsley Building did it for Dec 2012 and it looked awesome.

[Link100]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8235/8431229246_96c2bbbbab_b.jpg

[NYguy]

the sections are wider than the old north tower antenna.

I don't know about that. It will be taller, but with less bulk. The old antenna was no beauty either, but people didn't expect it to be anything other than what it was. Nothing symbolic about it, and it had no bearing on the tower's design, and was never called into question as such.


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/147498475/large.jpg

[marshall]

Great side-by-side, looks like you're right, the old antenna does look like it was a bit bulkier. But the new one has grown on me, I think it looks more architectural, with the guide-wires and parapet, which the old one didn't have. Either way, I think it will look better than people think! I certainly expected the worst when they ditched the spire plan, but now that I see the sections I am a lot more optimistic! :cool:

I was wondering too about the glass, I know it is clear to maximize light and save energy, but what about in the heat of the summer, is it anti-glare? Does it have any anti-glare or tinting properties to keep the heat out in the hot NY summers? Since glass is such an integral part of this tower, I have just been wondering this so thanks if anyone knows the answer ;)

[O-tacular]

I don't know about that. It will be taller, but with less bulk. The old antenna was no beauty either, but people didn't expect it to be anything other than what it was. Nothing symbolic about it, and it had no bearing on the tower's design, and was never called into question as such.


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/147498475/large.jpg

Sadly I think the old WTC's antenna looked better than this one in its' current state.

[NYguy]

the new one has grown on me

I do think some people will like the antenna, especially not having anything else to go on (with this particular tower). If it were presented in this form initially, with no aspirations of what it should or should not represent, simply as an antenna that topped New York's tallest office building, less people would be unhappy about it.

[Don098]

the lighting will be the same, the white radome would have been more visible when illuminated, which is why the antenna illumination will appear dimmer.

I was trying to point out that "dimmer" is probably a vast understatement. This thing likely will be virtually invisible from afar without the radome.

[NYdude]

Yes,but it will be while the majority of the time. Colors for certain holidays/events.

Thank you

[NYdude]

The spire/antenna will be lit in a variety of colors, but a rotating horizontal beacon will be its most prominent feature at night.

http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/145266216/large.jpg


(Horizontal beacon shown in old spire rendering)

http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/140858125/medium.jpg

Wow, that's pretty interesting, especially with the night skyline. Thanks! :)

[chris123678]

Here's a screen shot of the KPI cam. Something is there near the SE corner.... not sure what's going one... doesn't look like the renders at all.

http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/wtc/20130204_KPI_TV_wtc1_base.jpg



I don't think that's the glass, I think it's the material that's under the base cladding, If I'm not mistaken, it's metal plates with the glass fins over it.

[jd3189]

I've never weighed into the "spire/antenna" situation, but looking at that latest photos, and the fact that they are actually building this structure into the building itself, I have to admit that it doesn't look like an antenna at all. The old North tower looked like an antenna (and i loved it, lol), but this "thing" currently being built within/atop 1WTC, looks very much a part of the building. It doesn't resemble a standard spire, but it's not really a pro typical antenna either--it's very much a hybrid. Just my opinion. I often wonder how much of it we will be able to see from a distance.

Agreed. As of this moment,I'm seeing this as a part of the tower. May not be what I expected and was planned, but it is something to create the Lower Manhattan peak that existed over a decade ago.

[marshall]

I agree, 1WTC's antenna looks much more like a structural part of the building, probably because of the parapet and guide wires, but it just meshes with it very well visually. Very seamless. I liked the old north tower's antenna too, but it looked more superficial like just a birthday candle stuck on top. But this one looks like a definate part of the building itself.

[ih8pickingusernames]

I think the spire is too tall in relation to the size of the building.

- I will reserve my final opinion, when I see it in person.lol

[Don098]

I thought the beacon had been scrapped...

[nycaddict]

^^^ i think i heard that too in an article about the spire redesign

[Otie]

Got permission to post this one.

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/1623/pa02042013y.jpg
© Port Authority

[Hudson11]

It was supposed to flash "N" in morse code or something like that but that plan was tossed out. We're still getting the horizontal beacon.