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

[BTinSF]

By the standards (and building codes) of earthquake country, that framework looks extraordinarily delicate, fragile even for a building of this height.

[meh_cd]

By the standards (and building codes) of earthquake country, that framework looks extraordinarily delicate, fragile even for a building of this height.

It's been said before, but I'll say it again. The core steel is going to be encased in concrete.

[NYguy]

really looking good.. NYGUY should get the key to the city for his knowledge of everything going on not only with this project ,but all over the city

Not hardly. There's a lot that we don't know about, but we try...;) The WTC redevelopment is a focus for so many reasons.

[NYguy]

Update (March 30) from morrongiello (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33965463@N00/3399496870/sizes/l/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3637/3399496870_080690c9ca_b.jpg

[uaarkson]

holy shit, when did they raise the south core forms?

[CHAPINM1]

holy shit, when did they raise the south core forms?

I know! My thoughts exactly!!! :D

[2-TOWERS]

It's been said before, but I'll say it again. The core steel is going to be encased in concrete.

wait to you see the size of the outer steel... remember the originaL WTC core was steel and then covered with 3 sheets of sheetrock.. if you look closely the steel is thick and wont be as thick as the exterior columns but keep in mind that the core will be encased in high density concrete and not sheetrock...

[NYguy]

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/investigators&id=6731727

Chinese to make Freedom Tower glass?

March 31, 2009

A Chinese firm will manufacture one of the most important security-sensitive parts of the tower at One World Trade Center. Eyewitness News has learned that several American companies lost out in a bid to make the blast-resistant glass for the building's base. Instead, the safety-critical panels will be made in China.

It's not just a matter of jobs going overseas while America struggles through a near-depression. There's the issue of safety. One American firm has perfected the making of blast-resistant glass.They were the front-runners in the bid to make it for the Freedom Tower, but in a surprise to many in the construction industry, the Port Authority chose a Chinese firm to make the terrorism-resistant glass.

The first 20 stories of the Freedom Tower will have specially designed blast-resistant glass panels. It's a critical part of security for a building that will instantly become an American symbol and therefore a target.

US Glass Magazine is reporting that a U.S. firm, DCM Solera, the lowest bidder, will use a sub-contractor to procure the glass from a Chinese manufacturer.

"This building has to not only meet but exceed every possible safety and security standard out there," fire safety expert Glenn Corbett said.
Corbett says the Port Authority is making a big mistake.

"This is the number one terrorist target in the country," he said. "Why are we setting our standards so low for the minimum possible bid on this?"

The Port Authority released the following statement: "As a public agency, we select contractors...through a competitive bidding process to ensure the best price and quality since the tower is being financed with public money.This contract was awarded last August to an American company, which subbed out the glass fabrication work to a Chinese firm. We've inspected the firm's manufacturing in China and they're confident that the glass they will fabricate will meet or exceed safety code standards."

PPG Industries of Pittsburgh designed and developed the type of glass to be used in the tower, they worked for months with the Port Authority only to lose out to the low bidder.

"Its astounding to us that they would take a project with this level of development work, we all invested in prior to it's completion, it's specifications and with this level of visibility the Freedom Tower and bid it offshore," PPG senior vice president Vicky Holt said.

New York's senior senator is calling on the Port Authority to rescind the glass contract.

"I think that we have seen product after product from China be unreliable, and in this instance, we need the most reliable," Senator Chuck Schumer said.

The Port Authority says it will continue to send representatives to China to monitor the quality of the glass.

[CoolCzech]

For once, I actually agree with Schumer. We're spending trillions we don't have to "stimulate" the economy, and the PA decides to spend public funds buying glass for the Freedom Tower, of all things, from China?

[37TimPPG]

For once, I actually agree with Schumer. We're spending trillions we don't have to "stimulate" the economy, and the PA decides to spend public funds buying glass for the Freedom Tower, of all things, from China?

I also agree with Schumer. Why the hell would the PA give the bid to a Chinese firm? PPG of Pittsburgh makes a superior quality product that is world class. What about all that Chinese manufactured drywall that rotted in Florida?

Let's hope Schumer can throw his weight around and make the Port Authority see the error of its ways?:(

[itszjay]

I think even if it made in china, it would still need to have America quality glass. Is an open-market, maybe they are adding in Chinese company and try to get a lower bidding price.

[uaarkson]

I swear they've poured the north core at least twice this year, and it doesn't seem to have gotten any higher :???:

[alexjon]

TERRORISM-RESISTANT GLASS, dun dun dun.

Will it protect our freedom with american flags and crying eagles?

[IMADreamer]

Nice, the Freedom tower, now made in China. Man is this country screwed up.

[Indescribable]

IMA, that should be no surprise.

[CoolCzech]

TERRORISM-RESISTANT GLASS, dun dun dun.

Will it protect our freedom with american flags and crying eagles?

Tsk, tsk... it's MAN-MADE CATASTROPHE-RESISTANT GLASS now, don't you know?! :rolleyes:

[NYguy]

I agree that it would have been better for the glass to come from home, but it's not the first element of the Freedom Tower to come from overseas. Some of the steel had to be shipped also, so it's not a first.



http://www.usgnn.com/newsFreedomTower20090401.htm

Freedom Tower Follow Up: Senator Schumer and Safety Group Calls for Change

April 1, 2009

There has been much industry response to the investigative report published yesterday from USGlass magazine regarding the glass for One World Trade Center being manufactured in China after U.S. companies provided much of the development work. The local New York Affiliate, ABC-7, highlighted the story last night based on the USGlass article. In that report New York Senator Charles Schumer called for a rescinding of the glass contract.

Also in response to that article, the Skyscraper Safety Campaign (SSC) held a press conference this morning in New York City regarding this issue.

"It is a well-known fact that numerous Chinese products have inconsistent and questionable quality standards …," said Glenn Corbett of John Jay College in New York City, chief technical advisor to the Skyscraper Safety Campaign.

"In addition to grave safety concerns, the use of Chinese glass in the Freedom Tower is a slap in the face to every hardworking American worker who has lost his or her job in this time of economic crisis," he added. "President Obama has called for jobs to remain in this country so that U.S. citizens can remain gainfully employed."

Corbett also is concerned about the fact that the Freedom Tower is an extremely sensitive building in terms of security.

"The type and quality of glass is one of the most important considerations when designing a terrorism-resistant building," he said. "Glass shards have killed and maimed many people in previous terrorist blasts around the world. It is critical that the design and fabrication of the Freedom Tower glazing meet the highest possible quality standards. Does all of the glass for the Freedom Tower meet the standards of organizations such as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the Department of Defense?"

The SSC called for the following immediate actions in the press conference:

-For the New York and New Jersey Congressional delegation to initiate a federal probe into the legality of the glass contract with China and to explore the relationship between the contract and the signing of the Freedom Tower lease with Beijing Vantone Co.

-For the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) to explain why no American glass company received this contract, and to answer the question why American union workers have been overlooked.

-For the PANYNJ to immediately void the Chinese glass contract and use U.S. products instead.

-For the PANYNJ to show the public exactly which standards were used to design the glass.

[Wheelingman04]

Glass from the Communists.

[QuarterMileSidewalk]

To clarify: The glass in question is only for the base of the tower, right?

If yes, what about the glass for the rest of the tower? Has the supplier for that been decided on yet?

How does the quality of the glass covering all the new supertalls being built throughout China compare to American standards, anyway?

[statler]

It's been said before, but I'll say it again. The core steel is going to be encased in concrete.

So rather than being super-thin beams, they actually act as super-thick rebar. Is that correct?

[NYguy]

Another example of a Downtown company possibly moving out, which new WTC space (and its incentives) could avert...
http://www.observer.com/2009/real-estate/depository-trust-seeks-700k-square-feet

Depository Trust Seeks 700K Square Feet

By Dana Rubinstein
March 24, 2009

The stultifyingly named Depository Trust is one of the latest tenants to tantalize the Manhattan real estate market.

...the Trust is looking for 700,000 square feet, since its lease is up in 2012, according to sources.

Another search for a large chunk of space...the WTC has plenty....


http://www.observer.com/2009/real-estate/zut-alors-french-bank-needs-new-us-hq
Zut Alors! French Bank Needs a New U.S. HQ

By Dana Rubinstein
March 31, 2009

Société Générale has hired CB Richard Ellis to scout for new space, thanks to the impending expiration of its 1221 Avenue of the Americas lease in 2013, according to sources.

Sadly, neither CB Richard Ellis nor the French banking giant would comment for this story. But one source told us the bank is looking for something like 500,000 feet, which would make it one of the bigger kids on a leasing block as underpopulated as a Parisian office after 5 p.m.

It was back in 1994 that Société Générale moved its U.S. headquarters from 50 Rockefeller Plaza to 312,000 square feet at the McGraw-Hill building. (The New York Times made much of the new French signage, with all of its accents aigu: “It will still be known as the McGraw-Hill Building, but new black polished-granite cornerstones at 48th and 49th Streets in front of 1221 Avenue of the Americas bear a decidedly French accent in their gilded lettering.”)

In that move, the bank doubled its size. In 1998, the bank took an additional six floors at 560 Lexington Avenue. Now, it looks like the bank might be trying to consolidate its operations into one building. Given the utter upheaval in the market, transforming it from a fantasyland for landlords into a golden tenant’s market, Société Générale has begun its search at a propitious time.

[MercurySky]

NY Guy,Do you know about where construction of 1 WTC will be around September of this year if all goes according to plan?

[CoolCzech]

Another search for a large chunk of space...the WTC has plenty....


http://www.observer.com/2009/real-estate/zut-alors-french-bank-needs-new-us-hq
Zut Alors! French Bank Needs a New U.S. HQ



Oh oh... does this mean we have to call it the French Tower?? :rolleyes:

[NYguy]

^ Any of the WTC towers could use a tenant right now, 2 and 3 having the most space available.

NY Guy,Do you know about where construction of 1 WTC will be around September of this year if all goes according to plan?

This was from a while back

A few updates...
http://lowermanhattan.info/news/port...way_23444.aspx

The Freedom Tower’s south core is now 35 feet above grade, while the north core is rising fast and should be above grade by late summer 2009. Once the sub-grade portions are complete, the Port expects one new floor to be built every week or two.

From that I would expect at least a few floors to be up. The south core is now said to be about 130 ft.

[MercurySky]

Thanks man. I am planning on going to NYC to see my bro on 9/09/09. I was there in 2005 on 09/05 and 2006 09/06. Great times for sure! This year will be the first time that steel will rise above street level! I am excited to be sure. Please ignore my excitement from Cleveland Town. It is a great thing!

[37TimPPG]

Oh oh... does this mean we have to call it the French Tower?? :rolleyes:

OUI!:D

[photoLith]

Oh oh... does this mean we have to call it the French Tower?? :rolleyes:

lol, France is taking revenge in the name of freedom toast and freedom fries.

[NYguy]

Thanks man. I am planning on going to NYC to see my bro on 9/09/09. I was there in 2005 on 09/05 and 2006 09/06. Great times for sure! This year will be the first time that steel will rise above street level! I am excited to be sure. Please ignore my excitement from Cleveland Town. It is a great thing!

Will you be around on 9/11? The light display is always nice to see. Beside's the Freedom Tower's supposed light show from the spire, there has been talk of moving the annual light beams to the memorial site itself when completed.

[NYguy]

April 2 update from morrongiello (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33965463@N00/3407566104/sizes/l/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3645/3407566104_c478cf42d3_b.jpg

[MercurySky]

I should be around the site if I do get to NYC.

[NYguy]

A comparison of the rendering to the above shot reveals just how close the tower will be to the north void, a street barely between them.

http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/110883635/original.jpg

[CoolCzech]

Will you be around on 9/11? The light display is always nice to see. Beside's the Freedom Tower's supposed light show from the spire, there has been talk of moving the annual light beams to the memorial site itself when completed.

IMO opinion, the annual twin lighting should stop once the WTC is reconstructed.

[2-TOWERS]

you have to wonder about how much soil all those trees will have

[avngingandbright]

I really wish all the buildings in the complex formed a continual street wall and ran exactly parallel to the sidewalk. I feel like it would otherwise be anti-urban and more fitting for a place like the City of London than NYC.

[NYguy]

I really wish all the buildings in the complex formed a continual street wall and ran exactly parallel to the sidewalk.

Thay actually pretty much do, with the exception of Tower 2 which conforms with the street above it, and the "wedge of light" plan initiated in the site plan.

[NYguy]

IMO opinion, the annual twin lighting should stop once the WTC is reconstructed.

It's not a permanent lighting (obviously). There's a reason it's done on 9/11, and that won't change even after the new towers are built.

[NYguy]

Heidi Verstraten (http://www.flickr.com/photos/36297022@N06/3407814945/sizes/l/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3394/3407814945_419d031828_b.jpg

[CarlosV]

From NYGuy "April 2 update from morrongiello"

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3645/3407566104_c478cf42d3_b.jpg

Omg This Is So Exciting!!!!!

I can picture myself sitting there contemplating the waterfalls!!!

[Aleks]

Lighting the "cores" of the fountains for 9/11 would be amazing. It would be one of the simplest yet best looking light "shows" in the world. And it would compliment the new towers.

[NYguy]

Lighting the "cores" of the fountains for 9/11 would be amazing. It would be one of the simplest yet best looking light "shows" in the world. And it would compliment the new towers.

That would be amazing. I think several people submitted ideas of that during the early memorial planning process.

[QuarterMileSidewalk]

^ Are we talking about a more permanent version of the "Tribute in Light," or just backlighting the waterfalls?

[Aleks]

Well I think both would be cool. Maybe lighting up the inside waterfalls once every month would be cool. And on 9/11 do a more permanent version of "Tribute in Light".

Doesn't really matter, doing both would be too much. So either one of the other. But the Tribute in Light would be way cooler than just lighting up the inside waterfalls.

[J.M.]

It would be cool doing the tribute in light right from the memorial. Oh and place the lights around the footprints, Ive kinda wanted to see how that would look like instead of those small ones they put up. :tup:

[QuarterMileSidewalk]

Absolutely.

[MercurySky]

Is the top of One world trade going to light up like the Empire State Building? Are there plans to have 2,3,4 have light shows of their own? I like the base of 7 illuminated purple/blue at night and the very top glowing a light blue at night.

[bryson662001]

Is the top of One world trade going to light up like the Empire State Building? Are there plans to have 2,3,4 have light shows of their own? I like the base of 7 illuminated purple/blue at night and the very top glowing a light blue at night.At the rate it's going, none of us will be still alive to see the top of 1 WTC

[MercurySky]

At the rate it's going, none of us will be still alive to see the top of 1 WTC

Hey,No need to be negative. Myself like most others has been grim on this project over time but now is the time to show some enthusiasm. Things are starting to develop quicky thanks in large part to the many men and women working their tails off to keep the new schedule.

[NYguy]

At the rate it's going, none of us will be still alive to see the top of 1 WTC

Unfortunately, we'll still have to read these ridiculous comments in the meantime. Anyone who has been following the progress of the Freedom Tower knows that it is progressing well.

[NYguy]

Is the top of One world trade going to light up like the Empire State Building?

The have been various schemes for the lighting of the top of the Freedom Tower. In one plan it would change hourly, but it will change more frequently than the Empire State, which changes a lot. The other towers are planned with a lighting sheme as well.


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/66470063/large.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/90034616/large.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/91204051/large.jpg


http://www.downtownexpress.com/de-164/colorandtrees.html

The spire antenna atop the building will no longer be an open structure, but will instead be enclosed. Designed in collaboration with artist Kenneth Snelson, the fiberglass structure is an abstract nod to the Statue of Liberty and will light up in color. “It’s literally the flame of liberty,” said Holmes, holding a small model of the antenna. Unlike the Empire State Building, which changes color from day to day, the Freedom Tower spire could transform its colors and hues by the hour. “We want to have a great big beacon, an announcement that this is Manhattan.”


http://www.articlesbase.com/politics-articles/freedom-tower-will-highlight-the-new-york-skyline-260126.html

A spire will emit an intense beam of light at night that will be visible over a thousand feet into the air above the tower. The light will represent a beacon of freedom in the night sky over New York City.


http://www.designbuild-network.com/projects/freedom-tower-ny/

At the tip of the antenna, a brilliant, slowly rotating beacon will flash the letter 'N' in Morse code, as lightships once did in great harbours of the world. The 'N' stands for 'New York'.

[Nomadd22]

"A spire will emit an intense beam of light at night that will be visible over a thousand feet into the air above the tower. The light will represent a beacon of freedom in the night sky over New York City. "

That should be interesting in different cloud conditions.

The spire tip would be a heluva place for a webcam. Say, internet controllable pan, tilt, 200mm wide zoom lens.

[NYguy]

anna peters (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hello_annapeters/3412948012/sizes/l/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3402/3412948012_c77895d80d_b.jpg

[CoolCzech]

anna peters (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hello_annapeters/3412948012/sizes/l/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3402/3412948012_c77895d80d_b.jpg

Wow, this photo borders on a work of art...

[colemonkee]

What a great photo. Such an ephemeral quality to it. Looks like it was taken in another era altogether.

[MercurySky]

I think it is a bit strange that on a project of this magnitude relatively few rendering of the whole project have been released. Just a thought...

[Duffstuff129]

I think it is a bit strange that on a project of this magnitude relatively few rendering of the whole project have been released. Just a thought...

O Rly?

http://www.wtc.com/media/

There are at least 150 renderings and model shots of the complex, with even if you include the memorial.

I'd say 150+ renderings is quite a bit more than "relatively few". With most projects you're lucky if you get 10.

[meh_cd]

What a great photo. Such an ephemeral quality to it. Looks like it was taken in another era altogether.

Indeed. That's the first thing that I thought as well. A nice change in today's era of digital cameras.

[Duffstuff129]

anna peters (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hello_annapeters/3412948012/sizes/l/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3402/3412948012_c77895d80d_b.jpg

This photo really shows the "Manhattan's tallest building" march towards the water. In the way back is the Park Row building, then the Woolworth, then the North Tower footprint, then 1WTC. All of them are a bit closer to the water, and all of them are newer than the previously mentioned one (which was at one point the tallest in NYC).

Also, has the North core risen? It seems to have gotten bigger since the last time I saw it in person...

[scalziand]

^^One of the forms for the north core jumped. That's been it for visible progress for a while.

[MercurySky]

Near the top of One World Trade Center what is the area for a couple floors where the glass changes patterns? Is that Windows on the World and the observation deck?

[Duffstuff129]

Near the top of One World Trade Center what is the area for a couple floors where the glass changes patterns? Is that Windows on the World and the observation deck?

I believe those are mechanical floors.

The OBS deck and the restaurant are above those.

[Islander]

Which is the building u/c in the background of the last pic? I know, I'm out of touch...

[NYonward]

NY Observer

Signal Trouble at Freedom Tower

By Eliot Brown
April 7, 2009 | 12:00 p.m

A deal to broadcast 11 stations from atop the planned Freedom Tower has fallen apart, seemingly bringing to a close years of negotiations. According to multiple people familiar with discussions, the Metropolitan Television Alliance, a consortium of local television stations, last month informed the Port Authority that it would not be proceeding with a deal for its members to broadcast from an antenna atop the 102-story tower at the World Trade Center site.

The collapse of the deal further strains the finances of the Port Authority at the Lower Manhattan site, as a basic agreement struck with the MTVA in 2003 called for an annual rent of about $10 million, on top of a $20 million payment to build the antenna. The Port Authority owns the site and is building the Skidmore Owings & Merrill-designed Freedom Tower, known officially as 1 World Trade Center.

The agency is now considering whether to build a less costly antenna—the price was north of $20 million—with the hopes of striking a new deal later on, or to build a spire that has an aesthetic function alone. Antenna deal or not, the agency still plans for a spire atop the $3.1 billion tower to bring the building to its symbolic height of 1,776 feet.

“This continues to be part of the design,” Stephen Sigmund, a Port Authority spokesman, said of the 408-foot spire.

The formation of the MTVA, along with the plan to put an antenna atop the skyscraper, came after numerous stations went black following the attacks of September 11, 2001, when the city’s main television broadcast antenna went down with World Trade Center Tower 1.

Since, technological changes in the industry—including a switch from analog to digital broadcasting—have lessened the need for a new major antenna in Lower Manhattan. Already, there are two buildings where owners say they can accommodate all the television broadcasters in the city on their antennas: Wien & Malkin’s Empire State Building and the Durst Organization’s 4 Times Square.

“We’ve got a tremendously robust system,” said Tony Malkin, president of Wien & Malkin. “Every single broadcaster will be supported.”

“We are open and ready for business—plug and play,” said Jordan Barowitz, a Durst spokesman.

Still, the MTVA’s president, Saul Shapiro, said that there are technical benefits of having an antenna at the World Trade Center, and the group is still in talks with the Port Authority for a deal of some sort. “We have not ruled out going to the Freedom Tower,” he said, declining to comment on specifics about the discussions.

However he did acknowledge that some MTVA member stations have pushed back against a new downtown antenna, in part due to the large investment needed.

“Some of the members have different finances, and are looking at broadcast in a different way going forward,” he said. “Locating at 1 World Trade was not the ideal solution for all the members.”

ebrown@observer.com

[JSsocal]

Which is the building u/c in the background of the last pic? I know, I'm out of touch...

That would be Beekman Place, designed by Frank Gehry, it has its own thread here:http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=53610

[NYguy]

Here's the link for that last article:
http://www.observer.com/2009/real-estate/signal-trouble-freedom-tower

According to multiple people familiar with discussions, the Metropolitan Television Alliance, a consortium of local television stations, last month informed the Port Authority that it would not be proceeding with a deal for its members to broadcast from an antenna atop the 102-story tower at the World Trade Center site.

The agency is now considering whether to build a less costly antenna—the price was north of $20 million—with the hopes of striking a new deal later on, or to build a spire that has an aesthetic function alone. Antenna deal or not, the agency still plans for a spire atop the $3.1 billion tower to bring the building to its symbolic height of 1,776 feet.

“This continues to be part of the design,” Stephen Sigmund, a Port Authority spokesman, said of the 408-foot spire.

Could be good news, particularly with the lost plan to put an outdoor deck at the top. It could be like the Empire State.

[NYguy]

morrongiello (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33965463@N00/3422038644/sizes/l/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3583/3422038644_7711f4964d_b.jpg

[NewYorker2009]

I hope they place an outdoor Observation Deck on top because 1,265 feet isn't high enough and we need to be at the "Top Of The World" again.

[J.M.]

I doubt an outdoor observation deck would be on 1 WTC, to much 'roof stuff' probbly on top for people to walk around especially the Atenna ( probbly would get in the way ). But who knows..

[philvia]

i was near there the other day.. and you know those "guides" that are hired by oblivious tourists? i overheard the guide telling the group that the "Freedom Tower will have a music space on the 84th floor and everything above that is empty space to the top. There may or not be and observation deck."

:koko: retards

[QuarterMileSidewalk]

^GAAAHH! Misinformation SUCKS.

[howardroark]

We need to hurry and keep up with the russians ( chinese), they're way ahead of us. ;)

[QuarterMileSidewalk]

^ I don't think that should be our motive. :sly:

[Eigenwelt]

Still the worst spire I have ever seen and that ridiculous doughnut looks slapped on. They're capping a pretty classy tower with some pretty unclassy mickey mouse bullshit.

[NYguy]

I doubt an outdoor observation deck would be on 1 WTC, to much 'roof stuff' probbly on top for people to walk around especially the Atenna ( probbly would get in the way ). But who knows..

This version of the tower was originally envisioned as having an outdoor deck at 1,362 ft, with the parapet reaching 1,368 ft. Without the need for broadcasting equipment, that plan should be thrown back into place. Earlier plans also called for a 2-level restaurant and 1 level indoor deck. Those plans were reversed (the restaurant will now have 1 level) to accomodate the expected tourists to the top of the tower. All the more reason to add more space outdoors. The outdoor deck at the old WTC, and even the Empire State is around the perimeter of the roof, the spire shouldn't be a problem.

[NYguy]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04082009/news/regionalnews/a_tower_out_age_163415.htm

A TOWER OUT-AGE

April 8, 2009

The Freedom Tower may become a beacon of liberty, but it won't be beaming TV signals to homes around the region now that an alliance of broadcasters has pulled out of a proposal to put an antenna on top of the skyscraper.

The antenna to serve 11 TV stations was slated to be housed inside a 408-foot spire at the top of the tower, bringing the overall height to 1,776 feet.

But the Port Authority and the Metropolitan Television Alliance have failed to seal a deal that would have paid the agency $10 million in annual rent and $20 million for construction.

Even without the TV antenna, officials at the bistate agency said they are committed to building the spire.

"A structure on top remains a part of the design," said PA spokesman Stephen Sigmund.

Television signals are now being beamed from the Empire State Building.

"People get a great signal with what we have now," said Saul Shapiro, president of the Metropolitan Television Alliance. "Broadcasters are worried about the economy right now."

[talltowers08]

Iv noticed on webcam there used to be 6 or so white containers sitting outside 7wtc they have now been moved UNDER one of the floors of the tower any reason why Nyguy if u go back in time on earthcam you see what im talking about.

[NYguy]

Iv noticed on webcam there used to be 6 or so white containers sitting outside 7wtc they have now been moved UNDER one of the floors of the tower any reason why Nyguy if u go back in time on earthcam you see what im talking about.

I don't know. Haven't been down there in a couple of weeks.

[NYguy]

-stan (http://www.flickr.com/photos/spolu/3425176487/sizes/l/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3549/3425176487_f3269706a6_b.jpg

[jsr]

This version of the tower was originally envisioned as having an outdoor deck at 1,362 ft, with the parapet reaching 1,368 ft. Without the need for broadcasting equipment, that plan should be thrown back into place. Earlier plans also called for a 2-level restaurant and 1 level indoor deck. Those plans were reversed (the restaurant will now have 1 level) to accomodate the expected tourists to the top of the tower. All the more reason to add more space outdoors. The outdoor deck at the old WTC, and even the Empire State is around the perimeter of the roof, the spire shouldn't be a problem.

Are there any RF field exposure issues in doing an outdoor deck that close to a giant broadcast antenna?

I once found an online study of the rooftop of 1 WTC where they were measuring field strengths for all the communication antennas up there as part of some work safey program.

[NYguy]

Are there any RF field exposure issues in doing an outdoor deck that close to a giant broadcast antenna?

There was a study done in the planning process for this tower.

[talltowers08]

Nyguy do you think they will make a program about the building of 1WTC they done a program about the construction of the shanghai wfc . and not forgettin other buildings including the old film of the original wtc being built

[CHAPINM1]

Nice thing about this complex is that design changes can be made quite swiftely! I'd be willing to bet that the observatory may be moved to higher floors including the roof...

[NYguy]

Nyguy do you think they will make a program about the building of 1WTC they done a program about the construction of the shanghai wfc

I'm sure there will be multiple WTC rebuilding documentation.

[NYguy]

Nice thing about this complex is that design changes can be made quite swiftely! I'd be willing to bet that the observatory may be moved to higher floors including the roof...

That would be nice. As it was, the broadcasters had the top two floors (at least in an earlier plan). If they don't decide to move back to the site, it will free up more space up there, for sure. I get the feeling we haven't heard the last from them though.

http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/62776423/original.jpg

[NYguy]

morrongiello (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33965463@N00/3426413359/sizes/l/), April 9

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3341/3426413359_3d174b9307_b.jpg

[CoolCzech]

I'm sure there will be multiple WTC rebuilding documentation.

Probably the best one is the ongoing project filming the construction 24/7, from the first moment actual reconstruction commenced right thru the completion of the very last bit of work before the new WTC is 100 percent done. That will make one awesome piece of high-speed footage :cheers:

[CoolCzech]

Regarding the broadcasters, there is a disconnect between their current position that the ESB and Times Square 4 suffice to meet their broadcast needs, given digital broadcasting technology, and their previous stated need to build a 2,000 foot broadcast tower of their own. What, they never heard that broadcasting was going digital?

I suspect that this is all about staking a negotiating position...

[NYguy]

What, they never heard that broadcasting was going digital?

That was one of the issues discussed earlier, during the lease negotiations. That led some to speculate that the spire might not get built. But the spire itself is a design element meant to mark 1,776 ft, so broadcasters or not, the spire will be built. Maybe the design will be altered again from what we last saw:


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/91172572/original.jpg

[Nei!l]

Originally Posted by talltowers08
Nyguy do you think they will make a program about the building of 1WTC they done a program about the construction of the shanghai wfc

I'm not Nyguy but I'm sure you will find this interesting.

http://www.wtc.com/media/videos/Completing%20the%20Vision=col=%20The%20Design

[A-K O.G.]

shows like modern marvels, build it bigger, extreme engineering ect. i'm sure will eat this project up..

[Puzzlecraft]

If the antenna and its dorky base go, I like to see it replaced with something like a really big illuminated great rhombihexahedron built on the roof, in keeping with the octagonal / eight sided motif of the building, and then an elegant eight sided spire from there reaching up to 1776 ft.

[Indescribable]

The bottom of the spire now looks like a set of stadium lights.

[CHAPINM1]

An outdoor observatory could easily be built around the upper portion of the building that would consist of the base of the spire. Look at the Empire State Building's observatory and how it goes around the parameters of the floor it's on.

[QuarterMileSidewalk]

The bottom of the spire now looks like a set of stadium lights.

That's about the most impressive set of microwave transmitters I've ever seen...

[NYguy]

I like that version of the spire better than I like this one.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3542/3428359559_0f3bde6ac7_o.jpg
tse. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/_tse/3428359559/sizes/o/)

[MercurySky]

The new design looks worse or at least the drawing on the right does.

[Dac150]

Must there be that many trees......

[J.M.]

Dont know if anybody posted this yet but I found this site and features alot of images with the new WTC included, just wanted to share ;)

http://www.77hudson.com/

[kfunck1]

I just got finished reading about 3 months of this thread, and just wanted to express my gratitude towards all of the photographers. The scale of this project is absolutely staggering, and I constantly find myself in awe. Its pretty awesome to have history chronicled with super hi-def cameras too, btw.

[canadate]

I'm sick and tired of everyone complaining like little kids..I mean, most of you people are probably older than me...No one here is in charge of this project so JUST DEAL WITH IT!! Stop acting like a bunch of children. This The Freedom Tower or One World Trade Center (or whatever you want to call it) is nothing less than amazing...be happy with what you're getting.

[NYguy]

Dont know if anybody posted this yet but I found this site and features alot of images with the new WTC included, just wanted to share ;)

http://www.77hudson.com/

Yeah, those images were posted here already.

Must there be that many trees......

Yes, there will be a lot of trees. However, the trees you see to the right of the Freedom Tower won't be there.

The new design looks worse or at least the drawing on the right does.

The newer design is closer to what a New York spire should look like.