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

[TechTalkGuy]

:previous: It looks good to me !! :tup:

[WorldTradeCenter]

I like the new base.

[Gabedamien]

...The reason I'm happy with this change is now the tower will not be growing wider, before going smaller, when viewing the tower from 45 degrees. The taper makes the tower very bottom heavy.

The renders recently posted are the first I’ve seen of the entire tower with the most recent base design. I can understand what you’re saying about the taper, and to be honest I never thought the new base was bad (like the antenna... it’s going to take me a long time to get over that travesty). I just liked the old one a little bit better.

That’s the last I’ll say on that topic, now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

[RockMont]

That actually looks pretty good.

[TechTalkGuy]

I think it's safe to say that for those of us who do not nitpick every fine little detail, we agree that the appearance looks good as is. :tup:

[Kevin Scott Koepke]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7105/7360655438_1e62e15240_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/plasticfantasticphotography/7360655438/)
IMG_1764 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/plasticfantasticphotography/7360655438/) by kevin scott koepke photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/plasticfantasticphotography/), on Flickr

From last week
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7076/7360741052_2af79e6337_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/plasticfantasticphotography/7360741052/)
titans of new york; 6/3/2012 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/plasticfantasticphotography/7360741052/) by kevin scott koepke photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/plasticfantasticphotography/), on Flickr

[QUEENSNYMAN]

Check out my Flickr page for the latest photo's.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51949497@N08/?saved=1

[Kevin Scott Koepke]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7097/7362136706_ba19ff297b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/plasticfantasticphotography/7362136706/)
statue of liberty/one world trade center; 6/11/2012. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/plasticfantasticphotography/7362136706/) by kevin scott koepke photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/plasticfantasticphotography/), on Flickr

[RockMont]

I think it's safe to say that for those of us who do not nitpick every fine little detail, we agree that the appearance looks good as is. :tup:

Right. That applies to the whole thing, but in my last post, I was referring to the concept sketching of the base. I think the box shape will be better that the original shape, and I like the facade also.

[sterlippo1]

Right. That applies to the whole thing, but in my last post, I was referring to the concept sketching of the base. I think the box shape will be better that the original shape, and I like the facade also.

i like it better this way as well........ now if they can just find a way to get the spire back to the original proposal we'll have something:koko:

[hunser]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7072/7359358748_6eae3f6dc3_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/yukonblizzard/7359358748/)
World Trade Center 1 on June 9, 2012 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/yukonblizzard/7359358748/) von mudpig (http://www.flickr.com/people/yukonblizzard/) auf Flickr

[Modulair]

i haven't followed the progress since several days, but as i see on your recent pictures, it seems that Freedom tower has been topped out, no ? :tup:

[Yankee fan for life]

i haven't followed the progress since several days, but as i see on your recent pictures, it seems that Freedom tower has been topped out, no ? :tup:

No two more floor jumps to go .

[Dense_Electric]

Isn't it one more floor jump and the parapet?

[Roadcruiser1]

No two more floor jumps to go .

One more jump and parapet.

Isn't it one more floor jump and the parapet?

Yes you are correct.

[1Boston]

So is it actually possible that this and 4wtc will top out by thursday, or is it all talk? It seems like the end just came out of no where, it feels like we were saying we had a few hundred feet to go a week ago.

[jd3189]

If the plan does come to fruition, I may be able to visit NYC this summer and see 1 WTC in full roof height. The last time I came was in 2010 and it was barely on the same level of any of its neighbors. However, now two years later, it has once again taken the title of the tallest building in the east coast. Hopefully this is the way Lower Manhattan will stay and it will grow from there.

[chris123678]

So is it actually possible that this and 4wtc will top out by thursday, or is it all talk? It seems like the end just came out of no where, it feels like we were saying we had a few hundred feet to go a week ago.
Four World Trade center might top out on thursday as it only has the parapet.

One World Trade Center has the 105th floor and parapet. So maybe new steel thursday but i doubt that it will top out. But it will definatly top out in the next week or 2

[NYC GUY]

Looks like they've started some decking.

[chris123678]

One World Trade Center's redesigned spire looks somewhat like the spire of One Liberty Place In Philadelphia.

http://jonreese.com/clients/tpi/images/rooftops/one-liberty-place/one-liberty-place-04.jpg

http://nyoobserver.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/2237_0076_120503_rgb.jpg

[Zapatan]

except far uglier....

[tiarae]

Delay in progress today...OSHA was on-site because of an incident yesterday. Obama is supposed to sign the topping out beam Thursday along with everyone else...it's then supposed to be set on Friday.

[CarlosV]

wow we are really that close? :yes:


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7225/7363964082_9423d4c20d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ceva321/7363964082/)
DSC_0054 copy (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ceva321/7363964082/) by Ceva321 (http://www.flickr.com/people/ceva321/), on Flickr

[Davidsam52]

Delay in progress today...OSHA was on-site because of an incident yesterday. Obama is supposed to sign the topping out beam Thursday along with everyone else...it's then supposed to be set on Friday.

What was the incident that occurred?

[NewYorkDominates]

Delay in progress today...OSHA was on-site because of an incident yesterday. Obama is supposed to sign the topping out beam Thursday along with everyone else...it's then supposed to be set on Friday.

That means a 54' jump?I must be missing something?

[Kevin Scott Koepke]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8144/7178817415_454df8ce35_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/plasticfantasticphotography/7178817415/)
DSC05642a (http://www.flickr.com/photos/plasticfantasticphotography/7178817415/) by kevin scott koepke photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/plasticfantasticphotography/), on Flickr

[chris123678]

What incident occured yesterday?

[Dense_Electric]

That means a 54' jump?I must be missing something?

I would guess "topping out" here just means to the roof (but I could be wrong).

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8144/7178817415_454df8ce35_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/plasticfantasticphotography/7178817415/)
DSC05642a (http://www.flickr.com/photos/plasticfantasticphotography/7178817415/) by kevin scott koepke photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/plasticfantasticphotography/), on Flickr

I just noticed that Goldmann-Sachs (or however you spell it) kind of forms a spiral with the WFC. It's gonna compliment the WTC amazingly well when everything's finished.

[babou95]

One World Trade Center's redesigned spire looks somewhat like the spire of One Liberty Place In Philadelphia.

http://jonreese.com/clients/tpi/images/rooftops/one-liberty-place/one-liberty-place-04.jpg

http://nyoobserver.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/2237_0076_120503_rgb.jpg

i think this is the shame for New York and the USA because they build beautiful project and they destroy them for have more money.....

P.S.: I'm not a communist :)

[hunser]

Shot 13 hours ago...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7092/7364002228_07d5dbbc02_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryanbudhu/7364002228/)
One World Trade Center Progress June 2012 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryanbudhu/7364002228/) von RBudhu (http://www.flickr.com/people/ryanbudhu/) auf Flickr

[RockMont]

That glass skin facade, is creeping upward, awfully fast.

[Jonboy1983]

I really like the new base design. I never was really crazy about the chamfered corners; it just looked out of place to me and did not fit in with the rest of the building.

Regarding the comparison of the new spire to that of Liberty Place, I don't see it. I WISH it could look more like that spire; at least it still would most likely count in the overall building height, but yeah I don't see it...

[CarlosV]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7213/7365797040_a93c319d0e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ceva321/7365797040/)
DSC_0063 copy (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ceva321/7365797040/) by Ceva321 (http://www.flickr.com/people/ceva321/), on Flickr

[RockMont]

I really like the new base design. I never was really crazy about the chamfered corners; it just looked out of place to me and did not fit in with the rest of the building


:previous::previous:

[chris123678]

What's with the delay? Also, What "incident" occured at the site?

[NYC GUY]

Wait so when they say steel topping out thursday does that mean floor 105 or the parapet?

[dchan]

From what I've learned, OSHA is only called to a construction site if there has been a death.

[Hudson11]

my bet is that the OSHA made a visit to investigate the small fire that happened a little while ago.

[eseninobrandon]

I wish Osama was alive so he can shove this up his ass

[chris123678]

This Site really has it's issues.
Yet Another Fire, this time at 4 World trade center.

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120612/financial-district/fire-breaks-out-at-4-world-trade-center

No damages, minor.

[Hudson11]

This Site really has it's issues.
Yet Another Fire, this time at 4 World trade center.

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120612/financial-district/fire-breaks-out-at-4-world-trade-center

No damages, minor.

i was close :shrug:

[RockMont]

I wish Osama was alive so he can shove this up his ass

:yes::previous::yes:

That's what I said from the very beginning. However now that he has kicked the bucket, he's still going to get it. :haha: On the other side that is. Down in the bowels where he belongs.

[NYGrail]

Hi everyone--i've been following this awesome forum for about year. I live in Westchester, NY about 14 miles from the WTC (can see it from the bridge by my place). Anyway, I was driving home from NJ yesterday and took this photo from just outside the Lincoln Tunnel. I also have close up pics from March if anyone would like me to post them. You all do a great job here.
http://i49.tinypic.com/wbean7.jpg]
and
http://i47.tinypic.com/25kj4t1.jpg

[NYC GUY]

^^^
Is that from the NJ Turnpike?

[tiarae]

Sunday's incident - one of the ironworkers fell from 104 to 103...he broke his wrist in a couple of places and has a few broken ribs, he was kept overnight for observation...since it's complicated to get back down to the ground, he and his partner were put into a 'basket' and lowered to the ground by the crane.

[NYGrail]

I was on I-78, passenger side coming back from AC. Btw, the tower looks MASSIVE from a distance, even though I'm still a bit disappointed when up close (at the size).

[jd3189]

^^^
Is that from the NJ Turnpike?

Yep.

[marshall]

I am NOT an Obama fan at all, but I think it's appropriate that he is showing up on Flag Day to sign a beam and witness the topping out. Regarding the ironworker, I hope he is alright. Those guys risk their lives everyday and don't get nearly enough credit for what they do. Blue collar workers should be celebrated just as much as white collar ones.

[Roadcruiser1]

I am starting to think that the World Trade Center is cursed. It has a lot of bad luck. In the past and now.

[marshall]

I am starting to think that the World Trade Center is cursed. It has a lot of bad luck. In the past and now.

There's no such thing as "cursed". As far as I am aware, that was the only major injury during the entire construction thus far, which is amazing for a building this size. Several guys died during construction of the Empire State Building..The old World Trade Center had a lot of tragedy but that was due to one thing and one thing only: radical extremism/terrorist. The only reason they succeeded was because we were unprepared and asleep at the switch. I feel pretty confident that the new World Trade Center will not see any of the tragedy of the past. It will be the most secure site in the world, in case any radical Islamists get any ideas.

[chris123678]

Well I see it as a big coincidence.

1 World Trade Center- small fire.
4 world trade center- small fire
One World Trade Center- worker falls
Four World trade Center- steel drops 40 stories.

Does seem to bee a lot.

[マイルズ]

:upload_71700:

[sw5710]

The building is in Red White and Blue. There are core columns that stand above rest of the outer columns. Do those core columns go to the roof level yet?
I thought the top row of beams are floor 104 and core columns extend to the roof now?

[WorldTradeCenter]

i haven't followed the progress since several days, but as i see on your recent pictures, it seems that Freedom tower has been topped out, no ? :tup:

I'm sorry, This is a thread about One World Trade Center.

[Hudson11]

:rolleyes: you have to accept that people will always be calling it freedom tower.

[Zapatan]

:rolleyes: you have to accept that people will always be calling it freedom tower.

I wouldn't mind if it weren't such a horrible name, plus USA is far from the land of the free.

[Duck From NY]

I wouldn't mind if it weren't such a horrible name, plus USA is far from the land of the free.

Yes, because all of the other super-talls going up around the world are in countries far more free than the United States (UAE, Saudi Arabia, China, etc.)

The name sucks because it's corny, not because America isn't free.

[NewYorkDominates]

June 12,2012,7:29 P.M.

1 World Trade Center Is a Growing Presence, and a Changed One
By DAVID W. DUNLAP

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/1-world-trade-center-is-a-growing-presence-and-a-changed-one/

"When President Obama visits 1 World Trade Center on Thursday, he will find a tower that is undeniably impressive and — even a year and a half before its scheduled completion — unquestionably a landmark of 21st-century New York.


But it is not exactly the tower New Yorkers were led to believe they would see when the plans were unveiled in 2006. Since the Durst Organization joined the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 2010 as the effective codeveloper of the project, it has revised the design in a number of ways."

[gramsjdg]

There's no such thing as "cursed". As far as I am aware, that was the only major injury during the entire construction thus far, which is amazing for a building this size. Several guys died during construction of the Empire State Building..The old World Trade Center had a lot of tragedy but that was due to one thing and one thing only: radical extremism/terrorist. The only reason they succeeded was because we were unprepared and asleep at the switch. I feel pretty confident that the new World Trade Center will not see any of the tragedy of the past. It will be the most secure site in the world, in case any radical Islamists get any ideas.

If by "radical Islamists" you mean the CIA and Mossad, then yes, absolutely.

[UpNorthMI]

^^^^
Oh good god, not this shit again.

[Zapatan]

June 12,2012,7:29 P.M.

1 World Trade Center Is a Growing Presence, and a Changed One
By DAVID W. DUNLAP

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/1-world-trade-center-is-a-growing-presence-and-a-changed-one/

"When President Obama visits 1 World Trade Center on Thursday, he will find a tower that is undeniably impressive and — even a year and a half before its scheduled completion — unquestionably a landmark of 21st-century New York.


But it is not exactly the tower New Yorkers were led to believe they would see when the plans were unveiled in 2006. Since the Durst Organization joined the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 2010 as the effective codeveloper of the project, it has revised the design in a number of ways."



Good article, they better think of some way to make the spire architectual and asthetically pleasing soon, or else the tower could be dethroned to 1370 feet, not that it really matters all that much.

“We didn’t make the changes to save money,” he said. “The changes were made in order to construct the building.” Mr. Durst said some features specified by the architects at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and the landscape architects at Peter Walker & Partners would have been all but impossible to build and maintain.

What utter BS... SOM obviously knows what they're doing, they've been designing the tallest buildings on earth since god knows when.

I can't believe Durst would just lie to the public like that, what an assclown.

Elimination of the radome may make it harder to persuade the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, a worldwide arbiter of such things, to include the mast in its calculations. If the council rules in 2014 that 1 World Trade Center is 1,368 feet tall, Willis Tower in Chicago would not be dislodged as the tallest building in the United States.

There a a couple possible NY towers that could surprass the *ahem* SEARS tower by then.

[Albaholic]

The name sucks because it's corny, not because America isn't free.
Not only is it cringe-worthy in the same way that Freedom Fries were, but it's also a complete joke. Only a total hypocrite can look at a tower sitting on 20 stories of windowless concrete bunker disguised with a pretty glass facade, then claiming a symbolic 1776 feet due to a 400-foot antenna dressed up in a barely artistic sheath and say "now that's a symbol of freedom."

It's all the more silly when you consider what it replaces: the original WTC's vast open glass lobbies and a record sky-clawing height without any cop-out antennas.

I'm not knocking the design (god knows you need practical considerations when rebuilding this and if the concrete base is the only way to do that, so be it), but calling it Freedom Tower only adds salt to the wounds when you know in your heart that saying it won't make it true. :(

[Zapatan]

Not only is it cringe-worthy in the same way that Freedom Fries were, but it's also a complete joke. Only a total hypocrite can look at a tower sitting on 20 stories of windowless concrete bunker disguised with a pretty glass facade, then claiming a symbolic 1776 feet due to a 400-foot antenna dressed up in a barely artistic sheath and say "now that's a symbol of freedom."

It's all the more silly when you consider what it replaces: the original WTC's vast open glass lobbies and a record sky-clawing height without any cop-out antennas.

I'm not knocking the design (god knows you need practical considerations when rebuilding this and if the concrete base is the only way to do that, so be it), but calling it Freedom Tower only adds salt to the wounds when you know in your heart that saying it won't make it true. :(


I agree, the building itself is fine and I like it, but for what it's replacing and what is stands for it definitely falls short in many ways, as does the complex.

The one thing the new WTC has going for it though is that there will be 4 large skyscrapers instead of 2 eventually (I think 5WTC is cancelled but not sure)

[Otie]

Five is not cancelled, though there are no plans to build it in a near future. Just hoping they go for a different architect or change the current design. :yuck:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3110/3184339332_076cc9a410_o.jpg

[sterlippo1]

^^^^
Oh good god, not this shit again.
:haha::haha::jester::jester:;)

[MadGnome]

Five is not cancelled, though there are no plans to build it in a near future. Just hoping they go for a different architect or change the current design. :yuck:


The toilet building is definitely cancelled. About the only thing still in place is the address for whatever building winds up there. With WTC 2 & 3 still to go, I'd bet 5 winds up being hotel/residential.

[pico44]

If by "radical Islamists" you mean the CIA and Mossad, then yes, absolutely.



I actually appreciate how this issue has become a nice way for people to announce to the world they're batshit looney

[JACKinBeantown]

I actually appreciate how this issue has become a nice way for people to announce to the world they're batshit looney

"Like"

[Roadcruiser1]

The toilet building is definitely cancelled. About the only thing still in place is the address for whatever building winds up there. With WTC 2 & 3 still to go, I'd bet 5 winds up being hotel/residential.

Nope. There are no newspapers citing that Five World Trade Center is cancelled. Unless if you have news articles that say it is then no it is not.

[Yankee fan for life]

I don't know where you guys are getting your information from but 5 wtc is not cancelled as of yet. http://www.wtc.com/about/office-tower-5 http://www.panynj.gov/wtcprogress/towers-2-7.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_World_Trade_Center

[Guiltyspark]

I actually appreciate how this issue has become a nice way for people to announce to the world they're batshit looney

I know, it has replaced a belief in Bigfoot as the number one way to see if someone has a total disconnect from reality.

[bunky]

The giant Flags are back on the South side.

[MadGnome]

Nope. There are no newspapers citing that Five World Trade Center is cancelled. Unless if you have news articles that say it is then no it is not.
I didn't say 5WTC was cancelled. I said that building in the picture was cancelled.
Someone who spends all day pretending to know his ass from a hole in the ground shouldn't be criticizing anyone.

[TechTalkGuy]

:previous: You didn't say it?
The toilet building is definitely cancelled.
:koko:

[meh_cd]

:previous: You didn't say it?

:koko:

What is so hard for some people to understand? That design is not going to be used whenever 5 WTC is finally built. That's probably a good 15-20 years from now.

[hunser]

A week old...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7094/7346595406_062c576cf1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nobbiusa/7346595406/)
Downtown Manhattan Skyline (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nobbiusa/7346595406/) von Tobias Neubert Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/nobbiusa/) auf Flickr

June, 10th

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7224/7179350633_bc029fc4ee_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pmarella/7179350633/)
Cruise Ship Veendam on the Hudson River (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pmarella/7179350633/) von pmarella (http://www.flickr.com/people/pmarella/) auf Flickr

June, 11th

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7097/7363888510_ea708b3d13_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/changsterdam/7363888510/)
12 06 11_0848_Lower Manhattan (http://www.flickr.com/photos/changsterdam/7363888510/) von changsterdam (http://www.flickr.com/people/changsterdam/) auf Flickr

[marshall]

I hope that awful terminology "ground zero" is history now. No reason to call the site that so I hope all the reporters realize this. Time to move on. 9/11 was a decade ago. The site is no longer an empty pit. Just like its time to stop calling the building "Freedom Tower". It's name is One World Trade Center and has been for several years now. "Freedom Tower" sounds really jingoistic and stupid, just like "Freedom Fries" did. The tower's name is One World Trade Center, period, end of story. It speaks for itself without having a dumb name like Freedom Tower. The building has had way too many design alterations and modifications to even be worthy of a name like "Freedom Tower".

[sw5710]

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5112/5828764123_30fe19e69e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53024120@N04/5828764123/)
in.formed (http://www.flickr.com/people/53024120@N04/)

An older picture of the base and i have a question. Why do some people call the base a 20 story concrete bunker. Yes the 60' lobby does have concrete blast walls. but above that are mechanical floors 2-6 and no concrete blast walls.

[NYC GUY]

Not sure if this is true but did Durst remove the light at the top of the spire?

[chris123678]

Not sure if this is true but did Durst remove the light at the top of the spire?

If your talking about the light that flashed "N" for New York in morse code, yes, they did. It was announced last month.

[pnapp1]

If your talking about the light that flashed "N" for New York in morse code, yes, they did. It was announced last month.

The beacon is still there though... It will be a more consistent and farther reaching lighting effect now. One change that was for the better.

[NewYorkDominates]

^Well said.

[CarlosV]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7223/7369773110_566857a7bc_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ceva321/7369773110/)
DSC_0068 copy (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ceva321/7369773110/) by Ceva321 (http://www.flickr.com/people/ceva321/), on Flickr

[Albaholic]

Why do some people call the base a 20 story concrete bunker. Yes the 60' lobby does have concrete blast walls. but above that are mechanical floors 2-6 and no concrete blast walls.
Because all of these floors, mechanical or not, are encased in solid windowless concrete the first 20 stories -- designed directly in response to the threat of a bombing.

Maybe "blockhouse" is a more appropriate term than "bunker", but the idea is more or less the same.

[chris123678]

Because all of these floors, mechanical or not, are encased in solid windowless concrete the first 20 stories -- designed directly in response to the threat of a bombing.

Maybe "blockhouse" is a more appropriate term than "bunker", but the idea is more or less the same.

Actually the floors above the lobby walls, aren't encased in concrete. Look at that pic he posted

[Roadcruiser1]

Actually the floors above the lobby walls, aren't encased in concrete. Look at that pic he posted

They are. Those floors have no windows. The so called windows are not windows but the glass fins designed to hide the concrete in the back.

[chris123678]

They are. Those floors have no windows. The so called windows are not windows but the glass fins designed to hide the concrete in the back.

I'm talking about this part of the base. There is no concrete. Only the core. Their are a few pics inside here to.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5112/5828764123_30fe19e69e_b.jpg

[meh_cd]

The black portion above the lobby is just the louvers for the mechanical floors. It's still part of the ugly 20 story base. At least with the original base design there was some differentiation between the lobby and the mechanical floors above. Now it's one big ugly stainless steel block.

[Albaholic]

I guess I assumed the exterior walls of the floors above the lobby will be filled up with concrete -- is the cladding going directly on the metal beams and then just drywall inside?

[sw5710]

....

[sw5710]

There needs to be airflow on those mechanical floors. I don't think concrete will cover them.

[599GTO]

Not sure if this is true but did Durst remove the light at the top of the spire?

Of course he did.

[eseninobrandon]

I read the newspaper today and it said "Later tommorow night, Obamas scheduled to visit the under construction One World Trade Center" Air Force One's gonna land :D

[NewYorkDominates]

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/120430013919-world-trade-center-01-hp-video.jpg
10:22 PM EDT 06.13.12
-WTC workers gear up for Obama visit-
By George Lerner, CNN

[QUOTE]It has risen -- floor by floor, gleaming steel beam by steel beam -- from the scene of what was incomprehensible destruction more than a decade ago.

Now, as 1 World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan stretches closer toward being the tallest building in the United States, it already stands as an icon in its own right.

Punctuating the Manhattan horizon, the once-named "Freedom Tower" also was once fraught with controversy and costly redesigns. But it's soon expected to top off at 1,776 feet -- technically edging out the Willis Tower in Chicago by way of decorative spire affixed to its peak, and replacing the Twin Towers that fell to terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

"Everybody takes pride in this building," says Marc Becker, deputy general superintendent of the construction firm Tishman. "Everyone's an important piece of the puzzle, whether you're an iron worker, whether you're a painter, everyone has a job to do."

"We're all here to see this through to the end," adds Becker.

Crews at the site are gearing up for President Barack Obama's visit Thursday to the work-in-progress -- which now has reached 104 stories -- for an update on its upward growth.

The building is expected to open in about a year and a half.

"We're going to have our topping-out beam placed on the street" so that President Obama can sign it, says Mike Pinelli, general superintendent at 1 TWC.

"It's going be the first signature on the topping-out beam," he adds.

"It's typically signed by everybody on the project at some point and then we're going to erect it shortly thereafter to signify the topping out of Tower One."

On the 92nd floor, workers can often be seen hanging off beams as they twist steel rods into a lattice framework while blowtorches spray sparks against the upper floors.

Lacking external glass at such heights, the structure is edged by black netting to prevent loose objects from falling into the plaza more than a thousand feet below.

Ground was broken in April 2006, on a redesign by the architectural firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, with construction starting later that year.

"The structure itself is a hybrid," says Mel Ruffini, Tishman's project executive. "The perimeter is steel, the core is concrete."

He calls it "the strongest concrete we've ever used in New York, maybe in the United States, for an office building."

"The walls are extremely thick, and all of the building supplies, elevators, all the risers, all telecommunications are within that concrete structure inside the building," he says.

From the 92nd floor, workers are able to watch planes approach the New York region's three major airports, a subtle reminder, they say, of the thousands who died on that September day.

"Tower One, when it's complete, will symbolize everything that was lost in 9/11," Pinelli says. "It also will symbolize our resiliency as a nation, all the hard work put in by everybody."[QUOTE]

[TechTalkGuy]

:previous: One tower is replacing two.
How is only one that reaches the historic height symbolizing everything that was lost on 9/11 ?

When all four office towers are complete, then that claim will become reality, but until that day, it is far from complete.

One thing I will add to this conversation is that One WTC has anchored the Downtown skyline with a focal point of excitement with more to come! :tup:

[plinko]

If the lobby cladding is now squared off, what happens at the lobby floor between the angled columns and the outer cladding? What does that space become? It seems that there would be about 13ft between the columns and the cladding wall?

Is there a rendering?

Just curious.

[WTCman7301]

What time is the president coming to The World Trade Center?

[CarlosV]

Right now bathed in blue lights!! on a very foggy night :worship:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8159/7370750444_e2cc53843b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ceva321/7370750444/)
DSC_0075 copy (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ceva321/7370750444/) by Ceva321 (http://www.flickr.com/people/ceva321/), on Flickr

[TechTalkGuy]

What time is the president coming to The World Trade Center?
Sometime between 3:00PM and 6:00PM, there are planned disruptions to PATH train service.

I was unable to find a published time for the President's announced arrival/departure.

Evening rush-hour traffic may experience unusual delays. :shrug:

[Mojeda101]

I'm just going to leave what Iron Sky made it look like.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a268/mojeda101/ironsky.png