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

[NYguy]

I still say they should have saved the "hoopla" until it was put in place.


Live...

http://www.delawareonline.com/livestream/article/20130502/NEWS/130502015/Watch-live-One-World-Trade-Center-final-spire-put-place


http://www.greatfallstribune.com/interactive/article/20130502/NEWS01/130502001/WATCH-LIVE-One-World-Trade-Center-final-spire-put-place



http://bronx.news12.com/news/remaining-sections-of-1-wtc-lifted-to-roof-1.5182044

http://bronx.news12.com/polopoly_fs/1.5183193.1367506971!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/display_600/image.jpg

[Trinity2112]

check out the live cam...it's heading up right now!

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/World-Trade-Center-Spire-Pieces-Hoisted-Skyscraper-Video-Tallest-Building-205743931.html

[Skyguy_7]

"I believe they will also install it today. You have all this media coverage there. Why would you make them come back? I believe we will see it topped out before the day is over."

^ That would be AWESOME. It wouldn't make any sense to mount it on the roof for 5 days. Thanks for the link, mheadroom. She's already 1/4 of the way up!

[hunser]

http://www.cbsnews.com/2718-201_162-1950/cbs-news-live-video/

It's happening! Beacon being lifted as of now!

[islandxtreme26]

Simply Amazing.

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/2070/spirelifting.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/441/spirelifting.jpg/)

[CCs77]

some captions

http://imageshack.us/a/img577/2917/liftingbeacon1.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img404/7761/liftingbeacon2.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img805/9344/liftingbeacon3.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img14/1750/liftingbeacon4.jpg

It is in place at the dog house

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/3466/liftingbeacon5.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/607/liftingbeacon5.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[asharmaearth411]

Finally!

1).
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/9049/23459192.png

[asharmaearth411]

I wish they can install the pieces today!

[rack776]

Jeez, sorry the Port Authority couldn't personally accommodate your schedule. I guess they valued the safety of their employees over your selfish wants. Go figure!

Hey - STOP bitching about other peoples bitching....Who the hell would ever think that a buildings construction schedule would be dependent on a media event....get a grip dude, I was simply stating my disapointment for not being able to see the event in person the next day....because of a lack of reliable information about its installation. :shrug::koko:

Lighten up everybody. :yes:

[mrnyc]

liftoff! we have liftoff!

hooray and hallelujah at long last it's almost done!

[NYguy]

Well, its up there now.



http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/149978900/original.jpg



http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/149978903/original.jpg



http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/149978904/original.jpg



http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/149978905/original.jpg

[Thaniel]

Ohhhhhhhhhh I totally just figured it out. Why May 2nd was a better day than April 30 or May 1st: Osama bin Laden's death date. OMG I can't believe I forgot about that. Now I see why they put it off.

[mt_climber13]

Have any workers died while this tower was under construction?

[rack776]

Thanks for posting the screen shots everybody!
Wish I could have been there in person to see it installed.

Crazy to think the glass and entrance will be the last visible construction projects to watch on this....untill the interior is done and it opens.

Then we can go see it.

I propose a SSP day 1 year after the observation deck opens,
we should all meet there and celebrate:tup:

[NYguy]

Thanks for posting the screen shots everybody!
Wish I could have been there in person to see it installed.


It's not installed just yet.

[rack776]

It's not installed just yet.

Well I know your not going to see the work up top from the ground but it would have been cool to see the top lifted from the ground.

I cant imagine what the becan and tower lighting will look like, I hope it
makes up for the covering being removed.

We've come a long way from watching the workers clean out the hole and install the foundation.

Keep the photos coming guys. I appreciate it!

[Thaniel]

Have any workers died while this tower was under construction?

Nope. Not One World Trade Center specifically at least.

IF you consider the deconstruction of the Deutsche Bank (future site of 5 WTC) as part of the World Trade Center complex rebuilding project then THAT did have a fire that killed 2? firefighters back in 2007.

[NYC4Life]

Screen grab from a few minutes ago:

http://imageshack.us/scaled/landing/822/img20130502120625.jpg

[drumz0rz]

We've come a long way from watching the workers clean out the hole and install the foundation.
a VERY long way. 6+ years...

[Renton]

Watched it on channel 7 news just now. I could see some Iron workers taking pics at the top. Love to see their pics...

[drumz0rz]

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/219/491228477_09d0b34b03.jpg?v=0
Approximately 6 years ago...

[Kevin Scott Koepke]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8130/8702700802_e19e75a07a_n.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/plasticfantasticphotography/8702700802/)
One World Trade Center; 5/2/2013 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/plasticfantasticphotography/8702700802/) by kevin scott koepke photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/plasticfantasticphotography/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8396/8702715010_022615c649_n.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/plasticfantasticphotography/8702715010/)
One World Trade Center; 5/2/2013 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/plasticfantasticphotography/8702715010/) by kevin scott koepke photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/plasticfantasticphotography/), on Flickr

[Scrapernab2]

Dearest Earthcan, u stink. Bad.

[Chibears85]

here is an updated diagram!

http://i.imgur.com/tiivi4X.png

AND Im uploading the video of the spire being raised right now

[alex4apple]

Looks great!

[Chibears85]

Here is the video of the spire being lifted! It was on timelapse mode (1 picture every 5 seconds) so its going a bit fast...

guPP3EzS6No

[alex4apple]

Wow! That looks fantastic! Great job, I wish I was there to see it :)

[meh_cd]

Nope. Not One World Trade Center specifically at least.

IF you consider the deconstruction of the Deutsche Bank (future site of 5 WTC) as part of the World Trade Center complex rebuilding project then THAT did have a fire that killed 2? firefighters back in 2007.

At least one person died during the final stages of construction of 7 WTC. I believe they fell into an elevator shaft.

But yep. Nobody on 1 WTC.

[NYC4Life]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/197804_10151580983151952_2086039979_n.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151580983151952&set=a.133016901951.107687.8500166951&type=1&theater

[Nexis4Jersey]

From Today in Bayonne...at the CruisePort

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8134/8702820218_b257221d00_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8702820218/)
008 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8702820218/) by Nexis4Jersey09 (http://www.flickr.com/people/42178139@N06/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8535/8702820204_d5f20dd34d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8702820204/)
009 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8702820204/) by Nexis4Jersey09 (http://www.flickr.com/people/42178139@N06/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8412/8701698997_5f8e66dfbb_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8701698997/)
007 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8701698997/) by Nexis4Jersey09 (http://www.flickr.com/people/42178139@N06/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8402/8702820070_ed16bb4d10_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8702820070/)
017 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8702820070/) by Nexis4Jersey09 (http://www.flickr.com/people/42178139@N06/), on Flickr

From 34th Street in Bayonne

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8551/8702820050_399389ee4a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8702820050/)
020 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8702820050/) by Nexis4Jersey09 (http://www.flickr.com/people/42178139@N06/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8534/8701698747_02071a0cf5_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8701698747/)
022 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8701698747/) by Nexis4Jersey09 (http://www.flickr.com/people/42178139@N06/), on Flickr

Bay Ridge in Brooklyn

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8412/8701698651_5c04d5dac5_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8701698651/)
027 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8701698651/) by Nexis4Jersey09 (http://www.flickr.com/people/42178139@N06/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8396/8702819888_f5b263b656_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8702819888/)
028 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8702819888/) by Nexis4Jersey09 (http://www.flickr.com/people/42178139@N06/), on Flickr

From the New Jersey Turnpike

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8397/8701697701_8b2a4460d2_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8701697701/)
079 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8701697701/) by Nexis4Jersey09 (http://www.flickr.com/people/42178139@N06/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8404/8701698079_d4cd84910d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8701698079/)
082 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8701698079/) by Nexis4Jersey09 (http://www.flickr.com/people/42178139@N06/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8134/8702819258_ec5b66ebd5_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8702819258/)
083 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8702819258/) by Nexis4Jersey09 (http://www.flickr.com/people/42178139@N06/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8121/8702819248_7dc703e3f0_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8702819248/)
084 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8702819248/) by Nexis4Jersey09 (http://www.flickr.com/people/42178139@N06/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8138/8702818926_e37fdb3405_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8702818926/)
085 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42178139@N06/8702818926/) by Nexis4Jersey09 (http://www.flickr.com/people/42178139@N06/), on Flickr

[hunser]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/197804_10151580983151952_2086039979_n.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151580983151952&set=a.133016901951.107687.8500166951&type=1&theater

Always loved that perspective. Midown looks like an army ready to attack lol.

[NYC4Life]

Always loved that perspective. Midown looks like an army ready to attack lol.

Another similar photo:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/163516_465122610231649_1002340936_n.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=465122610231649&set=a.133475800063000.32624.109423129134934&type=1&theater

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/182511_465123106898266_1711341897_n.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=465123106898266&set=a.133475800063000.32624.109423129134934&type=1&theater

[Thaniel]

Port Authority: "Okay everybody it's going up this morning!"

*reporters flock to the scene*

"...is exactly what we'll be saying on July 4th."

[NewYorkDominates]

Always loved that perspective. Midown looks like an army ready to attack lol.

...And Jersey City and Brooklyn are doing the flanking maneuver. :P

[MrSlippery519]

Really what is the hold up? Weather has been amazing, little to no wind. I do get the wind is different at the top so is that the reason?

Starting to think it might not go up today.

[Thaniel]

It has nothing to do with being a sunny day! It has to do with "WIND!"

Lets put your ass up at 1800 FT on a stick with 30-40 MPH winds and tell us do you feel safe lifting 16 tons of steal 1400 FT into the air?

I'm tiered of you armchair construction specialists. Use some common sense! :koko:

The wind yesterday was lower than it is today if I'm not mistaken. Today is just 'good' cus it's the day Osama died. Symbolism or something?

If the problem was wind then why isn't it going up RIGHT NOW??? Not a breath in that sky.

[NYdude]

Always curious about this, but does anyone know if they will place and cameras on top of the tower? How cool would that be!?

[detroitmetro101]

not to excuse the developer, but this new spire, with its industrial look, fits perfectly well with the new york skyline.

[Tectonic]

I was at an appointment and missed this :(. I'm already getting used to this massive antenna.

[Thaniel]

I was at an appointment and missed this :(. I'm already getting used to this massive antenna.

Trust me you haven't missed anything. It's not attached, it's just been sitting on the platform at the top all day.

[Silverfox]

As far as I know, they have to finish the rings before they can jump the cranes for the last piece of the antenna.

[buildup]

Question: Are all those catwalks around almost every segment of the spire coming off when they are finished up there?

[QUEENSNYMAN]

Another similar photo:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/163516_465122610231649_1002340936_n.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=465122610231649&set=a.133475800063000.32624.109423129134934&type=1&theater

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/182511_465123106898266_1711341897_n.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=465123106898266&set=a.133475800063000.32624.109423129134934&type=1&theater

Awesome pictures:cheers:

[Benjamin Osborne]

When is the 'antenna' finally going to be added on top???

[Tectonic]

Some lighting tests from irommike40 (http://statigr.am/ironmike40) on Instagram
You can see them on the catwalk above^. Black boxes.
http://distilleryimage2.s3.amazonaws.com/a5e1a746b04111e2af3622000a9f17ea_7.jpg

[MarshallKnight]

Some lighting tests from irommike40 (http://statigr.am/ironmike40) on Instagram


Haha, at first I thought you said lightning tests. That would have been awesome. Can't wait for the first lightning strike photos with the completed spire.

[jd3189]

Oh God, it has been a very long time since we last seen something this tall in the NYC skyline. Now, we have come back to great heights and are continuing to move forward. Aside from the memorial,this will be known as one of the greatest symbols of resilency.o

[bigreach]

Ohhhhhhhhhh I totally just figured it out. Why May 2nd was a better day than April 30 or May 1st: Osama bin Laden's death date. OMG I can't believe I forgot about that. Now I see why they put it off.

No, May 2nd is perfect. it's because the moons of Uranus were discovered on this date, everydate in the year has a certain history, Tomorrow is "Dia de los Madres (MX).?? Lets erect the final piece for them. Or Why not mothers day 5-12-13, would be a great day 1/4 of the nation could go for that. And this 1776 ft, why does the forum say 1787, are they just gonna chopp off 11 feet, or lie to us? 1/4 of the U.s. are mothers, this can be their present. Too me it's build up ALL the press possible, thy don't care about Bin Laden's death why make him amartyr. Muhmmoud Atta birthday in May, tat's why we're doing it then. No this should have been done months ago, they're not waiting on some sillydate. Thier waiting for these jerks who ruined the tower to say "finish it off"

[NYguy]

They've been saying it would be installed at a later date. Why is anyone surprised?


http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/02/18018285-nycs-new-look-one-world-trade-center-spire-scrapes-sky?lite

NYC's new look: One World Trade Center spire scrapes sky

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/pb-130502-world-trade-center-spire-jsa-09.photoblog600.jpg


A crane guided the final piece into a temporary structure that will house the section until final installation by iron workers at a later date.

Once installed, the spire — weighing more than 700 tons — will crown the Freedom Tower at 1,776 feet, making it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.



http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/pb-130502-world-trade-center-spire-jsa-07.photoblog600.jpg



http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/pb-130502-world-trade-center-spire-jsa-10.photoblog600.jpg



http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/pb-130502-world-trade-center-spire-jsa-08.photoblog600.jpg



Michael C Dunne (http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelcdunne/8702484394/sizes/l/in/photostream/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8405/8702484394_ba803a86e7_b.jpg



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8258/8701362173_432afacb40_b.jpg



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8558/8702484216_6c5076739f_b.jpg




Older shots...

Concert_Photos_Magazine (http://www.flickr.com/photos/livemusicphotography/8703532998/sizes/l/in/photostream/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8120/8703532998_3004d76541_b.jpg



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8393/8702412185_a0c8cec429_b.jpg



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8269/8703532624_51f98fbd8d_o.jpg



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8420/8702412473_9b70648118_o.jpg



gust@vo_@dolfo (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gustavo-adolfo/8701530713/sizes/h/in/photostream/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8122/8701530713_79fcf2aa9b_h.jpg

[Tectonic]

Spring light 05.01.13

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/575628_10151447419207903_776766046_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/943555_10151447419162903_1912766364_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/935193_10151447419197903_1322881545_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/946669_10151447419227903_208181922_n.jpg

[franktko]

^ I don't think either party (Durst or the Port Authority) cares about that.

I'm not so sure they don't care about it. How important it is for them? I don't know. But it's always been right at front of all the PR around this building from day one; even today when Steven Plate was commenting the raising of the Rocket, it was the first word coming out of his mouth how this piece would bring the height of the building to this iconic number. They must care at least a little about it...

[mt_climber13]

I may be a little late to the game, but I just read on the news that the last mast was raised.
WTC Rises again!! Human strength and ingenuity will always win over fear, hatred, intolerance, bigotry, and fundamentalism.

WOOOP WOOP!!!

[NewYorkDominates]

This is starting to look a lot like the North Tower, maybe it has to do with the glass reaching the top or the mast finishing up.


Beanhead4529
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8140/8703024769_4ea6db5f04_h.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8379824@N07/8703024769/sizes/h/in/photostream/

[NYguy]

I'm not so sure they don't care about it. How important it is for them? I don't know. But it's always been right at front of all the PR around this building from day one; even today when Steven Plate was commenting the raising of the Rocket, it was the first word coming out of his mouth how this piece would bring the height of the building to this iconic number...

That's because what they have said about it, even when the change was made, still stands - it will reach whatever the final height of the antenna is. Although that is not recognized as official height. The Empire Statre reaches 1,454 ft into the sky, but we all know that is not the official height. Does it reach that hight? Of course it does.


http://observer.com/2012/05/wtc/


The mast takes the tower from the symbolic height of the original towers to the perhaps too symbolic height of 1,776 feet, first envisioned by Daniel Libeskind a decade ago. The problem is that the council does not recognize antennae, flagpoles, signage or other superfluous structures as contributing to the height of the building. That is why the Willis Tower, 1,451 feet, ranks eighth tallest in the world, even though two broadcasting arrays bring its total height to 1,729 feet, the second tallest in the world behind the Burj Khalifa.

This seems absolutely backwards—why encourage “spires,” useless poles with a glimmer of design intent, while forgoing actual, functional structures like antenna and signage. Whatever happened to form follows function? “It’s a practical concern,” Kevin Brass, public affairs manager for the council, said. “What is to stop someone from just adding on a taller and taller antenna?”

“Is it part of the design, or is it a pole on top of the building? That is the question, and we don’t know the answer to it yet,” , Mr. Brass said of 1 World Trade Center. It is a question, then, of architectural intent. And the problem is that the architect of 1 World Trade Center, David Childs, is none too happy about the decision.

“Eliminating this integral part of the building’s design and leaving an exposed antenna and equipment is unfortunate,” he said in a widely disseminated statement.

“It’s not really at risk for us, we’re building the building, we have to build it, whether the council says so, that’s the council’s business,” a World Trade Center source said.


http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2012/05/5877818/irrelevant-discussion-thats-threatening-1-world-trade-centers-statu

But a decision on the matter has yet to be made, and the Council, a member-based organization of architects, engineers, developers and the like, is open to persuasion.

“Now at this point, we’re perfectly open to Durst coming to us and making the case that what is now left is still a spire,” Kevin Brass, the Council’s spokesman, told Capital. “We don’t know yet.”



mazzway (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mazzway/8702529407/sizes/l/in/photostream/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8121/8703647780_47d041b8cc_z.jpg



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http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8542/8703649560_d4ae7c2af9_b.jpg

[mheadroom]

They've been saying it would be installed at a later date. Why is anyone surprised?

I don't think its surprise as much as we were hoping they would do it in spite of the announcement.

Knowing full well that they had announced that they would be installing the final piece at a later date, I was HOPING against all hope that someone with authority would be swept up in the moment and somehow would be able to decide to push forward and finish the thing.

Sure, it's illogical and pretty silly since projects of this scale and complexity aren't governed by one guy's whims (outside of scraping the spire) but I was sure hoping they would.

[animatedmartian]

Video from NYT. Didn't see it posted yet but sorry if it already has been.

P29qghUA748

[Skyguy_7]

Southeast-side glass has begun the final stretch :yes:

[NewYorque]

Will I shock everybody if I say that the antenna of 1WTC is too high?

A "good antenna" must be a tenth of the building it belongs to.
That antenna is a quarter of 1WTC. That's too much.
And the officials would like to include it as a part of the structure??!!
I call that cheating.
Too easy. Let's add an iron piece on the roof of a 420m tall tower, and let's pretend to have the third tallest skyscraper in the world. In my head, 1WTC will always be smaller than Shanghai IFC or Taipei101. That iron stick doesn't count, even if it is part of the structure.

I wish that the antenna was 50m shorter. Or, the roof 50m higher, haha.

[drumz0rz]

That's video from NBC's chopper 4. Not sure why the NYT is laying claim to it but w/e. Source: I was watching the stream live.

[JMGarcia]

I was going to wait to post this until after the spire was finished but since NYGuy brought the subject of spires and antennas up I figured I'd say it now.

Not Controversial

There is no doubt that by any architectural standard the current spire is not as good as design or as fitting with the building as the originally designed spire with the covering was. Primarily it needs to be white to fit with the rest of the finishes of the building. Secondarily it should be thicker to achieve the proper proportions.

You may like the spire as is because you want to like the building badly, you may like it just because you do (there are people who think crushed velvet paintings of Elvis are better than Rembrandt) and your opinion is fine, no problem. But by any serious review using architectural standards the current spire is not good.

Controversial

The CTBUH should forget about the "official height" category. It has passed it's usefullness. Architecture has changed and the CTBUH has to change with it. The only 2 useful heights are structural top including whatever is built on the roof regardless of it's intent or function, and facade height.

When the "official height" category was created by the CTBUH there were basically 2 types of skyscraper architecture, Art Deco and Modern. It sort of made sense that an antenna on the top of a flat topped modern building should not add to the height of the building, but since so much art deco had roof designs coming to a point and then possible with a spire on top to finish the "look" that would be included.

Some example buildings to show why "official height" is no longer useful.

Empire State Building, Willis Tower, Hancock Chicago
The antenna has become such a part of the design that these buildings now look awkward with out it just as would the Chrysler would without its spire.

NY Times Tower, BofA NY, countless others
Not only is the roof lower than the facade (what does the CTBUH have to say about that?) but the pole on top it, while not having a function, is no different than the antenna on the old or new WTC. Would these building's height magically change if their spires started having broadcast equipment attached to them? Would their impact on the skyline change if their spires were replaced with equal height antennas?

To the point at hand, what is the valid reason that the spire on NY Times is counted in official height but the one on WTC is not? I defy the CTBUH or anyone to make an argument that can hold up.

[pnapp1]

The wind yesterday was lower than it is today if I'm not mistaken. Today is just 'good' cus it's the day Osama died. Symbolism or something?

If the problem was wind then why isn't it going up RIGHT NOW??? Not a breath in that sky.

Look, I live here and can tell you the wind has been a big issue all winter and spring. Especially near the water. I am an avid boater and fisherman and I watch the wind very closely. My boat was delayed going in for two weeks because of wind. I've wanting to take a boat ride towards the city all week and have not been able to do so because of... you guessed it wind and rough waters. I would be the first to jump down the P.A.'s throat if it was not true. But it is.

As for why it was not installed yesterday is because it was never planned to be and was not ready to be... clearly stated by the P.A. No ulterior motives as to why it was yesterday just perfect conditions.

And with that said, I was finally able to take my first boat ride of the season towards the city yesterday. :tup:

Sorry I only had my iPhone with me.
http://www.wtcphotos.com/photos/NYC_2013-05-02_p1.JPG

[Chibears85]

Earthcams skyline cam shows that the glass is almost complete! Like, it could be finished on that side TODAY!

http://i.imgur.com/MyXUjeH.png

[jjram]

My first post... and a little bit of photoshop (well, gimp):

Original image by mazzway (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mazzway/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8397/8705158222_a28aa42771_b.jpg

[TechTalkGuy]

Awesome update, pnapp1! :tup:
I believe you regarding the wind.
That spire is very heavy. You don't want any accidents. One slip and a worker could possible fall to his death.

Safety first, people!

[Chibears85]

My first post... and a little bit of photoshop (well, gimp):

Original image by mazzway (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mazzway/)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8397/8705158222_a28aa42771_b.jpg

And I finished it off for ya:

http://i.imgur.com/ArfR8jU.png

[Ninja Man]

Nicely done on the photoshop!

[JayPro]

Not Controversial
There is no doubt that by any architectural standard the current spire is not as good as design or as fitting with the building as the originally designed spire with the covering was. Primarily it needs to be white to fit with the rest of the finishes of the building. Secondarily it should be thicker to achieve the proper proportions.
You may like the spire as is because you want to like the building badly, you may like it just because you do (there are people who think crushed velvet paintings of Elvis are better than Rembrandt) and your opinion is fine, no problem. But by any serious review using architectural standards the current spire is not good.

Point By Point:

1. Please help me define "any architectural standard". Are you proposing to take the tried and true "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" maxim and reduce it to some kind of empirical formula by which every single example of architecture is judged without slightest exception to the rule?? These very same folks who fancy themselves as grand exponents of such standards are in reality little more than self-imprtant dilettantes who look down their snouts at those whose opinions deviate even by a hair.

2. Why must it be white? People are already kvetching that as it is this 400+ foot, pretty-damned-hefty spire can't be seen even from somewhere like the Verazzano Bridge, which IMO is stretching it more than a bit. Therefore, whitening it defeats the purpose of making it more prominent from afar. Keeping it as is is good enough. The metallic corners of the building are better suited for a darker color anyhow.
Secondly, I see no issue with proportion. I mean, look at the antennae of Prudential in Chicago and 1 Shell Plaza in Houston: "That's disproportionate, especially re Shell. Tacking a plain antenna on top of a 715' building just to get it to 1,000' is just plain lazy.

3. I *love* this building; but not suprisingly not as much for anything it may show above ground as for what lies beneath. It has been a fascinating watch to see how unprecedented structure security measures are put into effect. The rest is cake AFAIC. In fact the one aspect of this buidling I *didn't* like was the radome spire, and it was almost exclusively because of the shape and dimensions of it.

Now *there* IMO is an instance of garing disproportionality. But are ***you going to tell me I'm somehow "wrong" for not appreciating why they should've chosen the route you would've liked them to take? Why? Why should your review...or any "artistic" review for that matter...be univerally taken with such poker-faced gravity?

Artistry and architecture can be taken only so far together before one ultimately makes the other look farcical...and I already extrapolated this observation to the radome spire in another thread. This "spantenna" is the most realistic solution available, while at the same time tipping its hat to a semi-architectural need to exaggerate. It also IMO honors NY's industrial heritage, which to me spuersedes any chi-chi homage to whatever thing that some clueless, Johnny-come-lately starchitect *thinks* NY is famous for.

I myself can appreciate all sorts of art, while those that make me wanna barf I simply walk away from without denigrating the efforts of the creator. The idea that there should be universal standards in place to judge good form from bad---and by extension good taste from bad---somehow violates, apropos to this thread. the sovreign right to hold forth on the design of a naked "spantenna" one way or another without ad hoc reprisal.

***:@JMGarcia: I did not mean to suggest that you personally would've accused me of being wrong about something you'd feel strongly about. I should've re-worded it to ask rhetorically whether some hypersensitive guardian of his aesthetic sensibilities would have the fortitude to "call me out".

[fimiak]

Will I shock everybody if I say that the antenna of 1WTC is too high?

A "good antenna" must be a tenth of the building it belongs to.
That antenna is a quarter of 1WTC. That's too much.
And the officials would like to include it as a part of the structure??!!
I call that cheating.
Too easy. Let's add an iron piece on the roof of a 420m tall tower, and let's pretend to have the third tallest skyscraper in the world. In my head, 1WTC will always be smaller than Shanghai IFC or Taipei101. That iron stick doesn't count, even if it is part of the structure.

I wish that the antenna was 50m shorter. Or, the roof 50m higher, haha.


It's a good thing its not an antenna, then.

[deepen915]

More glass progress!
:)
http://www.earthcam.com/swf/cam_player/temp_images/1367604238097.jpg

[hunser]

Beanhead4529
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8140/8703024769_4ea6db5f04_h.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8379824@N07/8703024769/sizes/h/in/photostream/

This is just epic. I can't even begin to imagine how surreal this view is going to be once 2&3 WTC are completed. :worship:

[simms3_redux]

NYC is so epic. Can we just agree that it is officially the center of the universe these days? It's been too long since I've been over there and these pictures on all these construction threads are making me salivate.

[spwelan]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BJWuWZXCIAAcy9t.jpg:large
https://twitter.com/bluishhue2
I'm trying to put at least one picture of the skyline every day that I'm at work, this one is from today

[ThatOneGuy]

I was going to wait to post this until after the spire was finished but since NYGuy brought the subject of spires and antennas up I figured I'd say it now.

Not Controversial

There is no doubt that by any architectural standard the current spire is not as good as design or as fitting with the building as the originally designed spire with the covering was. Primarily it needs to be white to fit with the rest of the finishes of the building. Secondarily it should be thicker to achieve the proper proportions.

You may like the spire as is because you want to like the building badly, you may like it just because you do (there are people who think crushed velvet paintings of Elvis are better than Rembrandt) and your opinion is fine, no problem. But by any serious review using architectural standards the current spire is not good.


Any serious review of architecture standards? So Richard Rogers' Industrial Style architecture isn't valid then? Thie current spire gives a cool industrial look, which relates more to NYC's character, unlike the radome, which belonged more in Dubai than in NYC. And I'm not the only one who thinks this.

So it's indeed controversial.

[bigreach]

Will I shock everybody if I say that the antenna of 1WTC is too high?

A "good antenna" must be a tenth of the building it belongs to.
That antenna is a quarter of 1WTC. That's too much.
And the officials would like to include it as a part of the structure??!!
I call that cheating.
Too easy. Let's add an iron piece on the roof of a 420m tall tower, and let's pretend to have the third tallest skyscraper in the world. In my head, 1WTC will always be smaller than Shanghai IFC or Taipei101. That iron stick doesn't count, even if it is part of the structure.

I wish that the antenna was 50m shorter. Or, the roof 50m higher, haha.

If they added 3o meters to the roof and dropped 30 from the antennae, it would be the same exact building (in height) as Taipei 101.

[hunser]

To be honest I don't really care anymore which tower is taller / shorter than 1WTC, especially since it won't be the peak of the New York skyline for very long (--> 432 PA & Nordstrom Tower).

Nowadays where Dubai, Saudi Arabia and China build the WTB and countless megatalls just for the sake of it, the U.S. simply can't - and shouldn't for that matter - compete. We are in a different developing stage then those countries, i.e. here we build on demand.

[JayPro]

@Hunser:

That. Indeed, this is what makes NYC's building superbinge all the more incredible, even in the midst of our own economic shakiness.
All throughout Asia--from the Turkish Straits to the South China Sea--we're seeing what amounts to very little more than a pissing contest. In North America and Europe (to an arguably lesser degree), construction and demand are joined at the hip.

[JMGarcia]

I never expected my opinion of the aethestics to have raised hackels especially since I specifically said that ..your opinion is fine, no problem.. I understand how some people could like this better. Really I do. What I really expected that my idea of scrapping what the CTBUH is calling the "official height" would get more responses. In essence I'm saying whether a spire or an antenna should not make a difference in their height calculations.

In any case. To talk about this I think we'd have to agree that there is a "generally accepted" concept of good design in architecture both of massing and color as well as what elements fit together well. It is neither absolute nor monolithic, does not need to followed slavishly, nor does it apply to all. It'll probably change next year or the year after that. But, if we cannot agree on that then there is such a thing as generally accepted "good desing" there is no point in the discussion. I also think that when it comes to aesthetics every opinion is just as valid as another but that doesn't mean that there is not a "generally accepted" good design idea.

If we go by "generally accepted" concepts of good design then I will say that I think reviews by professional architects and reviewers would agree that Childs' desing is "better" than the exposed support structure which is really of no design at all. Childs' desing may be flawed and there could certainly be worse designs that the exposed support structure but comparing just these 2 I think the majority would agree that Childs' desing was better based on generally accepted principles of good design. It's not like we are comparing 2 designs here, we are comparing a design to a support structure.

Good design can be taught in terms of both massing and color. There is empirical evidence that certain massing and color combos are please to more people than others.

I think the spire needs to be white because in my opinion and from empirical evidence white is more pleasing with a blue and silver color scheme than black. There is good reason you see virtually every building with that color scheme with a white spire rather than black. Not everyone prefers it but the majority clearly do. Further, I think it is truer to the architects intent, and if the support structure (which was never meant to be seen) is going to be exposed to save money then keeping the top white was the least they could've done.

I agree that proportionally it was not perfect in either version.

Having said all that, I'll repeat that with aethestics everyone can have an opinion and it can be valid even if in the minority of one. But, I think when the reviews come in on this, the original spire will be seen as a better design for the building.

Point By Point:

1. Please help me define "any architectural standard". Are you proposing to take the tried and true "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" maxim and reduce it to some kind of empirical formula by which every single example of architecture is judged without slightest exception to the rule?? These very same folks who fancy themselves as grand exponents of such standards are in reality little more than self-imprtant dilettantes who look down their snouts at those whose opinions deviate even by a hair.

2. Why must it be white? People are already kvetching that as it is this 400+ foot, pretty-damned-hefty spire can't be seen even from somewhere like the Verazzano Bridge, which IMO is stretching it more than a bit. Therefore, whitening it defeats the purpose of making it more prominent from afar. Keeping it as is is good enough. The metallic corners of the building are better suited for a darker color anyhow.
Secondly, I see no issue with proportion. I mean, look at the antennae of Prudential in Chicago and 1 Shell Plaza in Houston: "That's disproportionate, especially re Shell. Tacking a plain antenna on top of a 715' building just to get it to 1,000' is just plain lazy.

3. I *love* this building; but not suprisingly not as much for anything it may show above ground as for what lies beneath. It has been a fascinating watch to see how unprecedented structure security measures are put into effect. The rest is cake AFAIC. In fact the one aspect of this buidling I *didn't* like was the radome spire, and it was almost exclusively because of the shape and dimensions of it.

Now *there* IMO is an instance of garing disproportionality. But are you going to tell me I'm somehow "wrong" for not appreciating why they should've chosen the route you would've liked them to take? Why? Why should your review...or any "artistic" review for that metter...be univerally taken with such poker-faced gravity?

Artistry and architecture can be taken only so far together before one ultimately makes the other look farcical...and I already extrapolated this observation to the radome spire in another thread. This "spantenna" is the most realistic solution available, while at the same time tipping its hat to a semi-architectural need to exaggerate. It also IMO honors NY's industrial heritage, which to me spuersedes any chi-chi homage to whatever thing that some clueless, Johnny-come-lately starchitect *thinks* NY is famous for.

I myself can appreciate all sorts of art, while those that make me wanna barf I simply walk away from without denigrating the efforts of the creator. The idea that there should be universal standards in place to judge good form from bad---and by extension good taste from bad---somehow violates, apropos to this thread. the sovreign right to hold forth on the design of a naked "spantenna" one way or another without ad hoc reprisal.


Any serious review of architecture standards? So Richard Rogers' Industrial Style architecture isn't valid then? Thie current spire gives a cool industrial look, which relates more to NYC's character, unlike the radome, which belonged more in Dubai than in NYC. And I'm not the only one who thinks this.

So it's indeed controversial.

I quite like Roger's industrial style and is certainly not invalid, but to stick a piece of industrial style on a building that is not industrial style is a mistake in my opinion. The exposed support structure is not even a piece of industrial style architecture. It is a support structure. It was never designed at all beyond the function of supporting an outer shell.

Now, if you want to argue form should follow function then I think you have a point.

I'm sure you're not the only one who likes the support structure better bare than covered with radome. I never argued that. But that doesn't make it good design considering it was never designed to be seen at all.

I'm also not sure I agree that an exposed support structure is more to NYC's character. I think NYC's character is defined more by the sleekness of art deco than industrial metal works. Perhaps NYC's true character lies in its variety though, both in its people and architecture.

Finally, I didn't think my opinion of the design would be controversial as I think it has been well established in this thread that we all have our own opinions. I should've made it clearer I guess than just saying ..your opinion is fine, no problem...

[Fluffybagel]

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/it_the_jewel_in_the_apple_crown_7RenbS6dH7mHg9WGvukfEM

Old Glory flew proudly above lower Manhattan yesterday as the flag-draped final piece of 1 World Trade Center soared to the top of the building and signaled the massive tower’s rise from the ashes of 9/11 is nearly complete. The spire, which will make the skyscraper exactly 1,776 feet tall, was delicately hoisted by construction workers into a sky as clear and blue as it had been the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. Yesterday’s milestone also came on the second anniversary of the SEAL team raid that took out Osama bin Laden. The work crews beamed with pride and cheered as they watched the dramatic climax to a decade of work at the WTC site. “Everybody put a lot of proud work into this building,” said ironworker Michael O’Reilly, 38. “This is our city. This is our building. We put it back up.” Port Authority officials said the spire’s final piece will sit atop a platform until weather conditions allow workers to perform the final installation in the next few weeks. The tower’s symbolic height of 1,776 feet — a nod to the nation’s birth year — will make it a candidate to be the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and the third tallest in the world.

Well, it seems like we are gonna have to wait a bit.

[NYguy]

I was HOPING against all hope that someone with authority would be swept up in the moment and somehow would be able to decide to push forward and finish the thing.

The Port Authority doesn't get swept up in anything, unless it involves raising tolls.



NYC is so epic. Can we just agree that it is officially the center of the universe these days?

What do you mean these days....;)



Thie current spire gives a cool industrial look,

Unfortunately, the tower does not.



I never expected my opinion of the aethestics to have raised hackels

It's the nature of this board. There is no such thing as an offhanded comment or opinion that will not be taken to another level. It's why we try so hard to keep these threads on track.

I think at this point, the only architectural feature of the mast is the very top. Whether or not that will be enough to sway the council remains to be seen.



Anyway, the media day produced at least one front page for the Freedom Tower...

(NY Post)

http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/149998304/large.jpg



http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/149998304/original.jpg


And a decent spread inside...

http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/149998305/original.jpg



http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/149998306/original.jpg




Some distant views...

truthinpassingx (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14333661@N03/8674167808/sizes/h/in/photostream/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8117/8674167808_750a7a44db_h.jpg



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8537/8674168752_da25800d6b_h.jpg



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8390/8673064429_98038ea9f3_h.jpg



jonpollock (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30460424@N06/8704797911/sizes/l/in/photostream/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8552/8704797911_ae7ea1537d_b.jpg



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8552/8704797911_208f9d9144_h.jpg

[sterlippo1]

NYC is so epic. Can we just agree that it is officially the center of the universe these days? .

yes, of course, but was there a serious argument that it wasn't? :shrug:and it's not just "these days" it's been the center of the universe for quite some time

[Black Star]

Direct flights started from Edmonton yeg to New Jersey May 1 2013. Im booking my flight soon to come and see this great city and its architecture. Oh yes and the food.....the glorious food and drink:cheers:

[The North One]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8552/8704797911_208f9d9144_h.jpg

Damn, It's starting to look really sexy, we've just got the homestretch to go.

[Black Star]

Its a beast...and you're right...Dam sexy!

[JACKinBeantown]

Its a beast...and you're right...Dam sexy!

This is dam sexy.
http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/images/C45-20485-L.jpg
usbr.gov

[kingofleos]

This is dam sexy.
http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/images/C45-20485-L.jpg
usbr.gov


Dam. I get it. :cheers:

[Hudson11]

going up! :skyhighmind:

1kpPNnOwk-s

[bigreach]

Anybody know if the Pinnacle will be on top by June 8th, Spending 4-5 days to check out WTC playground and 432. I plan to buy a good(well decent) no $1,800 dollor one, camera, and is the place guarded like fort knox. I want some high quality shots, and what surrounding building, is best to acess windows maybe halfway up, where you can get some good views? Anybody?

[Black Star]

This is dam sexy.
http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/images/C45-20485-L.jpg
usbr.gov


Awesome......


http://youtu.be/SBQ-vW6rz_Y

[patrick989]

Seriously?? You're upset over a name of the building? I for one wish it was still called the freedom tower. I'm proud of the freedom we have in America and thankful that we rebuilt this project. It's ashamed that the authorities don't see it that way.

So because the building was officially named One WTC, you're saying that the authorities aren't proud of the freedom that we enjoy as Americans. That's some scholarly logic right there...

[hunser]

truthinpassingx (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14333661@N03/)


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8114/8702723507_5e410b328e_h.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8545/8702717831_0599275e8e_h.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8280/8702663893_22980274e5_h.jpg

[alan88]

They are tensioning the crane guy cables, Keep on eye on it after lunch, if the authorities give the OK, the crane will probabably start jumping today.

[Hudson11]

someone needs to get the word out to the media and the rest of thew world that the term ground zero is entirely inappropriate now.
As for the "Freedom Tower" however much i dislike that name it's going to stick.


wjfox (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=102930870&postcount=45486) over on SSC

http://i.imgur.com/04a4mcR.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/jxB6MXI.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/UPmnCK4.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/TDbydH9.jpg

[QUEENSNYMAN]

One video this morning another to follow:

By QUEENSNY121

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtcQhh_6Mdk

[SFContributor]

In some pictures the curtain wall looks like a render. Love this building though, a landmark in the making.

[NYdude]

So cool that we now see what the glass looks like to the top :)

[QUEENSNYMAN]

Second Video from today, from Broad Channel, Queens.

By: QUEENSNY121

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EFXzKwEBLY

[kpdrummer82]

Crane has jumped.

[Hudson11]

yup, they lifted another piece earlier ^^

http://oi43.tinypic.com/23sjjwk.jpg


http://hungeree.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/POTD_Moonrise_in_t_2548347k.jpg
Gary Hershorn (http://www.corbisimages.com/Search#pg=gary+hershorn)

[NYdude]

I think every aspect of this building is beautiful and dominating, from the base to the spire. It all fits well IMO.

[Zapatan]

Sometimes the tapering of this building really bothers me, am I the only one? Other than that it looks good.