NEW YORK | 200 Greenwich - 2 WTC | 1,226 FT | 55 FLOORS

[SD_Phil]

I'll join the celebration! As much as I like the height on the FT this has always been my favorite design in the new WTC complex. Looking forward to watching it rise over the next couple of years.

[nycdagreatest]

wait, isn't it only being built to street level?

[uaarkson]

For now. There's a decent chance that could change by the time it actually reaches street level.

The very act of starting a plan for the rest of the site ignited tons of new tenant interest for the WTC.

[NYguy]

http://www.observer.com/2010/slideshow/127978/sixteen-acres-construction

At the World Trade Center, Stalemate Gives Way to Construction

Sixteen Acres of Construction
Stalemates--political infighting and battling between private and public actors--have long been part of the narrative, helping to explain the slow progress (the first tower is slated to open more than 12 years after 9/11).

But as of March, when a tentative financial realignment and subsidy package was struck between private developer Larry Silverstein and an array of governmental actors, conflict has subsided--at least for the time being.

So given the relative tranquility--and with Mr. Silverstein doing foundation work on one of his three sites and building up the steel on another--we went down on Friday to check out progress at the site.

This shot is at the north end, looking south. Cranes are clearly everywhere, but there are actually at least four other giant cranes at the site that don't make it into the shot.

-- Eliot Brown

(Photos by Brian Letwin)



the top of the photo (which looks north) is the site for the now indefinitely-postponed 2 World Trade Center, where Mr. Silverstein is doing early foundation work.

Slowly but surely the other towers are joining the construction show at the WTC site.

[OneWorldTradeCenter]

Good to hear those news. My bet was that they start with Tower 3 at first.

[OneWorldTradeCenter]

From earthcam:

[westmc9th]

By Joe Woolhead, wtc.com, 6-6-10. Prep or U/C....??

[OneWorldTradeCenter]

Looks like piling work to me.

[NYguy]

From wtc.com (larger version)

[uaarkson]

Looks like piling to me.

[upNaway]

Its gd to see some clear photos of this part of the site since the RBG Cam is still down

[OneWorldTradeCenter]

No doubt, they started foundation work like lowermanhattan.info said. It's under-construction now.

[NYguy]

sfbeavers566

[Bucktown718]

Glad to see something is finally happening down there.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by Bucktown718

Glad to see something is finally happening down there.

It is amazing to see, considering how long the site sat vacant. Even more so when you consider the tower we are watching the beginnings of.

[NYguy]

VinSchiano2009

[JayPro]

I'm not ashamed to say that I almost bawled for joy in front of other people when I first saw this design.
How tragic would it have been if this piece of the cake, the one IMO that ties everything together into one cohesive unit in more than one respect, had its fate left entirely in the hands of the Port Authority?
The only thing I wish they could do if technology could allow for it is to build the skyscraper on a kind of base that could allow for the entire structure to rotate 360° at 1 to 4 revs/hour so we all could see the lit diamonds.
Why should Jersey always have the grand view?

[SkyscrapersOfNewYork]

Originally Posted by JayPro

I'm not ashamed to say that I almost bawled for joy in front of other people when I first saw this design.
How tragic would it have been if this piece of the cake, the one IMO that ties everything together into one cohesive unit in more than one respect, had its fate left entirely in the hands of the Port Authority?
The only thing I wish they could do if technology could allow for it is to build the skyscraper on a kind of base that could allow for the entire structure to rotate 360° at 1 to 4 revs/hour so we all could see the lit diamonds.
Why should Jersey always have the grand view?

that would be.......AWESOME!!!!

[BStyles]

One to four revolutions per hour? This is an office tower, not a ballerina. Besides, tenant occupancy would cause an offset of weight which would crumble the tower from the inside out. Remember, the concrete core is secured to the bedrock. and the steel is welded both to bedrock and the core steel. That would be impossible any way you put it.

[JayPro]

Originally Posted by BStyles

One to four revolutions per hour? This is an office tower, not a ballerina. Besides, tenant occupancy would cause an offset of weight which would crumble the tower from the inside out. Remember, the concrete core is secured to the bedrock. and the steel is welded both to bedrock and the core steel. That would be impossible any way you put it.

...which is precisely why I said "if technology could allow for it."

Hypothetically, my dear Watson.

Seriously, though:
Can it be done above bedrock level?

For instance, build the base and tower to maybe about ten floors up. Then, using the same technological principles that allow for revolving rooftop restaurants, put in the mechanism, which I would think might have to be integrated into the structure's core in order for it to work.
Make the revs slow, like 90° clockwise per day...or at a rate unnoticeable to tenants/occupants, yet sufficient so that no one from any vantage point into the city would have to wait too long to see the diamonds.

Again, this is all what if. I know well nigh squat about architecture and construction.