1 WTC Surpasses Empire State Bldg. as Tallest Building in New York City

[Guest Lance]

One World Trade Center Becomes NYC’s Tallest Skyscraper

 

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — One World Trade Center is claiming the title of New York City’s tallest skyscraper.

It was a proud moment for construction workers Monday when just after 2 p.m. they installed two 26-foot steel columns making the unfinished tower just over 1,270 feet tall — surpassing the height of the Empire State Building by 21 feet.

“The world’s most famous office building, the ancestor of all super-tall towers, welcomes our newer, taller cousin to the skyline,” the current management of the Empire State Building said in a statement. “We’ve watched you grow, and now we salute you.”

The tower however, still isn’t as high as the antenna that sits on the Empire State Building, but experts usually don’t count antennas or flagpoles when measuring building height.

To commemorate the achievement, EarthCam will release a time lapse video of the construction.

Mayor Michael Bloombergsaid the building has been a labor of love for many.

“The latest progress at the World Trade Center is a testament to New Yorkers; strength and resolve; and to our belief in a city that is always reaching upward,” he said.

“The new World Trade Center is more than just a skyscraper: it is a symbol of the enduring spirit of the City and State of New York, representing our commitment to rebuilding stronger than before,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

One World Trade still has more growing to do. Next year, it will top out at 1,776 feet when complete. At that point it will be the tallest building in the U.S., and third tallest in the world.

It took a while for the project to get started but after the legal wrangling and political deal-making was done, workers began methodically building One World Trade Center at a rate of a floor a week.

It stands on 200 square feet of hallowed ground that has absorbed many tears over the years, but the tower has emerged from those dark memories to honor the lives lost and the nation that won’t accept defeat.

In the spirit of something new and progressive rising from the ashes, much of One World Trade Center is being built from recycled materials, and it will have a state of the art fuel-cell power system.

The tower is scheduled to open in late 2013 or early 2014.

 

Courtesy: WCBS New York/Associated Press

[IRT Bronx Express]

I should go there again and see how much progress has been made the last time I went there. Really great news.

[4P3607]

Went there today (again, for the 3rd time in a "weekday-row"*), with my friend from school. he keeps wanting to go there and see it lol. That building really does look tall when you stand infront of the PATH station entrance, tho looking at the Empire state building from 34 st doesn't really seem that tall.

[GojiMet86]

I went yesterday and I'm amazed at the progress of the construction. 5, maybe 6 years ago, there was just one or two floors. And know, it's 100.

[Shortline Bus]

Dumb question. What is the new estimated date the new towers are suppose to be finished and open? I know the oringal goal was last sept. 2011 for the 10th year of 9/11. With that said, still very good news on this important milestone.

[Grand Concourse]

Was there on Friday while waiting for the 'glider' flyover. Looked great. I had no idea it was so close to eclipsing the ESB w/in the week. I still wished the height was 1500ft to the roof and another 400 ft for the spire. 1776 is tall, but could've been taller.

 

Tower 4's progress is coming alone nicely as is the lower part of tower 3. Tower 2 looks like it just started. Imo, they should've built tower 2 first as that was the best looking of the trio.

[theaveragejoe]

Dumb question. What is the new estimated date the new towers are suppose to be finished and open? I know the oringal goal was last sept. 2011 for the 10th year of 9/11. With that said, still very good news on this important milestone.

 

 

I heard it was to be done before the end of next year.

[Orion VII 4 Life]

I'm over there multiple times a week usually, it looks really nice, especially when you look at it from down Fulton Street. Looking at it from Fulton and Gold, you really can see how tall it truly is. Can't wait until it's done.

[theaveragejoe]

Now im hearing it will be 2014 when its done!

[Roadcruiser1]

I don't really know. All I care about is having the job done so I can finally go into One World Trade Center and see it for myself.

[VWM]

That's pretty cool. I gotta go see it next time I go down to SI.

[trainfan22]

Great news! I've been following the construction of 1 WTC since sept 2010.

 

Dumb question. What is the new estimated date the new towers are suppose to be finished and open? I know the oringal goal was last sept. 2011 for the 10th year of 9/11. With that said, still very good news on this important milestone.

 

 

They haven't found tenants for 2 & 3 WTC yet, so for now, those buildings will only be built as a stump (With only like 5 to 6 floors).

 

Until they find tenants for 2 & 3 WTC, that question can't really be answered.

[KeystoneRegional]

Great to see the Freedom Tower rise into the skies and telling Al Qaeda that we're America, we're strong!

 

Now we have to get rid of some of the Patriot Act.

 

They haven't found tenants for 2 & 3 WTC yet, so for now, those buildings will only be built as a stump (With only like 5 to 6 floors).

 

Until they find tenants for 2 & 3 WTC, that question can't really be answered.

 

 

That would be logical, I've advocated for this since hearing about all the craziness in now the ex-ground zero.

[MHV9218]

I went yesterday and I'm amazed at the progress of the construction. 5, maybe 6 years ago, there was just one or two floors. And know, it's 100.

 

They spent ages digging out the hole, so that's why it looked like a pit for so long. That's the hard stuff, now that they've been building, it's the home stretch construction-wise. Building up is much easier than cutting down.

[Grand Concourse]

Well, there were all the legal issues: families still searching for body parts or wanting the entire 16 acre site to be a graveyard. So If it was just a clean up, thing's would've been done much more quickly. Also I remember they had the first cornerstone dedication ceremony only to have to move it because either they changed the design/location or they still had issues about building it. Thank god finally after 10.5 years later it's surpassed the ESB again.