Freedom Tower

[Denver]

We're coming into the 10th year since the World Trade Center towers fell.

One World Trade Center (formerly the "Freedom Tower") just reached the half-way mark (floor-wise) in construction. Completion is estimated to be in 2013.

I hadn't heard anything about the progress there in a couple years (mostly just news about nearby mosques), and had to go look it up. My worry for the coming year, is that it will became a hot topic again, with stories around things like:


"Why was the name changed from the Freedom Tower?!"
"Why has <insert political opponent> obstructed the project?!"
"See how <insert political friendly> is the only sane voice there?!"

I am hoping not. I am hoping we are past that kind of bickering, and that the site can be completed with some dignity. But with the currently political polarizations, I am afraid I am just waiting for the first volley, sometime in 2011.

[NYCEMT86]

We're coming into the 10th year since the World Trade Center towers fell.

One World Trade Center (formerly the "Freedom Tower") just reached the half-way mark (floor-wise) in construction. Completion is estimated to be in 2013.

I hadn't heard anything about the progress there in a couple years (mostly just news about nearby mosques), and had to go look it up. My worry for the coming year, is that it will became a hot topic again, with stories around things like:


"Why was the name changed from the Freedom Tower?!"
"Why has <insert political opponent> obstructed the project?!"
"See how <insert political friendly> is the only sane voice there?!"

I am hoping not. I am hoping we are past that kind of bickering, and that the site can be completed with some dignity. But with the currently political polarizations, I am afraid I am just waiting for the first volley, sometime in 2011.

The Port Authority changed it awhile back, I don't see this becoming a problem.

[EGarrett]

Why don't they just rebuild the World Trade Center? I thought the whole point of the project was to show the terrorists that they couldn't change our way of life.

The White House was almost completely burned down in the War of 1812, and they just rebuilt it and continued the American traditions. The same seems appropriate here.

[arthwollipot]

"One World" Trade Center? Sounds an awful lot like "NEW WORLD ORDER" Trade Center to me. :D

[Denver]

Why don't they just rebuild the World Trade Center? I thought the whole point of the project was to show the terrorists that they couldn't change our way of life.

That would have been my vote.

"One World" Trade Center? Sounds an awful lot like "NEW WORLD ORDER" Trade Center to me. :D

I wondered whether I should have posted this in the Conspiracy forum :)

[Donal]

Why don't they just rebuild the World Trade Center? I thought the whole point of the project was to show the terrorists that they couldn't change our way of life.

Because it would be a bad investment. For several reasons, sky scraper office buildings just aren't en vogue. As cool as the Trump plan would have been, it just isn't practical.

The White House was almost completely burned down in the War of 1812, and they just rebuilt it and continued the American traditions. The same seems appropriate here.

Different circumstances.

[Beerina]

Why don't they just rebuild the World Trade Center? I thought the whole point of the project was to show the terrorists that they couldn't change our way of life.

No business case for it anymore. Economic dynamism has largely left the US for greener (read: less over-regulated-and-taxed) pastures.

The only reason Freedom Tower is being built is for national pride reasons, though it'll still only be second to the Burj Dubai tower, by almost 300m.

[Donal]

Ummm, Long Island, New Jersey, Connecticut and Westchester County aren't really foreign countries. That's where most of the regional headquarters for the major corps are these days. Corporate parks in the suburbs are just a better deal than lower Manhattan skyscrapers.

[Seismosaurus]

Surely it would be a bad idea to rebuild the original WTC, since the building design proved to be quite vulnerable to that particular type of terrorist attack. A new design which is rather more airline-proof is called for, I would think.

[Soapy Sam]

They might copy Heathrow Terminal 4.

Damn near impossible to get an airliner in there.

[Newtons Bit]

Why don't they just rebuild the World Trade Center? I thought the whole point of the project was to show the terrorists that they couldn't change our way of life.

The White House was almost completely burned down in the War of 1812, and they just rebuilt it and continued the American traditions. The same seems appropriate here.

It's a bit more difficult with skyscrapers. The foundations for the original WTC were deep piers that went down to bedrock. It's possible to dig or drill these out, but it's slow and expensive. They probably would have wanted to build in a way to avoid these anyways, even if the new buildings were to be very similar.

Though I'm just speculating here. ;)

[Babbylonian]

Surely it would be a bad idea to rebuild the original WTC, since the building design proved to be quite vulnerable to that particular type of terrorist attack. A new design which is rather more airline-proof is called for, I would think.
I thought the World Trade Center towers were airline proof. Isn't that why the government installed all the thermite and launched missiles at them?

[Undesired Walrus]

Why don't they just rebuild the World Trade Center?

Weren't they just very ugly?

[Denver]

Weren't they just very ugly?

Interesting point: since 9/11, I've thought of them as having been noble, dignified, and inspiring.

Honestly, before 9/11, I can't think what I thought of them. Maybe... tall.

[Starwind51]

I live in NYC. I liked the look of the twin towers.

I thought the name "Freedom Tower" was a bad name. The original towers were not attacked as symbols of American freedom. Naming the new structure by giving it's address is fine with me. But I thought the name change was due to "not wanting to offend Chinese investors".

When building designs were being discussed I think the most appropriate was the 5 buildings configured like this:

l l l l l

It resembles a hand "giving the finger".

[Bell]

Weren't they just very ugly?

I don't think so. I loved it how they were the first recognizable landmarks to see when flying into New York City. I loved how you could see both towers from everywhere in the city (the fact you could see both was due to the clever construction of placing them diagonally in regards to each other). I loved how they reflected the sunlight. I loves standing on the observation deck, cool breeze, the sun setting and watching the city at my feet. Goddamn they were fantastic! And mind you, I only saw them with my own eyes for a week, three months before 9/11.

[Bell]

I thought the name "Freedom Tower" was a bad name.

I agree. I like "One World Trade Center" much better. I also think the new design is much more asthetical pleasing than the original "spike" design with the open top floors.

[Dr. Keith]

One World Trade Center (formerly the "Freedom Tower") just reached the half-way mark (floor-wise) in construction. Completion is estimated to be in 2013.

I was just there over the holiday and it really didn't look all that tall. I was thinking it was at about 1/3 of its eventual height, but I don't really know how tall it will be.

It was awesome to wake up every morning and look out my hotel window onto that particular construction project. My kids had a hard time understanding my trance-like staring at times.

[Zanders]

One world? It's clearly the Illuminati hinting at the one world government they are working towards with their New World Order.

[hgc]

The World Trade towers were beautiful. To rebuild them would have been to cheapen their memory as distinctive architecture that put their stamp on the New York skyline for 30 years and as the symbolic tomb for all who died there. To build on that site in any particular way that is meant to "send a message" to those that knocked them down is an absurd mis-prioritization.

I am happy that what is being built on that site is something new and different.

[Travis]

It should be noted the new tower has a completely different structure. It was built on the strongest skyscraper foundation ever constructed and has a super reinforced core that goes all the way up.

Because of all this over engineering no one really expects it to be profitable. But my suspicion is that it will be.

Go here (http://www.earthcam.com/clients/groundzero/groundZero.swf) for a live HD webcam of the entire site.

[PS13]

Some may find this cool... Back in 90, Depeche Mode released a promo video for 'Enjoy The Silence'. It's different than the official music video. They filmed it on top of the WTC... I think it was Tower 2, but I could be mistaken on that. Could you get on the roof of both? Never been there. Anyway, cool video, great song, phenomenal band. :)


1rdfFroO67g

[Travis]

To me the most interesting aspect right now is the transit hub. It's got some of the most complicated steel work I've ever seen and they're building it on top of an existing station without closing down that station.

[Bell]

Some may find this cool... Back in 90, Depeche Mode released a promo video for 'Enjoy The Silence'. It's different than the official music video. They filmed it on top of the WTC... I think it was Tower 2, but I could be mistaken on that. Could you get on the roof of both? Never been there. Anyway, cool video, great song, phenomenal band. :)


1rdfFroO67g

That is indeed WTC2. WTC1 had no observation deck.

[A Laughing Baby]

I live in NYC. I liked the look of the twin towers.

I thought the name "Freedom Tower" was a bad name. The original towers were not attacked as symbols of American freedom. Naming the new structure by giving it's address is fine with me. But I thought the name change was due to "not wanting to offend Chinese investors".

When building designs were being discussed I think the most appropriate was the 5 buildings configured like this:

l l l l l

It resembles a hand "giving the finger".

Cool joke. Now tell one about Vince Foster. It'll be equally timely and hilarious, I promise. Make sure to explain the punchline, too!

[Weak Kitten]

Oh, I'm so glad they changed the name. "Freedom Tower" sounded stupid and hokey...and really isn't very descriptive. I'm sure that within a year of the building being opened people will go back to calling it WTC again when talking about where to meet or catch a train.

[Almo]

Why don't they just rebuild the World Trade Center? I thought the whole point of the project was to show the terrorists that they couldn't change our way of life.

The White House was almost completely burned down in the War of 1812, and they just rebuilt it and continued the American traditions. The same seems appropriate here.

I agree. Though when I say that, my wife says, "but they were so ugly!"

[USEagle13]

Why don't they just rebuild the World Trade Center? I thought the whole point of the project was to show the terrorists that they couldn't change our way of life.


*Looks @ current TSA child molestation practices* Looks to me like they did "change" our way of life. In almost every way imaginable. Trust me brothers there is more "change" and "hope" to come!

Or was that "hope" and "change?" I always get the two mixed up :blush:


The White House was almost completely burned down in the War of 1812, and they just rebuilt it and continued the American traditions. The same seems appropriate here.

The owner of the WTCs was losing money on his properties and looking for "an easy way out" of his failing investment in fairly peaceful times (domestically). So unless some other billionaire wants to "risk it all" in an age of economic/ cyber/ political/ national/ fundamental/ and home-grown terrorism then there will never ever be another WTC style center for free market in the US.

I heard Dubai will prolly be the next "WTC style" center of world trade.

Also they are trying to rebuild the ancient city of Babylon in Iraq right now.

[hgc]

The owner of the WTCs was losing money on his properties and looking for "an easy way out" of his failing investment in fairly peaceful times (domestically).


New lease was signed 2 months before 9/11. The owner, the Port Authority of NY/NJ, had been leasing out the site to private management since the mid-70's.


So unless some other billionaire wants to "risk it all" in an age of economic/ cyber/ political/ national/ fundamental/ and home-grown terrorism then there will never ever be another WTC style center for free market in the US.

I heard Dubai will prolly be the next "WTC style" center of world trade


It was just a couple office buildings. There was never a special connection between the WTC and some sort of "center for free market in the US" that is now gone. Where do you get your information?

[triforcharity]

Surely it would be a bad idea to rebuild the original WTC, since the building design proved to be quite vulnerable to that particular type of terrorist attack. A new design which is rather more airline-proof is called for, I would think.

I would agree. Most of the codes for fire protection have changed drastically since 9/11. Even though, it would still be better than using strictly steel.

[triforcharity]

Weren't they just very ugly?

Yes, many people of NYC thought of them as plain, and boring. (Watch the History Channels' "Rise and fall of the Twin Towers". But, once they were built, and had been around for a while, most came to like them. Some even depended on them being there to seem normal. Ask some of the people who lived in the area. They used to see those towers every single day. After 9/11, they felt almost empty.