by Brianna Crandall — January 18, 2013—Construction crews at the 16-acre World Trade Center site on January 15 installed the first piece of the 408-foot spire that will raise the height of the iconic One World Trade Center to 1,776 feet—when it will reportedly become the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. The building has already regained the status of being the tallest skyscraper in New York City.
Ironworkers and crane operators used two cranes to lift and guide the first and heaviest section of steel, at more than 67 tons, into place into a six-foot concrete base on the building’s roof. Installation of all 18 pieces of spire and three communication rings will take two to three months, depending on wind and weather conditions. A stainless steel beacon weighing almost six tons will be the final piece put into position, bringing the building to its final height of 1,776 feet.
The spire will serve a state-of-the-art broadcast facility housed in One WTC. The Durst Organization will oversee construction and operation of the facility, which is expected to provide unparalleled service for the region’s broadcasters.
The building has attracted world-class tenants including Condé Nast, Vantone Holding’s China Center and the U.S. General Services Administration. The 2.6-million-square-foot building will include office space, an observation deck, world-class restaurants, and broadcast and antennae facilities. It will offer unrivaled views of the region and aims to be one of the safest and most environmentally friendly buildings in the world.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey owns and manages the 16-acre World Trade Center (WTC) site. The site is being developed by Silverstein Properties incorporating designs from an unprecedented collaboration of world-famous architects including Santiago Calatrava, David Childs, Norman Foster, Frank Gehry, Fumihiko Maki, Richard Rogers and Michael Arad, all within Daniel Libeskind’s Ground Zero Master Plan.
The new World Trade Center vision combines modern, safe and sustainable commercial space, convenient transportation, and a destination cultural center. The site comprises: five new skyscrapers (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 WTC); the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center; the World Trade Center Transportation Hub; 550,000 square feet of retail space; and a Performing Arts Center.
