Are we going to wait for all of the below grade steel to go up before they start the core or are they just going to f*** the rules and do the core in the coming weeks? Weren't there supposed to be about 30 beams that needed to go up? They only put up about 5 beams, quit, and started putting up tower cranes and working on the core.

Don't worry they'll pour soon. They're now installing the formwork on the outside of the core and they won't do that for no reason. Besides foundation work of the tower is finnished and there only one or two sections of the basement floor left to pour.

Looks like some great progress. It's getting there... slowly but surely...

pour the core dammit ;|

they waiting for you to take a chill pill :gunz:

All of a sudden, I feel like there is so much building going on. I can't wait to see the new New York skyline. I don't want to rush my life away, But I can't wait until 2012!!!!!!!!!

You guys need help!!!!!

Don't worry they'll pour soon. They're now installing the formwork on the outside of the core and they won't do that for no reason. Besides foundation work of the tower is finnished and there only one or two sections of the basement floor left to pour.

The just poured one of the segments of the basement floor and I don't know if you noticed it but the little road that led to the WTC core has been taken down ove the weekend and they are extending route 9 to the east or towards the camera.

This site is so complex and confusing! Ok Freedom Tower is marked by the two cranes, but how far does it extend from their two bases? Everything else seems a jumble. A map overlay on the webcam image would be really helpful.

This site is so complex and confusing! Ok Freedom Tower is marked by the two cranes, but how far does it extend from their two bases? Everything else seems a jumble. A map overlay on the webcam image would be really helpful.

The steel to the left of the cranes is the southern boundary of the building. If you look closely at the picture you will see just below the core there is formwork with rebar sticking out from the floor. There are two sets but the closer one is the eastern wall of the 1 WTC. You may not see this though as it is very faint right now but if you lok at the webcam yesterday it should be clearer.The northern boundary is where the garage portion/Path tracks are to the right. The western boundary is partially over the Path tracks that curl behind the core and some of it extends over the not very visible basement floor that was poured about 3 weeks ago.

great progress...that is exactly what I want to see!!! of course...they can aways go faster, I don't mind....

great pics ebola :), the interesting time of the FT has now started finally!

Lots of stuff is happening there now :)

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/6272/wtc20071017ed1.jpg
Image snapped from WTC EarthCam (http://www.earthcam.net/users2/interface.php?i=0&id=445&projectid=202&clientid=158) a few mins ago
The steel to the left of the cranes is the southern boundary of the building. If you look closely at the picture you will see just below the core there is formwork with rebar sticking out from the floor. There are two sets but the closer one is the eastern wall of the 1 WTC. You may not see this though as it is very faint right now but if you lok at the webcam yesterday it should be clearer.The northern boundary is where the garage portion/Path tracks are to the right. The western boundary is partially over the Path tracks that curl behind the core and some of it extends over the not very visible basement floor that was poured about 3 weeks ago.
Thanks for describing the site ramvid01 - this is where a picture would be worth a thousand words! So the core surrounds the two cranes which seem to be inside two separate areas, and the basement is the large rectangular area to the left?

there is a map on ssp someone put together... it shows everything perfectly. right now ssp is broken though.

Wow, great progress, November will be better..

wtcrising.com

http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/DSC_101607_4_big.jpg


http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/10.17_big.jpg


http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/DSC_101607_2jpg_big.jpg


http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/DSC_101607_3_big.jpg

Wow thanks for the awesome updates :D

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/6272/wtc20071017ed1.jpg
Image snapped from WTC EarthCam (http://www.earthcam.net/users2/interface.php?i=0&id=445&projectid=202&clientid=158) a few mins ago

Thanks for describing the site ramvid01 - this is where a picture would be worth a thousand words! So the core surrounds the two cranes which seem to be inside two separate areas, and the basement is the large rectangular area to the left?

More or less. The core is whats being formworked or has rebar stick out which surrounds both cranes. The steel to the south is the southern boundary like i said and that 2-3 sotry concrete structure to the south or left on the picture is not part of the actual building but is connected to each other. That by the way is Route 9A (I think thats the number).

Core is growing up. Soon to rise above street level !

Here's an overlay I uploaded on a previous page, updated from Oct 1. Everything at ground level, with the exception of the scrapped "cultural center."

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g15/SexyToad/Megapixel_Camera_2007-10-01_210316.jpg

Here's a close-up of the FT area. remember that the constuction is 70 feet below ground. Hope that helps, Astounded.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g15/SexyToad/Ground_Zero_Megapixel_2007-06-26_fr.jpg

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/6272/wtc20071017ed1.jpgHow come they still haven't de-constructed the two or three levels that is seen in the upper right hand corner of that pic? It looks to be part FT's footprint.

that is the path trains^^ 1wtc will be build over it.

Here's a close-up of the FT area. remember that the constuction is 70 feet below ground. Hope that helps, Astounded.
Yes it does, thanks very much SexyToad!

It looks like the footprint of Freedom Tower is almost identical to the original towers and aligned with them. Does it extend to the edge of Vesey street?

@SexyToad: Thanks for the images, It made me realize how it's been organized the area.

I'm sorry, I love new york, but this project is going unbelievably slow. maybe its much more complex then I know, but damn.

I guess I can only compare it to watching some chicago supertalls going up (trump, waterview, etc..) speed is so much faster.

I'm sorry, I love new york, but this project is going unbelievably slow. maybe its much more complex then I know, but damn.

I guess I can only compare it to watching some chicago supertalls going up (trump, waterview, etc..) speed is so much faster.

Its a bigger site with 3 buildings over 1000 feet going up. Also there are some serious physical constraints to the site because of the one entrance into the site, that being the ramp. Further the building is being built over the Path Tracks and they have to align the core to the curve behind it. The site also relies on the completion of the adjacent structures unlike say Waterview where the foundations were just being built for the building itself as the site is very well defined.

Yeah well we'll see just how "slow" this is going in a few months; you'll never see 4 supertalls up each other's asses go up so fast in your life.

that is the path trains^^ 1wtc will be build over it.So the path train structure is strong enough to support the FT also?

Obviously, and I think it was reinforced. If it made it through 9/11, it must be strong.

So the path train structure is strong enough to support the FT also?

iirc, support columns for the tower will be between the tracks :)

I was viewing the recent archives at earthcam.com, and since about 5:00am this morning US Eastern time there has been a huge convoy of dump trucks making a circuit over to the corner of the site where WTC 3 and 4 will be built.

Evidently they have been digging a lot there recently! Also, it looks like quite a bit of concrete foundation material was poured within the last day or so over near the WTC 1 site.

I love progress!:banana::lol::banana:

Yeah well we'll see just how "slow" this is going in a few months; you'll never see 4 supertalls up each other's asses go up so fast in your life.
After hearing the delayed opening of the new PATH stationhouse, there is a possibly that it could lead to the FT being delayed again, though I wouldn't be too suprised about that.

thats exactly what you WANT to happen isn't it?? ^^

but yeah from 7-12am they poured more concrete around wtc1

it won't be delayed.
TalB, take your wet dreams somewhere else.

After hearing the delayed opening of the new PATH stationhouse, there is a possibly that it could lead to the FT being delayed again, though I wouldn't be too suprised about that.

yeah whatever, it will be build anyway.
And now some bad news for you, they started to insulate the formwork of the left core section. concrete pouring is close now, very close...

about the construction. as far as I know the slurriewall will support two of the four walls. the columns between the pathtracks doesn't seem to be strong enough to support a tower.

Woah, I just discovered Sim City 4. Wonder if you can download a model of the entire New WTC somewhere.

thats exactly what you WANT to happen isn't it??

why should he want that ^^

Because he wants the old Twin Towers to be rebuilt and doesn't understand that if this plan goes down the drain (Which will not happen) then nothing gets built for years.

lol ^^

- double-

Woah, I just discovered Sim City 4. Wonder if you can download a model of the entire New WTC somewhere.

Yes you can, go to http://www.simtropolis.com, you can download thousands and thousands of beautiful buildings. I am sure you can download it there or elso it will soon be available. ( go here if you want straight to the buildings section http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?page=2 )

Thanks I'm looking around for the WTC.

(But I downloaded a money mod first! :lol:)

Woah, I just discovered Sim City 4. Wonder if you can download a model of the entire New WTC somewhere.

I know that someone of NDEX was working on the freedom tower. It's probably uploaded some time ago I guess. I don't know if someone is working on the other towers, but I guess it will happen soon. Actually I started some time ago on WTC 7, but never finished it. *starts digging in the graveyard of dead projects*

:cheers:

why should he want that ^^

Read through this whole thread. All Tal_B ever does here is threadcrap all over this thread because he hates the new WTC and wants the old twins back. He can't accept that it's not going to happen, so he just comes here to piss and whine all the time.

however, here's a nice shot from October 14th:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2355/1636229094_9b6f98195b_o.jpg

Nice shot ZZ-II! The excavation of the east bathtub is progressing very well. It looks like they've reached the deepest point on one side of the bathtub already.

Thanks I'm looking around for the WTC.




I have the old WTC complex from STEX, haven't seen the new one there yet. But I do have the new 7 WTC - it's amazing :okay:

pathrestoration.com

http://www.pathrestoration.com/drp/images/gallery/wtcth/2007/09/fredmtwr01.jpg


http://www.pathrestoration.com/drp/images/gallery/wtcth/2007/09/fredmtwr02.jpg


http://www.pathrestoration.com/drp/images/gallery/wtcth/2007/09/fredmtwr04.jpg

:eek2::applause::applause::applause:

Ok Now I'm confused. Why would they have to insulate the forms for the core? It's not that cold outside and the concrete wont be freezing anytime soon. Unless they plan on keeping the forms on for a while because of the thickness of the pour. Let me know about this you engineers out there.
Thanks
Lance

^
what are you talking about??

Well in a previous post someone said that they are insulating the core forms. I looked at the web picture this morning and they are installing something on the out side of the core forms. Do you know what they are wrapping the core forms in and for what purpose?

^^ The forms are being insulated to keep the heat inside the concrete. When concrete dries the water in the concrete will react with the cement, this reaction creates heat. This heat is very useful as warm concrete dries faster than cold concrete. We mostly put some insulation on the forms to keep the heat generated by the concrete inside. This way the concrete will dry faster without the use of heating equipment.
Insulating a form takes time and time is money, so it's only being used for thick walls where the drying of the concrete takes a long time. For a normal wall it's cheaper to wait a bit longer than to insulate the forms.

edit: I looks like they're insulating with EPS (expanded polystyrene) plates.
:)

Thank you for that explanation. I new that concrete created heat and most times they cool it to create a stronger concrete.IE the Hoover dam. But what you said also makes some sense to me. Just how thick are those Core walls anyway? Also do you know when they will be pouring them? My guess would be sometime next week or the week after.
Thanks
Lance

Freedom Tower's core thickness is being kept a secret from what I know, but I'm pretty sure it's over a meter thick in most areas.

In 2008, I think all of the WTC threads should be united into one thread and made a sticky. These 4 supertalls make up the most important project in the world, the largest office complex in the world w/ the highest office building.

Great process! I'm excited! :)

Wow, ZZ-II! Where did you find that shot of the eastern bathtub? Were you in the WFC? Awesome shot. Thanks for that. That angle is very rare.

no, it is from flickr ^^

btw...here's another shot with an better view on the FT-site:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2416/1635352845_a35578a797_o.jpg

it won't be delayed.
TalB, take your wet dreams somewhere else.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/10162007/business/path_station_delay_could_last_.htm
DELAY COULD LAST UNTIL 2012

October 16, 2007 -- THE Port Authority's new, $2.2 billion-plus PATH terminal at Ground Zero won't be finished until 2012 at the earliest - at least a year later than the PA claims, and at least three years behind the project's projected partial opening - predicts Lower Manhattan Development Corp. Chairman Avi Schick.

"I don't think anybody expects it to be done before 2012," Schick told us yesterday. "That's not a delay, it's just reality."

At a Crain's Business breakfast last week, Schick said a planned cultural building at Ground Zero couldn't be started until the new, Santiago Calatrava-designed PATH station was finished - which he said wouldn't be "until 2012 or 2013."

The bombshell somehow went overlooked by groggy early-morning guests.

Prior to this year, downtown rebuilding officials had said the dramatic new station - which is officially called the World Trade Center Transportation Hub and features bird-like "wings" that can open and close - would be finished in 2009.

More recently, the PA has said the terminal would "open in phases" starting in 2009.

The LMDC's Web site also says that it will "open" that year and be completed in 2011.

When asked to clarify the timetable, PA spokesman Mark Lavorgna said yesterday that 2009 "is the operational, opening date," with completion in 2011.

What does that mean?

"In 2009, at some point, I can walk down into the station and get on a PATH train," Lavorgna said. "But other things like the wings won't be done yet."

In other words, it might be a long time before the new station starts to resemble the images first shown to the public in 2004.

Lavorgna declined to comment on Schick's prediction the job wouldn't be finished until 2012 or 2013.

Last February, The Post's Tom Topousis reported the station's initial $2.2 billion cost - more than the budget for the 1,776-foot tall Freedom Tower - had swelled to $3.4 billion.

That prompted PA Executive Director Anthony Shorris to announce a major "value engineering effort to bring the project in close to its estimated value," while still preserving main elements of Calatrava's design.

So the supertalls can't be built because the PATH Station will be delayed? :lol:

"That prompted PA Executive Director Anthony Shorris to announce a major "value engineering effort to bring the project in close to its estimated value," while still preserving main elements of Calatrava's design."

I hope for them that they won't change calatravas design. it is perfect how it is, it would be a suicide to change it!!!

They really need to drop the name "Freedom Tower" already. It went out with "freedom fries", along the cackling idiot NY governor who named it.

It's the best because it really pisses some non-Americans off. It will always stay, but 1WTC will stick too.

So the theme of Freedom Tower should be that it pisses off non-Americans? Um.... isn't that why we ended up needing a new World Trade Center in the first place?? WOW--I rest my case! :lol:

No, we ended up needing a new one because there are very sick, ignorant on this planet. Let people complain about the name all they want. Hearing people whine about it makes me happy. 1WTC and her sisters are all about spitting on the ideals that destroyed the old WTC.

The name Freedom Tower is just lame along the lines of "freedom fries", because that Yankee Doodle type nonsense just never flies in NY. I hear people refer to it as 'the new trade center' more than anything nowadays. I was just wondering when they were going to officially drop that name. We'll see.

I see a big concrete pump, a lot of concrete trucks and a bunch of people on the form work of the core. If have a strong feeling that they're pouring the first floor of the core TODAY :cheers:
They've only started an hour ago, so I'm not sure yet

^^ yeah whatever guys. Go take a beer.
I see a big concrete pump, a lot of concrete trucks and a bunch of people on the form work of the core. If have a strong feeling that they're pouring the first floor of the core TODAY :cheers:
They've only started an hour ago, so I'm not sure yet

It seems that way, or they are pouring something in between the two core boxes.

i'm not entirely sure thats what they're doing... you are referring to the blue hose thing right? it hasn't moved all day

The name Freedom Tower is just lame along the lines of "freedom fries", because that Yankee Doodle type nonsense just never flies in NY. I hear people refer to it as 'the new trade center' more than anything nowadays. I was just wondering when they were going to officially drop that name. We'll see.

It IS the new World Trade Center. It will always be the World Trade Center. However, this building alone will be known, and referred to as the "Freedom Tower". Whether we like the name or not is irrelevant. It will be joined by its brothers and sisters at the WTC site.

i'm not entirely sure thats what they're doing... you are referring to the blue hose thing right? it hasn't moved all day

The hose of the blue concrete truck was used to pour a section of a floor of 9A passage. I was referring to the hose of the green concrete truck behind the cranes. They're pouring concrete from 7 AM until now, so I'm very sure they're pouring the core.
Here's a picture of this historic event:

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/8378/ft2pf0.jpg

That this beauty may rise :cheers:

they're definitely pouring the core :)

Picture of todays pour

http://www.wtcrising.com/

Click on the number 3. after the page loads

Lance

The day has finally come!! Its been a long time coming:banana:

Smooth sailing from here:cheers:

More webcams needed and video streams ... and microphones!! :speech:

The pour is still continuing. I am certain with the thickness of these walls they may pour late into the evening. I could be wrong though.

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2444/wtccoreqp3.jpg
Too good to not be here - from WTC Rising image #8 (http://www.wtcrising.com/) - Freedom Tower form on 22 October 2007

Wahey, REAL progress!!

heyyyy i guess i was wrong haha glad i was :)

That's some liquid freedom pouring there, boys! Corny or not, I like the name, but 1WTC sould remain the "official" title.

That's some liquid freedom pouring there, boys! Corny or not, I like the name, but 1WTC sould remain the "official" title.

Sorry, but Freedom Tower is what you will see on the post cards and t-shirts. It's the observation deck or restaurant at the top of the "Freedom Tower" people will reference, not 1 WTC. Although they are one and the same, Freedom Tower will be the more definitive name, of only because 1 WTC is too generic.

More shots from wtcrising.com

http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/concretepour3_big.jpg


http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/concretepour4_big.jpg


http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/concretepour5_big.jpg


http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/concretepour6_big.jpg


http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/concretepo7_big.jpg


http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/concretepour8_big.jpg

FREEEEDOMM!!!

http://newmoonjournal.blogs.com/the_new_moon_journal/Mel_2DGibson_2D_2D_2DBraveheart_2D_2DC10101922_small.jpg

Sorry, couldn't resist.

yeeesssssssss, rise baby rise!!!!!!!!!!!!

@NYguy: Thanks for the wonderful pictures:cheers:

(I thought pic2 was Rotterdam....:nuts:)

Yes.
Rise! RISE!!!!
Muhahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2:

The hose of the blue concrete truck was used to pour a section of a floor of 9A passage. I was referring to the hose of the green concrete truck behind the cranes. They're pouring concrete from 7 AM until now, so I'm very sure they're pouring the core.
Here's a picture of this historic event:

That this beauty may rise :cheers:

So in NYC you don't use a big thick mat of concrete and rebar ? Just put the whole thing smack on the bedrock ?

So in NYC you don't use a big thick mat of concrete and rebar ? Just put the whole thing smack on the bedrock ?

They already poured the concrete floor.

They already poured the concrete floor.

Yes - but everyone is so excited by the core walls - sorta like we get when the Mat is poured ( 8'-20' thick )

nice pics, i love them!!

Wow this baby is rising..

Great to see that activity is increasing exponentially.

Its rise showtime ! Some of the most interesting parts of a skyscraper construction !

Thx for the pics.

I'm so excited to see this really get going. Wow, the visible progress at 1WTC, groundbreaking for Museum Plaza Thursday, and I get paid Friday! Right now, this week is looking pretty good.:banana:

Que viva New York......

i found this website, it has big pic's of the floor print and couple of vids
http://www.renewnyc.com/news/mediaresources.asp

Just noticed at EarthCam from yesterday... Have they built a wall sealing off the sublevels of former WTC6? or is this part of Freedom Tower's core?

is this the right Model for Freedom Tower?

It looks cool.

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/9222/towercf5.th.png

You posted the actual thumbnail and not the code.

anybody has any new renders of the base? cause I heard it is supposed to be a bit different from what was shown in the first ones...

So the supertalls can't be built because the PATH Station will be delayed? :lol:
That article from the NY Post isn't definate, but the fact that the new PATH Station is going to be overbudgeted can and will cause delays on the WTC site until the PA can get the money again to continue.

The PA AIN'T building the 4 supertalls!

http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/nightshotconcreete%20pour_big.jpg

[QUOTE=Ebola;16092519]The PA AIN'T building the 4 supertalls!

Sorry, could you expalin better? I hope I didn't understand correctly...

^^ he's just yanking us again!
don't worry

[QUOTE=Ebola;16092519]The PA AIN'T building the 4 supertalls!

Sorry, could you expalin better? I hope I didn't understand correctly...

The PANYNJ will not be building the supertalls. Silverstein Props will be doing that. The PA wants nothing to do with the WTC.

[QUOTE=romanamerican;16092554]

The PANYNJ will not be building the supertalls. Silverstein Props will be doing that. The PA wants nothing to do with the WTC.

This is very true. Silverstein Properties is building the 4 buildings. When it is done with 1 WTC though Silverstein will hand the buleding over to PANYNJ

PA has to hand over the property Jan 01 to silverstein so they can build the towers :)

I thought the date was December 31, 2007. There will never be a better way to start the new year! 4 supertalls all at once! The site will be busting at the seams in less than four months.

lol... its one of those days :-p

I thought the date was December 31, 2007. There will never be a better way to start the new year! 4 supertalls all at once! The site will be busting at the seams in less than four months.

Not really, the site for WTC 2 will be handed over in June 2008 I thought.

Who cares as long as 3 and 4 start up? By then, I bet a huge portion of FT's base will be sticking up high.

^^ yeah that true :cheers:

BTW like always I was checking the earthcam today and saw something cool. First I couldn't believe my eyes, but after a view hours I'm pretty sure.
They're installing the form work of B3 of the Freedom Tower left to the core. This will be the first floor that really belongs to the tower.

Here's a print screen:
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/5267/ec1uu3.jpg

:)

yes, i noticed that too :). every day i can see much changes on the FT-site

amazing progress there right now..

the form work has rose 1 level...

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/4553/megapixelcamera20071025km7.th.jpg (http://img231.imageshack.us/my.php?image=megapixelcamera20071025km7.jpg)

i can't tell hardly anything from the cam, lol....

nudges carlos :)

i can't see anything :(

Yep, the core does look bigger than it did a week ago. We're reaching the point where every week you can see major progress.

did they finish pouring the concrete in to the core yet?

^^ They finished it in the left core. In the right core they still need to do the concrete pouring.

arise core, arise!
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/5346/corejf2.jpg

:master:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/25/business/25lynch.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Merrill Lynch Expected to Quit Downtown for Midtown

By CHARLES V. BAGLI
Published: October 25, 2007

Merrill Lynch & Company, the world’s largest brokerage firm, appears ready to move its longtime headquarters from Lower Manhattan to a new skyscraper in Midtown, across Seventh Avenue from Pennsylvania Station, according to government officials and real estate executives.

The move would be a blow to downtown and its supporters in Albany, including Gov. Eliot Spitzer, and it would hobble efforts to re-establish ground zero as a financial center. But it would be a major boost to the developer Steven Roth’s ambitions for the Penn Station area.

Both Larry A. Silverstein, the developer at ground zero, and Brookfield Properties, Merrill’s current landlord at the nearby World Financial Center, submitted sweetened last-minute offers last week that were as much as $1 billion cheaper than the Midtown option, according to government officials and real estate executives who have been briefed on the negotiations.

But the investment bank has “given every indication,” those officials and executives said, that it plans to build a $4 billion, 3 million-square-foot tower on Seventh Avenue, between 32nd and 33rd Streets, that would be home for 11,000 employees. The building, at the current site of the Hotel Pennsylvania, would have significantly more square footage than the Empire State Building, though it might not be as tall.

Indeed, Merrill is negotiating with the owner of the Midtown development site, Mr. Roth’s Vornado Realty Trust, and interviewing prospective developers for the project this week, including Tishman Speyer Properties, Rudin Management and Hines, according to real estate executives.

The potential relocation, which would not occur until 2013, comes as Merrill reported $7.9 billion in write-downs yesterday, leading to its first quarterly loss in six years. State officials hold out hope that the company’s difficult financial situation will prompt it to reconsider leaving Lower Manhattan.

“We understand that Merrill is still reviewing several options and suspect that they have to take into account a variety of factors, including cost and execution risk, before determining how to proceed,” said Avi Schick, president of the Empire State Development Corporation, who has been involved in discussions with Merrill Lynch.

Jason Wright, a Merrill spokesman, said the company was “evaluating all our options” and expected “to come to a conclusion shortly.”

Jones Lang LaSalle, the real- estate firm advising Merrill, did not return calls requesting comment. A Roth spokesman also declined comment.

Merrill has been negotiating with Vornado over the terms of a billion-dollar 65-year lease that would give the company control of the half-block hotel site, according to executives who have been briefed on the talks. Those executives noted that the negotiations could fall apart given the hard-bargaining nature of the participants and Merrill’s financial situation.

Under the proposed deal, Merrill would demolish the hotel and erect a building that would include 80,000-square-foot trading floors on the lower levels. But there are questions about whether the tower can be completed by 2013, when Merrill’s lease expires at the World Financial Center. The Hotel Pennsylvania demolition project requires public approval, which could take a year, and would entail building over the railroad tracks that run beneath the hotel and pose engineering and security challenges.

“We have not given up on keeping them downtown,” said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, whose district includes Lower Manhattan. “There’s more certainty downtown. Uptown, they need all kinds of approvals and zoning.”

Penn Station is the latest real estate frontier. Mr. Roth and Vornado, along with a second developer, the Related Companies, have proposed a $14 billion overhaul of the dowdy neighborhood. Their plans include the demolition of Madison Square Garden to make way for a new Pennsylvania Station, the conversion of the general post office on Eighth Avenue into an adjunct train station as well as a new Garden, and the development of office towers with a total of 6.3 million square feet.

A deal with Merrill would provide some financial security for a bid by Vornado and the Durst Organization for the development rights over the West Side railyards, three blocks west of the Hotel Pennsylvania. The Bloomberg administration has vigorously promoted the railyards project.

“We’d like to see Merrill stay in Lower Manhattan — which is clearly a better value for them and one of the fastest-growing business districts in the country,” said John Gallagher, a spokesman for Deputy Mayor Daniel L. Doctoroff. “However, it is critical that Merrill stay in New York City.”

Merrill has been actively looking at various options for a new headquarters for more than a year, though it has not discussed leaving the city. It has wanted the kind of huge trading floors that Goldman Sachs is building in its new headquarters on West Street, opposite ground zero, and enough space to bring all its employees under one roof.

Last week, Merrill asked for final offers from three contestants: Mr. Roth and Vornado; its current landlord, Brookfield Properties; and Mr. Silverstein, developing three towers at ground zero. With the possibility of Merrill’s departure seeming to grow more real, Governor Spitzer called Stanley O’Neal, Merrill Lynch’s chief executive, to make a personal appeal.

Brookfield submitted the least expensive plan, to expand the lower floors at 2 World Financial Center to accommodate the trading floors. But it would have required several years of construction and office relocation.

After months of resisting Merrill’s demands, Mr. Silverstein finally proposed selling a site at ground zero and reconfiguring the existing design. But it would not have allowed for the extra large trading floors.

Mr. Silverstein had insisted on what Merrill executives considered an especially high price — until last week, when he cut his price by nearly $400 million, a particularly large sum that late in the negotiations, according to three people involved in the talks.

If Merrill Lynch goes to Midtown, it would mark the third major investment bank after Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase & Company, that could not come to terms with Mr. Silverstein.

It was only in June that Governor Spitzer, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Mr. Silver were trumpeting a remarkable comeback at the former World Trade Center site and downtown generally. JPMorgan Chase had just announced that it would build a $2 billion headquarters near ground zero for its investment banking business. Both the new PATH station and the Freedom Tower, the tallest skyscraper at ground zero, were under construction.

Some downtown business executives and state officials are now concerned that Merrill’s departure would undercut the downtown resurgence. The bank would leave behind 2.5 million square feet of office space at the World Financial Center around the same time the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey would be trying to fill more expensive space at the 2.6 million-square-foot Freedom Tower and Mr. Silverstein would be looking for tenants for three other big towers planned for ground zero.

Barry Gosin, vice chairman of Newmark Knight Frank, was cautiously optimistic, however. He said the loss of a single institution would not reverse what has happened downtown. “It may slow down the leasing at the World Trade Center and the World Financial Center,” he said. “But all the things happening downtown will outweigh the impact. There’s a critical mass of firms.”

Who cares? That just means yet another supertall for Midtown NYC.

^^ i think he might be posting good news for a change...because this certainly isn't bad news.

i'm pretty sure he posted it to let everyone know that merril lynch move from downtown could put strain in finding tenants to fill up all the space they left behind.

Yeah, but it's common knowledge that supertall office skyscrapers almost always require many years before they are fully occupied.

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/5162/untitlfft44eddd6.jpg

How can those four staircases be in the corners of the tower if the tower slightly tapers as it rises? Do they lean towards the core as they rise? Will there be any columns on an angle? This tower will be around longer than our great X100 grandchildren live.

is that the freedom tower???? I remember reading on internet that the staircaises would be located in the corner of the tower. When the planes hit the WTC the emergency staircaises got destroyed, because they were in the center of the tower..

Yeah, that's the FT's ground floor. The staircases in the old WTC were destroyed because there was nothing protecting them.


http://i21.tinypic.com/2ldfvup.gif

the one on the bottom left looks like that famous building in Pittsburgh almost

FT and WTC2 are the best so far..

the floorplan reminds me alot on the old WTC towers

the floorplan reminds me alot on the old WTC towers

Yeah they are very similar but that is only at the top and bottom. At the middle the building in octagonal.

For what reason are they constructing 2 centreal cores?

Freedom Tower has one core, as far as I know. The older version had two cores, I think.

Freedom Tower has one core, as far as I know. The older version had two cores, I think.

They are not, there will be a single core in this tower, the older version had twin cores above the last office floors, (a single core below) to accomidate the "lattice" and hat truss that was part of the "Diagrid" exterior skin.

They are not, there will be a single core in this tower, the older version had twin cores above the last office floors, (a single core below) to accomidate the "lattice" and hat truss that was part of the "Diagrid" exterior skin.

So which one will be the core in this pic: http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/5346/corejf2.jpg

They looks like two set of formworks.

^^ both. The free space in the middle will provide access to the elevators, the stairs and the sanitary rooms (see the floor plan on the previous page) :)

^^ But how can it be one single core when they are being build separately with separate formwork.

It is logical to say that there are two and not a single one.

The right and the left side of the core will be connected with thick concrete floors. This way the two parts will function as one core.

i was looking thru some site and i came across these pics
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/8315/ftower02jpg0fae7977506dih4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/4048/ftower06jpgd666208e7323qc2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/1876/ftower05jpg6d91a3925c55ka4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
link http://www.turbosquid.com/FullPreview/Index.cfm/ID/301486/SID/326718/blFP/1

Yeah, that's the FT's ground floor. The staircases in the old WTC were destroyed because there was nothing protecting them.


http://i21.tinypic.com/2ldfvup.gif

the one on the bottom left looks like that famous building in Pittsburgh almost


Yeah, but 3WTC will be considerably taller (and bigger): ;)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2275/1790357407_36bf3f80fd_o.jpg

That spire looks great. :okay:

^^^^OOOh, nice!

the spire is fantastic!!

So which one will be the core in this pic: http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/5346/corejf2.jpg

They looks like two set of formworks.

Note to the left, the long formwork shaped like an "L",that is the south wall, the crane base(s) are in square areas, and on each side a smaller square, (to the west an east of both cranes, is the core area, there seems to be at this level a corridor running east/west, between the crane base's.

So the area with the 2 crane base's, and the 4 smaller squres to the east and west is the core.!

i'm pretty sure he posted it to let everyone know that merril lynch move from downtown could put strain in finding tenants to fill up all the space they left behind.

The fact that Meryill Lynch chose not to be in the official plans is a major setback, plus Congress still has yet to approove of the leases, which could have been stopped, though it's not mentioned as of now.

Congress doesn't have to approve of anything except that terrorist funding bill which gives extra chas to projects like this, and they have already passed that bill a few weeks ago. The fact that Meryill Lynch chose not to be in the WTC doesn't change anything excpet the fact that it might take a little longer to get the buildings fully leased; it doesn't change the construction schedule.

Amazing, says it all really. The comparison with the new 3WTC and the tower in Pittsburgh really puts the height into perspective. What great additions to the new york skyline, cant wait to visit.

Yeah, but 3WTC will be considerably taller (and bigger): ;)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2275/1790357407_36bf3f80fd_o.jpg

woah. i didnt realize that the WTC version was so much bigger. funny how the Pittsburgh one looks huge in Pittsburgh, but i guess if you brought it to NYC, it wouldn't even be noticeable.

i really like how even the smaller projects are going to be massive and are very well thought out. from what it looks like, it seems like the smaller projects of today's WTC will be bigger than those of the previous WTC. is that true?

delete-double post

so is that the basement floors are the lobby that is being built by those 2 cranes?, because i know its 70 feet down

Those are the basement floors that are being constructed, along with the tower's core.

Today they poured the last basement floor peice of the footprint of 1WTC. They also seemed to be pouring more footings in that corner that we can't get a good view of.

can't wait to see the progress

at least something is almost to ground level...
posted by innov8 at ssp
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/8248/wtc3fjpg20071027copyxt5.jpg

WOW...that walls gone up fast!!

Anyone know when the other cranes arrive??

Two to six weeks.

lol, where the hell did that wall come from?

out of no were :lol:, oh by the way i found a site at school showing the height between each floor slab. but i forgot the name of the site :(

Exactly correct.

oh yeah baby, i found the floor slab height.
1. Building Size: 2,600,000 Gross Square Feet of Class A Office Space
2. Ceiling Height: Typical 13’ 4” slab to slab.
3. Column Spacing: Typical 30’ x 30’ column bays
4. Lobby: The street-level office lobby features a 50-foot ceiling and entrances on all four sides of the building




i tryed to post the link but it's a PDF, so i dont know how to post a PDF

lol, where the hell did that wall come from?

You can't see it in the webcam because of the angle but that is the southern wall of that 2-3 storey structure infront of the steel beams called Route 9A

very quick PH

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7392/unbenannt2ev5.jpg

they look so tiny compare to the burj dubai

Look how tiny OPPG plaza NOW looks!!!!!!!!!!!

thank you mr. germantower, that was real sweet of you. maybe if you were'nt trying to compensate for your own short-comings i wouldn't feel so bad for you.

Talk about trolling germantower...

Look how tiny OPPG plaza NOW looks!!!!!!!!!!!

to bad there is nothing to compare it with a german building...they'r to insignificant...

Hey everyone, first post but a long time viewer of this site.

I must admit, while the entire new WTC site is absolutely spectacular, ive always found the Freedom Tower to be the sore thumb in the bunch. I was really hoping for something revolutionary and groundbreaking when they announced that a new developement would commence, but Freedom Tower did neither. Anyways thats my first 2 cents, but i cant wait for this project to be done, as it will be incredible nonetheless

to bad there is nothing to compare it with a german building...they'r to insignificant...


May i ask how old you are? posting such stupid posts!

to bad there is nothing to compare it with a german building...they'r to insignificant...

go ahead, surprise us: http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/ (http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/). take a printscreen of the diagram and post it over here.

Ontopic: The construction on the left part of the core seems to go much faster than the construction of the right core, why? There's not much of a difference between the two core parts.

^^^I believe that is because the Route 9A needs that part of the core poured so they can start putting in floors between the core and the steel beams and thus continue work on 9A. Also it seems today on the webcam that there are a lot of workers by the right core so it would not surprise me if the outer formwork goes up soon.

Can I have the link for the webcam pls?

^^^I believe that is because the Route 9A needs that part of the core poured so they can start putting in floors between the core and the steel beams and thus continue work on 9A. Also it seems today on the webcam that there are a lot of workers by the right core so it would not surprise me if the outer formwork goes up soon.

I see, thanks. :)
There's indeed a lot of activity there, I guess they're installing rebar.

germantower, here's the link: http://www.earthcam.net/users2/interface.php?i=0&id=445&projectid=202&clientid=158
enjoy and don't become as addicted as I am :nuts:

thx tag one.

I will try dont get addictet but thx for the advice. ;)

May i ask how old you are? posting such stupid posts!

very very small....but as you said " I couldn't resist" :lol:

Tag_one

"go ahead, surprise us: http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/ . take a printscreen of the diagram and post it over here."

exactly what I was saing... can't find a german tower( the frankfurt millenium tower doesn't count, it is not even u/c).

Back on topic (somewhat):

does anybody now how the fountains/pool/cascade in the memorial will work? will they use non-potable water, recicle the same water or use water from the river ( I hope they don't use good water, it would be such a waist).

As for fire security: is the tower going to have special chambers fire-proof ? (like the Burj Dubai has, although since the FT is much smaller, it may not have any)

qouted romanamerican-----
exactly what I was saing... can't find a german tower( the frankfurt millenium tower doesn't count, it is not even u/c).

And what exactly do you want to say us/me with that? Do you felt abjected because a middle east city will have a much taller tower than usa. I guess you ware from the USA because of romanAMERICAN.


I cant point out your stupid view. And if you answer with thats because you are stupid you will show us your stupidness.

^^can't u people stop fighting each other and get back to topic please????

u can discuss that stuff in a political-thread :bash:

this is about the freedom tower and not about towers in germany, dubai or elsewhere in the world!

(BUT: to clear that- commerzbank-tower (985 ft) in frankfurt germany is europe's highest completed office-tower... so far)

now back to FT! the next columns i think must be installed during the next weeks- right?

The tallest building in Germany is a bit smaller, but not as radical as romanamerican said. Believe me, the Commerzbank tower is still pretty tall if you stand next to it. This diagram gives also a good idea how big the new WTC buildings will become. :)
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/2575/comparevk4.jpg

wait a minute, what is that picture of on the previous page?, is that any part of the freedom tower?

^^ structurally it isn't part of the Freedom Tower, but it is attached to it. The wall you see is part of the route 9A underpass project. A walkway which connects the WFC to the transportation hub.

did you forgot this one?
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?b4315
is u/c soon i guess

ok thank you

The tallest building in Germany is a bit smaller, but not as radical as romanamerican said. Believe me, the Commerzbank tower is still pretty tall if you stand next to it. This diagram gives also a good idea how big the new WTC buildings will become. :)
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/2575/comparevk4.jpg

the wtc tower's are not going to be that wide as shown

Uhh yeah they are. It's supposed to be to scale.

http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/moving%20materials%20on%20site%20oct%202007_big.jpg

Um, actually, there is. Not from ground level, but if you look at webcam, they are pretty much the same as a week ago. But the core is coming along quite nicely.
http://i10.tinypic.com/6614yh5.jpg

Does anyone have any close ups of the base of these cranes - or diagrams of how they work ? They appear to be the same type that was just installed next door to me ( in Chicago ) and I am pretty sure they are the type that "crawl" up the building's core as it rises.

353 N Clark - Chicago
http://lh3.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/RylAlepImxI/AAAAAAAAL4g/jZTsO2PMf0A/P1090865.JPG?imgmax=640

http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/moving%20materials%20on%20site%20oct%202007_big.jpg


Can someone explain exactly what is going on in that picture?:nuts:

do i see that right? are they already installing the formwork for the 2nd floor of the core???

yarrr!!!

qouted romanamerican-----
exactly what I was saing... can't find a german tower( the frankfurt millenium tower doesn't count, it is not even u/c).

And what exactly do you want to say us/me with that? Do you felt abjected because a middle east city will have a much taller tower than usa. I guess you ware from the USA because of romanAMERICAN.


I cant point out your stupid view. And if you answer with thats because you are stupid you will show us your stupidness.

hahahaahah...no, I'm NOT american (this has already been talked about in previous posts). I'm much closer to germany than what you think (unfortunatly too close...).

As for the last frase, please explain it better beacuse I did't understand it (maybe because I'm stuid, probably because english is not my country's language.

By the way, I don't really care about WHO has the towers, especially since I come from a country that doesn't have any.
I'll give you a hint: while we were building marvels, you guys were still yelling around trees with animal skins as clothes. And I'm not talking about the native americans that I estime.


to forum users
Sorry for the OT but an answer to clarify was necessary. last OT

Ok romanamerican let us stop this stupid conversation. its waste use of posts. You and i are interested in scrapers so let us talk about the FT. Other members sorry for such stupid posts by me.

What are those white blocks in front of the pic?

Can someone explain exactly what is going on in that picture?:nuts:

There building a skyscraper mate.

^^ i think he know's that :lol:

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/7494/dsc0695bigeh2.jpg

We ain't guna be seeing that beam in a few weeks...

Ebola is right folks in a few weeks time we will be unable to see the Freedom Beam; I gues I never though of it like that...

Ok romanamerican let us stop this stupid conversation. its waste use of posts. You and i are interested in scrapers so let us talk about the FT. Other members sorry for such stupid posts by me.

What are those white blocks in front of the pic?

Those white blocks in the picture are thermal insulation materials, they're made from EPS (expanded polystyrene). They'll probably used for the formwork



Does anyone have any close ups of the base of these cranes - or diagrams of how they work ? They appear to be the same type that was just installed next door to me ( in Chicago ) and I am pretty sure they are the type that "crawl" up the building's core as it rises.


Here's a picture of the base of the FT tower cranes:
http://www.panynj.gov/drp/images/gallery/wtcth/2007/07/fredmtwr02.jpg

I'm not sure, but it looks like they'll lift the cranes completely (including the base of the crane). They'll probably do that with hydraulic rams. This is different from the method they use to lift the tower crane in your picture. In your picture you'll see a climbing frame in the mast of the crane. With this climbing frame they'll insert small pieces of mast to make the crane grow higher (see picture below). As far as I can see there's no climbing frame used in the cranes of the Freedom Tower.
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/tower-crane18.jpg

It's nice to see that work on FT is finally in proggress. I'm glad that the original design of D. Liebeskind is not beeing build... just awful :ohno:

in a few weeks time we will be unable to see the Freedom Beam
what is the/a 'Freedom Beam'?
I assume its not just a typo of 'freedom bean', like 'freedom fries'...???
:dunno:

I'm much closer to germany than what you think (unfortunatly too close...).


pff... you just met the wrong people. I hope you'll visite us someday and change your mind :)

Those white blocks in the picture are thermal insulation materials, they're made from EPS (expanded polystyrene). They'll probably used for the formwork




Here's a picture of the base of the FT tower cranes:
http://www.panynj.gov/drp/images/gallery/wtcth/2007/07/fredmtwr02.jpg

I'm not sure, but it looks like they'll lift the cranes completely (including the base of the crane). They'll probably do that with hydraulic rams. This is different from the method they use to lift the tower crane in your picture. In your picture you'll see a climbing frame in the mast of the crane. With this climbing frame they'll insert small pieces of mast to make the crane grow higher (see picture below). As far as I can see there's no climbing frame used in the cranes of the Freedom Tower.
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/tower-crane18.jpg

Check out DCM Erectors website (Federated Equipment) and go to Internal Climbing crane video. The method used in video will probably be similar. Right now only the lower basket is in place, as steel is installed the upper basket will be installed.

what is the/a 'Freedom Beam'?
I assume its not just a typo of 'freedom bean', like 'freedom fries'...???
:dunno:



LoL :lol: It's the white beam with Freedom written on it, d00h:D

Check out DCM Erectors website (Federated Equipment) and go to Internal Climbing crane video. The method used in video will probably be similar. Right now only the lower basket is in place, as steel is installed the upper basket will be installed.

Thx - do you have a link to that video ? can't seem to find it on the DCM/Federated site.

Thx - do you have a link to that video ? can't seem to find it on the DCM/Federated site.

http://www.dcmerectors.com/tower-crane_video.htm

pff... you just met the wrong people. I hope you'll visite us someday and change your mind :)

HAHAHAHA...I was just referring to that particular person I was talking with.
I've been to Germany, and I've met wonderful people. ( BTW, went to Munich, beautiful city...).

As for the FT, I wish they wouldn't cover the Fredom beam, it means so much to so many people. Who knows, in the far future when (if) they demolish it, to find again that beam would be such a great emotion...

No possibility they won't cover it up totally?

http://www.dcmerectors.com/tower-crane_video.htm

Wow thx

It was indeed a very interesting video, many thanks AJM :cheers1:

Well heres my possible answer to the "How is the crane going to rise" question.
First they will construct the core to at least 40' above the crane base, at which point they will install a second frame or "collar" inside the core, above the current crane base, under this collar will be the hydrolic jacks attached to it and the crane base. we won't see this installation take place of course, but i'm sure this is what will happen, (or at least something similar to it....)

The progress is getting faster..

Five days ago:


http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/2801/freedom2zt1.jpg

old model, but nice and sheening

http://aycu38.webshots.com/image/30597/2004575314303693403_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2004575314303693403)

Two Weeks Ago:


http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/2801/freedom2zt1.jpg

No it wasn't made two weeks ago, it was made last Friday at 2 PM. See for yourself on the HD cam :lol:
:cheers:

No it wasn't made two weeks ago, it was made last Friday at 2 PM. See for yourself on the HD cam :lol:
:cheers:

So obviously it was meant to say TWO DAYS AGO.

By the way, how are they going to get that excavator out of there now that its path to the ramp has been blocked? Are they going to have to lift it out by crane?

So obviously it was meant to say TWO DAYS AGO.

By the way, how are they going to get that excavator out of there now that its path to the ramp has been blocked? Are they going to have to lift it out by crane?

no they going to leave it there :lol:

^^ Welcome to Skyscrapercity RealThang :banana:

I guess you're right about lifting the excavator with one of the cranes. I looks like there are no other options.

what is that stuff around the base of the crane?

I understand by February there won't be a ramp for any heavy equipment or anything else to enter or leave the pit. The north memorial will have steel rising by January and the ramp is going to be in the way so down it'll come. I suppose we'll need to see some small cranes before that???

I also suppose we'll see the steel columns soon so that the floors that they're starting to build around the core have the required support.

No it wasn't made two weeks ago, it was made last Friday at 2 PM. See for yourself on the HD cam :lol:
:cheers:

There's no cam in that location and the cam cannot take pictures like that. Because it was posted in a blog about an article that was a few weeks old, I assumed that's about how old the picture would be.

with what do they fill the pit ? sand ? or underground parking places? :)

There's no cam in that location and the cam cannot take pictures like that. Because it was posted in a blog about an article that was a few weeks old, I assumed that's about how old the picture would be.

Judging by the Route 9a addition at the left of that picture, it cannot be more than 5 days old.

You can be right. I wonder where they will fit two more tower cranes. You think in the building or outside of it? I bet it would save money to use two more of the same type of crane, but that may not be possible if they put them on the outside.

That picture in the post of Ebola was taken on Friday afternoon after 3 PM. If you use the web cam time lapse you can see it. They poured the concrete Sat morning in the floor that they were preparing during the last week. Now I'm wondering when the next pour of the right Side of the core will take place. Any guesses?The equipment will be all lifted out by the cranes I'm sure of that. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that. Also the structure that they are working on is not Route 9A it is Fulton Street. 9A is Also West Street that runs north and south by the complex.
Take care

i think it would be cool to extend downtown into governer's island :o
what is on it now anyways? in google maps it just looks like housing projects and i dont even see any cars there lol

get rid of the transit hub!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oh come on, the transit hub is awesome^^

Central core is visible, great progress !

You can be right. I wonder where they will fit two more tower cranes. You think in the building or outside of it? I bet it would save money to use two more of the same type of crane, but that may not be possible if they put them on the outside.

There will be no more tower cranes on the FT. There may be 2 small cranes for the memorial. Where do these false rumors get started?? Nobody official ever said there would be 4 cranes...

What makes you so sure of yourself? There will be four tower cranes from all of the sources I've heard from. I've heard it said from multiple news sources, including the New York Times, and a construction overview. Perhaps the PA even mentioned it too. I don't think that they are all wrong because even BoA had 4, including tower cranes on the exterior, and that's a much smaller tower.


This is from the New York Post:

"Thirty-four massive tower cranes will be needed - four alone at The Freedom Tower..."
May 2006

They will use these 2 cranes to get this tower out of the ground, but i think we will have to wait until the tower reaches the first typical (office) floor before we see any other cranes installed, I could see other cranes being used to lift cladding material, and installing it, but they would not be installed until this tower is out of the ground several office floors..............we'll just have to wait and see, they have not even installed the core concrete pumping system yet,.....time will tell.

Yeah, I'm sure that you're right. It may take as long as a year before they install two more exterior tower cranes. I don't think they can building something this big with just two tower cranes. I bet you that, to build all the WTC towers, there will be about 18 or 20 tower cranes at Ground Zero and Tower 5 alone. It's the biggest project in the US.

ive found a worst vision of it
its from a tv show called "dirty sexy money"

nothing serious ,just laugh

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c203/macpolo/20071105194741.jpg

let's stop pulling facts straight from our asses.

just on oct. 30, it was 2 to 6 weeks until the next tower cranes, now the same person is saying a year.

unless you know something 'concrete' (ha), don't speculate.

^Like you know any more than anyone here. Becaue no precise construction schedule is open to the public, all we have to hold onto is speculation and logic. What I am about to say should be correct: more tower cranes will be erected between tomorrow and a year from now.

Let's hope Rising puts up those construction worker blogs soon.

Q1 November Updates:
(from WTC Rising)


Wall Splicing:
http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/prepr%20work%20wall%20slicing%20nov%202007_big.jpg

East-West Corridor:
http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/view%20of%20east%20west%20corridor%20from%20north%20side%20nov%202007_big.jpg

East-West Corridor:
http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/view%20of%20east%20west%20corridor%20from%20south%20side%20nov%202007_big.jpg

East-West Corridor:
http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/scaffolding%20for%20east%20west%20corridor_big.jpg

Freedom Tower Anchor:
http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/anchor%20bolt_big.jpg

Freedom Tower Footings:
http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/ft%20foot%20excavation_big.jpg


November Overall:
http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/wtc%20site%20october%202007_big.jpg

^^ Thanks for the updates. I was going to post the new pictures but couldn't see a link to them aside from the front page of the site. Is that where you get them from?

Yeah, all from the first page of the site, I right click and copy and paste the link here, and pick a different number and repeat the processs.

It's a shame that they aren't in order by date.

So great updates ! From the very deep inside of the project ! thx.

^Like you know any more than anyone here. Becaue no precise construction schedule is open to the public, all we have to hold onto is speculation and logic. What I am about to say should be correct: more tower cranes will be erected between tomorrow and a year from now.

Let's hope Rising puts up those construction worker blogs soon.



You don't see me posting arbitrary schedules

What makes you so sure of yourself? There will be four tower cranes from all of the sources I've heard from. I've heard it said from multiple news sources, including the New York Times, and a construction overview. Perhaps the PA even mentioned it too. I don't think that they are all wrong because even BoA had 4, including tower cranes on the exterior, and that's a much smaller tower.6

BoA had 3 exterior mounted cranes with short booms. FT has 2 core mounted cranes that can cover the entire building. Also the Tishman project manager said there would be 2 cranes.

Finally things are happening at the WTC site.

Awsome updates everyone! Thanks for keeping us all up to speed with the Freedom Tower!

Thanks for the photos and the news!!

the 6th pic looks impressive!!!

What's the latest on the Deutsche Bank deconstruction?

Mike

it is still coming down slowly ^^

^^ I thought they stopped for a while after the fire this summer. I've no idea if they're already started. Ebola, do you have more info about this?

that was a quite while ago now, don't think the deconstruction is still on hold

Man, even if it doesn't look like it to regular tourists, it's really great to see some proper progress on the actual tower.

What's the latest on the Deutsche Bank deconstruction?

Mike
http://www.downtownexpress.com/de_234/newfiresafety.html
Volume 20, Number 25 | The Newspaper of Lower Manhattan | November 2 - 8, 2007

New fire safety violations at Deutsche

By Josh Rogers

Officials may hope to resume demolishing the Deutsche Bank building soon, but the project’s fire and safety problems continue.

In October — two months after the Aug. 18 blaze killed two firefighters at the damaged building — the city Dept. of Buildings issued three violations — one for allowing combustible debris to accumulate on the sixth floor (Oct. 4), one for leaving debris too close to the edge of the building (Oct. 5), and one for doing after hours work without a permit (Oct. 13).

“One would think they’d be careful — they’re under investigation, two people have died, the community is up in arms,” Pat Moore said of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and other agencies overseeing the building across the street from her home.

She is a member of Community Board 1 and attended an Oct. 12 meeting of the 130 Liberty St. Advisory Committee, yet she had not heard about the violations until she was contacted by Downtown Express.

“Why would we have a meeting on the 12th and not hear about the violations,” she asked. The meeting was run by the L.M.D.C., the building’s owner.

Kimberly Flynn of 9/11 Environmental Action said a fellow activist emailed her the information about the violations but she also got no official word, despite attending the Oct. 12 meeting.

“These are violations in October, at which point we would have thought the L.M.D.C. had the situation firmly in hand,” she said. “The nature of the violations is particularly troubling….”

“It’s looking like same-old, same-old. At the community meetings [right after the fire] people asked over and over, ‘what’s going to be different to prevent injuries, accidents and fires?’”

Officials with the development corporation, a state-city authority under the control of the governor, did not comment for this article.

Catherine McVay Hughes, chairperson of C.B. 1’s World Trade Center Committee, said L.M.D.C. officials did say Oct. 12 that they were reducing the “fire load” in the building, but they did not connect the change to the recent violations.

The violations have been rectified, according to the Buildings Dept. Web site.

Avi Schick, the L.M.D.C.’s chairperson, said a few weeks ago that the work resealing the building to prevent possible toxic chemicals from escaping was proceeding well and he hoped the cleanup and demolition would begin soon.

Councilmember Alan Gerson said two weeks ago that the L.M.D.C. promised to testify before his Council committee before demolition work resumed. Gerson postponed the hearing then, and he has not yet rescheduled, an indication that the demolition date may have been pushed back.

Fifteen of the building’s 41 stories were taken apart before the fire.

The corporation has not yet picked a subcontractor to replace John Galt Corp., which was cited for numerous safety violations before the fire. Last year, Board 1 warned the L.M.D.C. not to hire the firm, citing Galt’s lack of experience and alleged ties to organized crime.

The L.M.D.C.’s silence about the fire and safety violations is the latest in a list of community complaints about the project.

This year after each major incident, officials made assurances that the project would proceed safely, but they were not specific about what the mistakes were and what they learned. A large pipe fell off the building and crashed through the nextdoor firehouse in May, injuring two firefighters slightly. The fire killed Joseph Graffagnino and Robert Beddia Aug. 18, and then five days later, a 300-pound forklift fell off the building, crashed through a shed, and injured two other firefighters seriously.

The night before that last incident, the L.M.D.C. sent out a community advisory saying that Bovis Lend Lease would be working on the site, ostensibly to make it safer before demolition work resumed, but the LM.D.C. did not disclose that John Galt would be there as well.

One of Galt’s workers was blamed for losing control of the forklift and Aug. 23 turned out to be its last day on the site.

Julie Menin, CB. 1’s chairperson and a member of the L.M.D.C.’s board of directors, said residents must be told immediately when problems are discovered at Deutsche. “We shouldn’t be put in a position,” she said, “where we have to be ferreting out information about what’s happening at the site.”

Josh@DowntownExpress.com

^^ damn, they need to nuke the fucker!
yes i know that would be excessive but at least the building would be down.

http://img336.imageshack.us/img336/8477/view1ry6.jpg

amazing tower :)

^^ damn, they need to nuke the fucker!
yes i know that would be excessive but at least the building would be down.

Wow, what an intelligent response. I wish you would post your incredible opinions more often.

OMG, wow...thats very great design.