There seems to be some activity going on around the site. I'm glad to see that things are at least moving along. The faster they get above-ground, the better.

the renders are awesome :D I wonder, what will be next. How will the NYC talest building look like :) What will be its height. Anyone heard 'bout any plans? proposals?

the renders are awesome :D I wonder, what will be next. How will the NYC talest building look like :) What will be its height. Anyone heard 'bout any plans? proposals?

don't think we'll see a taller tower than the FT in the near future

why is that? Is it because they're afraid creating such investment?

^^ Credit crisis?

And New York doesn't need to have the biggest to remain one of the few world cities. So therefor they build shorter but economically more viable buildings, they make the developers more money. The Freedom Tower is of course a symbol of how New York will survive even after the terrible attacks. When there's a economical need for such tall buildings, New York will certainly build them. But that can take some time, just like the years between the building of the ESB and the old WTC towers. Although I don't hope there will be world war between the Freedom Tower and the next tallest building. The near future will be more about filling up the already impressive skyline.

btw, what's inestition?

And bigger =/= better. Personally I think some of the towers in Dubai are just ridiculous.

btw, what's inestition?

inestition is not an english word as far as i know ^^. maybe he means investment :)

and yes, i totally agree with you Momo :)

And bigger =/= better. Personally I think some of the towers in Dubai are just ridiculous.

u mean ridiculously better ;)

u mean ridiculously better ;)

no, he means rediculous

Looks like it's a gloomy day in NYC, haven't noticed too much on the Earthcam. Then again, there could be a bunch going on that I can't see from the webcam.

they're lifting the formwork of the core again. Further they're digging at the site for tower 2 & 3. :cheers:

Before I re-open this thread, could everyone please read the Forum Rules:-

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/announcement.php?f=902&a=482

Thank you.

Everyone is presumed to be on notice of these rules. If you break them and find your account suspended, don't try to explain your way out of it by saying: "I didn't know this was against the rules."

http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/IMG_1219%20copy_big.jpg

http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/IMG_9015_big.jpg

http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/IMG_1751%20copy_big.jpg

http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/IMG_1346%20copy_big.jpg

http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/DSC_0832%20copy_big.jpg

http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/IMG_1952%20copy_big.jpg

Good job, DubaiTheLeader!!

99 Church Street (unveiled today) is over 900 feet tall and has 80 floors.

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/2391/1230downtownskylinebyduui9.jpg

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3305/1230downtownskylinebyduzb0.jpg

That makes 5 or even perhaps 6 towers over 900 feet tall u/c at the same time.

Hi!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry for my bad American English, but I'm italan guy, understand me.
I find the new WTC a costruction really frantastic, tall and big...wooow.
And...the construction site is very very big.....Recalls in the distance our construction site for the Lombardia region in Milan, also, , of course, your construction site is very much bigger!!!
I love New York City, I want see NYC with my eyes, not by photo (Or in the television series CSI NY).....I want come to New York!!!! Io amo New York City

finally thread is opened :cheers2:
an updates from flickr:
http://aycu27.webshots.com/image/44986/2000241498863660270_rs.jpg

http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/IMG_1219%20copy_big.jpg

Wouldnt of just been easier to dig out the divider between the 2 tubs insted of doing 2 walls where there didnt have to be one? Its probally because of the new road that goes on top. But isnt there a road right on top of that corridor to the WFC?

I plan to visit New York, but that will be after FT construction :) i really want to see this when it gets finished. I never got to see the old WTC with my own eyes ( and it was something that i wanted ... :( ), i hope to see the new when it gets built :)

Wouldnt of just been easier to dig out the divider between the 2 tubs insted of doing 2 walls where there didnt have to be one? Its probally because of the new road that goes on top. But isnt there a road right on top of that corridor to the WFC?

I've wondered the same thing. I believe they are doing some work underground between the two walls, but I'm not sure what exactly they are doing. Maybe somebody can fill us in.

I've wondered the same thing. I believe they are doing some work underground between the two walls, but I'm not sure what exactly they are doing. Maybe somebody can fill us in.

No can do. That's the subway line running through there. More trouble than it would be worth.

Great updates!!!

im from the other side of the world and VERY far from New York, but just wanted to ask, is there still a public perception amongst locals that the WTC site is 'hallowed ground'? Because i am imagining, if I lived or worked near that place, I would never quite come to grips with the scale and intensity of the catastrophe that took place on that very spot... regardless of how spectacular and bold the plans for its future are

im from the other side of the world and VERY far from New York, but just wanted to ask, is there still a public perception amongst locals that the WTC site is 'hallowed ground'? Because i am imagining, if I lived or worked near that place, I would never quite come to grips with the scale and intensity of the catastrophe that took place on that very spot... regardless of how spectacular and bold the plans for its future are

From my friends in the area, that's exactly the case. Many, especially those whose family members and friends were killed in the attacks, would rather it be left as a memorial, but realize that this is simply not feasible in Lower Manhattan, where the land is needed for other uses. It seems that it's just a part of living in a place like New York, where the rules are just a little bit different than most other places.

Wouldnt of just been easier to dig out the divider between the 2 tubs insted of doing 2 walls where there didnt have to be one? Its probally because of the new road that goes on top. But isnt there a road right on top of that corridor to the WFC?

That's exactly what they are planning to do. They'll put piles underneath the subway which is running between the tubs and than excavate the area and demolish the slurry wall. Unfortunately the underpinning didn't progressed as well as the Port Authorities hoped so they build a temporary slurry wall with secant wall along the perimeter of tower 3 & 4. This way the PA where able to handover the sites for tower 3 & 4 without the delays due to the underpinning and the excavation of the subway.

From my friends in the area, that's exactly the case. Many, especially those whose family members and friends were killed in the attacks, would rather it be left as a memorial, but realize that this is simply not feasible in Lower Manhattan, where the land is needed for other uses. It seems that it's just a part of living in a place like New York, where the rules are just a little bit different than most other places.

I think London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Paris and many European cities center curry the same rule. It is very sad why the Port Authority can't just find another piece of land or landfill some new land....just leave WTC site as memorial as a whole. But I do happy with what they do with the site right now, the memorial look good and respectful.

Judging from the bottom pic above, looks like the floors are now being put in for the basement / garage.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2298/2281662655_7a933aa278_b.jpg

These vertical columns around the core outline the space that the skycraper will "fill" ?

Kinda interesting.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8UVI4IO2.htm

February 22, 2008, 2:25PM ET
Long journey of Freedom Tower steel
By AMY WESTFELDT

The steel bound for the Freedom Tower at ground zero travels thousands of miles, from a plant in Luxembourg where columns are rolled through casting machines at temperatures approaching 2,340 degrees.

Scrap metal melted into liquid steel in an electric furnace is cast, heated, cooled and heated again at the ArcelorMittal steel mill in Differdange.

The steel makes its way to a plant in Virginia where the huge columns are cut to size. Eventually, it is shipped to New York City, where the columns are lifted by crane and painstakingly set on top of each other at ground zero.

The jumbo steel columns -- foot by foot, ton by ton -- are forming the skeleton of the 1,776-foot Freedom Tower, designed just after the 2001 attacks to replace the destroyed World Trade Center. Each column makes a 4,700-mile journey, taking weeks and sometimes months to arrive at ground zero.

Jim Brown, a steelworker at the Virginia factory, sees the symbolism in each column.

"It stands for something. It represents something. It represents strength," Brown said. "You can tear down a building, but you can't tear down the spirit of people."

Steel for the Freedom Tower comes first from Luxembourg, location of one of the world's only plants that builds columns of that size.

Poured into an H-shaped mold, the steel passes through a continuous casting machine in Differdange, cooled, cut down and reheated while engineers work at computers in distant control rooms.

The first shipment left Europe in 2006; some 9,400 tons have been ordered so far from ArcelorMittal. Nearly 50,000 tons will be needed to build the 102-story tower.

About two weeks later, the steel arrives at New Jersey or Virginia ports and are trucked to Banker Steel in Lynchburg, Va., where Brown is waiting.

Fabricated with base plates to connect the pieces and milled so that the ends are completely flat, the steel leaves Virginia, stopping at a New Jersey trucking yard before making the last leg of the trip to the trade center site.

The first Freedom Tower columns to rise at the end of 2006 were painted white, bearing signatures of ironworkers, New Yorkers and family members of Sept. 11 victims. They are gone from view now, covered with concrete.

The current columns -- plain brown, with quality codes scrawled on their ends -- are surrounded by hundreds of slender steel rods, trailers and hundreds of Tishman Construction Corp. workers. Meanwhile, commuter trains snake through the site every few minutes.

Last month, six columns came from New Jersey and were set into place on the building's west side. Ironworker Richie Shuler was there. He returned to the site last October, for the first time since trucks removed over a million tons of rubble from the destroyed towers just after the attacks.

"I was here two hours after the trade center fell," Shuler said.

In the beginning, the return to rebuild the site was "a little eerie," he said, "but it becomes a job."

By summer, steel will rise above street level for the first time; the Port Authority of New York and Jersey, which owned the trade center and is building the Freedom Tower, says it will take four more years to build: 102 stories, the same height as the twin towers, topped by a spire once likened to the Statue of Liberty's torch.

Brown is waiting eagerly.

"We want to bring that completion," he said. "We won't be happy until we see the needle put on top of it."

These vertical columns around the core outline the space that the skycraper will "fill" ?




Yes, that is correct.

In a way, Bond, it is almost as though the former Twin Towers will live on in spirit in the Freedom Tower bacause of these few things;

1. The steel columns for the Twins were made at that same plant in Luxembourg.

2. Tishman also was the contractor who built the Twins.

3. The Freedom Tower is also being built using no interior support columns to make more floor space for offices.

4. The restaurant and obs deck will be restored.

5. And there will also be another antenna inside the spire.

the should name floors and wings after the victims. Thats symbolic

The construction site looks spectacular... Hope too see it above street level soon.

think we've to wait long until this moment :D

^^ the core has to gorw only 21m to reach street level, but since it has grown a bit i think that a maximum of 10m are left to bring the core to street level.....so i think we dont have to wait long to see it at street level.

1. The steel columns for the Twins were made at that same plant in Luxembourg.

Kind of a sad and point in U.S. industry where we don't even have the ability to make steel (or competitiveness) to make the steel for one of the most symbolic buildings in the United States!

10m left till core is brought to street level wow i can't wait once this tower starts to grow should start a complete new thread once the floors are starting to construct way too many pages!

Kind of a sad and point in U.S. industry where we don't even have the ability to make steel (or competitiveness) to make the steel for one of the most symbolic buildings in the United States!

it's impossible for a country to have a comparative advantage in everything. the U.S. is fortunate to have comparative advantages in high-paying sectors.

^^ the core has to gorw only 21m to reach street level, but since it has grown a bit i think that a maximum of 10m are left to bring the core to street level.....so i think we dont have to wait long to see it at street level.

10m are ~ 2 floors....so probably still some months with the current speed ^^

Kinda interesting.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8UVI4IO2.htm

February 22, 2008, 2:25PM ET
Long journey of Freedom Tower steel
By AMY WESTFELDT

By summer, steel will rise above street level for the first time; the Port Authority of New York and Jersey, which owned the trade center and is building the Freedom Tower, says it will take four more years to build: 102 stories, the same height as the twin towers, topped by a spire once likened to the Statue of Liberty's torch.



Hopefully this settles the schedule discussion once and for all. :bash:

Kind of a sad and point in U.S. industry where we don't even have the ability to make steel (or competitiveness) to make the steel for one of the most symbolic buildings in the United States!

It's not sad at all and doesn't prove anyting about the current state of the US because there are literally only one or two places on the face of the planet that can produce the mega beams specifically needed for this project, and their location has do with natural resources. Plants in the US still process this steel and I'm sure that, even though the PA has decided to use several foreign firms to produce different parts of the building, almost everything could have been done without the help of other places, yet it's clear that they wanted the rest of the world to be a part of the process simply by looking at all of the architects picked for the projects within the WTC megaplot.

^^agreed. There's nothing to be sad off and welcome to a globalized world.

The steel girders for 1 Worldwide Plaza came from Luxembourg. That was about 20 years ago so this type of outsourcing is nothing new.

Hopefully this settles the schedule discussion once and for all. :bash:



It should also send a powerful message to EVERYONE that there will be no stopping the tower and no turning back!^^

It's not sad at all and doesn't prove anyting about the current state of the US because there are literally only one or two places on the face of the planet that can produce the mega beams specifically needed for this project, and their location has do with natural resources. Plants in the US still process this steel and I'm sure that, even though the PA has decided to use several foreign firms to produce different parts of the building, almost everything could have been done without the help of other places, yet it's clear that they wanted the rest of the world to be a part of the process simply by looking at all of the architects picked for the projects within the WTC megaplot.
If you look back in history the U.S. Steel industry used to be the leader in the world and able to produce larger and bigger steel and anyone in the world and our steel production tonnage with huge. Today U.S. Steel industry has shrunk to the point it's hardly competitive in any product line. The U.S. auto industry even import roll steel for auto production.

This has nothing to do with raw material availability since Luxembourg imports a majority of their raw materials. It has all to do with the decline of U.S. industry.

^^agreed. There's nothing to be sad off and welcome to a globalized world.
Easy for you to say since you're not from the U.S.! For U.S. citizens globalization is an indicator of the decline of our leadership in the world.

The steel girders for 1 Worldwide Plaza came from Luxembourg. That was about 20 years ago so this type of outsourcing is nothing new.
Actually, construction of the original towers started more than 40 years ago and they were completed 35 years ago.

It was reported that windows on the world will come back to the new WTC. Does anyone know if it will be situated in WTC1, or will it be in one of the other towers?

Easy for you to say since you're not from the U.S.! For U.S. citizens globalization is an indicator of the decline of our leadership in the world.
Finally some good news for the rest of the world ...

Anyway, what's the reason why the working is so slow at the moment, is the work too complex or what other factors are slowing down the progress on wtc1?

It was reported that windows on the world will come back to the new WTC. Does anyone know if it will be situated in WTC1, or will it be in one of the other towers?

I am not sure, but IMO it will be the logical choice...

Finally some good news for the rest of the world ...
:bash: Show me another country that has contributed to the world as much as the US has. Please!

Anyway, what's the reason why the working is so slow at the moment, is the work too complex or what other factors are slowing down the progress on wtc1?
the reason is this is an incredibly complex construction site, unlike any other in the world.

It was reported that windows on the world will come back to the new WTC. Does anyone know if it will be situated in WTC1, or will it be in one of the other towers?

i believe it will be on WTC 1

lol one of the biggest construction sites anywhere in the world

I've been looking at the webcam and I noticed that its rising!

^^ thats not really true. its only 16 acres. the burj dubai developoment is a stagering 500 acre site.

:bash: Show me another country that has contributed to the world as much as the US has. Please!


.

Do not go down this path. It leads only to a pointless discussion and the closure of the thread. Americans don't need to demonstrate anything, especially to someone that comes from a useless country like austria. Critics to US demonstrate only one thing: that the US is still the most powerful nation in the world. There has always been criticism against the leading power, it was like that with the Romans, with the Franks and during the British Empire.
So be happy about it and lets finish this here before it gets out of control.

lol one of the biggest construction sites anywhere in the world

Yeah thats not true. It can still hold 4 normal buildings, but the Burj Dubai site is a lot bigger

^^ thats not really true. its only 16 acres. the burj dubai developoment is a stagering 500 acre site.

500 acres for one building versus 16 acres for 4 buildings right now.

A pointless discussion about steel beams... For those Americans who wants the US to make the biggest beams in the world: Go build a steel mill I should say :cheers:

Come on, steel = steel, who cares where it's made :)

If you look back in history the U.S. Steel industry used to be the leader in the world and able to produce larger and bigger steel and anyone in the world and our steel production tonnage with huge. Today U.S. Steel industry has shrunk to the point it's hardly competitive in any product line. The U.S. auto industry even import roll steel for auto production.

This has nothing to do with raw material availability since Luxembourg imports a majority of their raw materials. It has all to do with the decline of U.S. industry.


Easy for you to say since you're not from the U.S.! For U.S. citizens globalization is an indicator of the decline of our leadership in the world.


Actually, construction of the original towers started more than 40 years ago and they were completed 35 years ago.

Please shut up, you don't speak for all US citizens, and you make the rest of us look ignorant. Go read a book and learn globilazation will help us in the long run if we play it right. :bash:

Would you people ever read the rules?
Anyone who posts bullshit nationalistic comments gets an infraction.
If someone else posts a bullshit nationalistic comment and you post one in reply then you get an infraction as well.

Well getting back on topic... It's been a while since I've passed by this thread, but from the last few pictures that were posted a few pages back, it looks like the Freedom Tower is coming along just fine.

Well getting back on topic... It's been a while since I've passed by this thread, but from the last few pictures that were posted a few pages back, it looks like the Freedom Tower is coming along just fine.



Yes it is!

In a couple more months or by this spring, it should be at street level.

And who cares where the steel is coming from as long as the tower gets built? Steel is steel.

Hi Everyone
This is my first post in this thread, and after looking through the last five pages I can only say the least, that this buliding and complex may I add, is truly captivating and inspiring. It is a symbol to the world and an icon in the making.
Everyone here i'm sure is enjoying watching this beautiful building rise from the earth and sore above all things and are lucky to be witnessing history being made.
Now, as a new comer to this forum i don't know much about this tower or complex, except that it will be 541m high, the developer is Silverstien and that the foundation took something like 2 years to complete.
As a skyscraper enthusiast, I would love to know more about what has happened so far in the journey, and what we are expecting to see happen within the next few months or so. So i have a few questions that i would really like answered, and I hope that someone (or maybe a few!:) ) can help.

1. Why did the foundation work take so long to complete?
2. Will this tower be made completely out of steel? (please excuse me if this is embarrassing cause i'm no engineer or anything)
3. In a birds eye view of the construction site, which area will be the site of the Freedom Tower?
4. Will the tower serve any other purposes such as skydeck, public lobby etc?
5. What has been the latest significant progress made on the structure?
6. What progress are we expecting to see within the coming weeks or couple of months?

Thanks to All in Advance!!

Hi Everyone
This is my first post in this thread, and after looking through the last five pages I can only say the least, that this buliding and complex may I add, is truly captivating and inspiring. It is a symbol to the world and an icon in the making.
Everyone here i'm sure is enjoying watching this beautiful building rise from the earth and sore above all things and are lucky to be witnessing history being made.
Now, as a new comer to this forum i don't know much about this tower or complex, except that it will be 541m high, the developer is Silverstien and that the foundation took something like 2 years to complete.
As a skyscraper enthusiast, I would love to know more about what has happened so far in the journey, and what we are expecting to see happen within the next few months or so. So i have a few questions that i would really like answered, and I hope that someone (or maybe a few!:) ) can help.

1. Why did the foundation work take so long to complete?
2. Will this tower be made completely out of steel? (please excuse me if this is embarrassing cause i'm no engineer or anything)
3. In a birds eye view of the construction site, which area will be the site of the Freedom Tower?
4. Will the tower serve any other purposes such as skydeck, public lobby etc?
5. What has been the latest significant progress made on the structure?
6. What progress are we expecting to see within the coming weeks or couple of months?

Thanks to All in Advance!!




You're welcome!


1. Standard operating procedure due to the complexity of the work involved.

2. Steel above the concrete base, steel and concrete below.

3. In the northwest corner of Ground Zero.

4. Obs deck and restaurant.

5. The steel columns were installed on the foundation, the core is growing and the basement / garage floors are being put in.

6. Steel should be at street level or slightly above it by then.

It's not sad at all and doesn't prove anyting about the current state of the US because there are literally only one or two places on the face of the planet that can produce the mega beams specifically needed for this project, and their location has do with natural resources. Plants in the US still process this steel and I'm sure that, even though the PA has decided to use several foreign firms to produce different parts of the building, almost everything could have been done without the help of other places, yet it's clear that they wanted the rest of the world to be a part of the process simply by looking at all of the architects picked for the projects within the WTC megaplot.


That is the best response in this thread I have seen yet that corresponds to this bullshit about the steel.. Its not like we dont have steel plants here in the USA, but like Ebola said, its all about the natual resources. This is truly a multi-national effort in the end, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. We are no longer in the old days where the USA seemed to make the "best of everything." I have heard in the past however with the advancements in the strength of steel, that the plants on the east coast are responsible for the extra strength and resilience.

I also want to add that the bath-tub construction, and all of the infrastructure for this development underground is extremely intricate.. considering this, the construction really is NOT going that slow!!!!

Yes the WTC site is "only" 16 acres, but there is a lot of shit that they are cramming in that area. Once the tower(s) reach street level, there will be a beyond significant increase in the speed of construction, even considering that the core walls will be at least 3 ft thick of some of the densest concrete known to man.

I hadn't noticed this before, but design in the top part of the tower resembles one of the world trace center towers. It stands out from the rest of the design which is also incorporated in the other buldings. Very nice.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/02/24/2008-02-24_pros_fear_new_towers_at_world_trade_cent.html
Pros fear new towers at World Trade Center site have security gaps

by greg b. smith and douglas feiden
daily news staff writers

Sunday, February 24th 2008, 4:00 AM

http://www.nydailynews.com/img/2008/02/24/graf_wtc.jpg

Law enforcement officials have major concerns about security weaknesses in the planned World Trade Center complex, a Daily News investigation has found.

The potential problems expressed to the Port Authority and others involved in the most high-profile development project in New York City history include:

A row of three mostly glass towers positioned too closely to city streets, increasing their vulnerability to attack.

Difficulties in inspecting some 2,000 delivery trucks and sightseeing buses that will enter or leave the site daily.

A vehicle security center that hasn't been fully designed and relies on vehicle inspection technology that hasn't even been developed yet.

Asked about weaknesses uncovered by The News in the plans for rebuilding Ground Zero, Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne said, "The NYPD has been in talks with the Port Authority, but we don't disclose any information about possible security vulnerabilities for obvious reasons."

Port Authority spokesman Stephen Sigmund said the agency is "very confident that the entire rebuilt WTC site - every building and every square inch - will operate with an unprecedented level of safety and security."

Michael Balboni, Gov. Spitzer's deputy secretary for public safety, emphasized, "At the end of the day, this will be one of the most secure footprints on the globe."

Law enforcement counterterrorism specialists have pinpointed serious flaws in key components of the Trade Center site, including three of the signature office towers projected to open by 2012.

Towers 2, 3 and 4 - which will rise between Greenwich and Church Sts. to 79, 71 and 64 stories, respectively - contain too much glass, sources familiar with the issues said.

They also are not set back far enough from the two streets - where uninspected trucks will whiz by - to meet the most rigorous security standards, the sources said.

"The reimposition of the street grid is an integral part of the plan to bring vibrancy to lower Manhattan," said Avi Schick, chairman of the Lower Manhattan Development Corp.

"The administration understands the need to balance that goal with legitimate security concerns."

Another concern: The buildings do not meet Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security blast standards. That means they can withstand certain types of explosions - but not more powerful blasts.

The DOD blast standards - rarely applied to U.S. skyscrapers - are typically used in U.S. embassies and missions abroad, sensitive government facilities and military bases.

Counterterrorism officials contend that because of the 1993 and 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, and Al Qaeda's pattern of repeatedly striking targets, DOD blast standards should be used in the Ground Zero buildings.

"The plans have been out for quite a while on these buildings, and it would have been nice to voice these concerns at the start rather than wait until now," said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who represents lower Manhattan. "The community wants to move forward."

A spokesman for Larry Silverstein, the developer of the three towers, declined to comment on security issues.

Silverstein's buildings - including a 1,270-foot giant that will be taller than the Empire State Building - have been designed with a steel-encased concrete core and engineered with safety systems exceeding the city's building code and the requirements of the Port Authority, his company says.

The Freedom Tower's extra safety measures - including being set back farther from the street, thicker glass and upgraded blast standards - were done after the NYPD raised questions about the building's weaknesses. Similar changes were made to the trade center's transportation hub after issues arose.

Asked about the overall effort to ensure the new trade center is secure, James Kallstrom, the former director of the FBI's New York office and former Gov. George Pataki's homeland security chief, said: "It's complicated. It's a very crowded area. It's not easy ... It's going to require state-of-the-art technology and competent, trained manpower."

The need for screening every single truck entering the area and the difficulties of carefully managing inspections were key issues Kallstrom addressed in a report he completed before leaving government last year.

Kallstrom and Balboni declined to discuss the report's recommendations, though Balboni said most were being implemented.

While inspecting thousands of vehicles a day is tough enough, the problem is more complicated in lower Manhattan because of narrow streets and thick traffic.

"We can't let anything enter the underground in that acreage that could have the potential for certain size devices or bombs without proper screening," Kallstrom said.

All delivery trucks and buses will access the complex through a new Vehicular Security Center, an underground complex with an entrance and exit on Liberty St. that will function as the central security checkpoint.

The $478 million project has been on the drawing boards since 2003 and was to start last April, but all the Port Authority has done is move some utilities and sewer lines.

Delays in demolition of the toxic former Deutsche Bank tower have made it close to impossible for construction of the subterranean project to begin.

Bids for a contractor haven't gone out, and excavation of the so-called south bathtub for the center hasn't begun, the bistate agency confirmed.

"Obviously, the fact that [Deutsche Bank] is not down presents some serious challenges to the VSC," Sigmund said.

There's more: The design and engineering specifications, which the Port Authority said in 2006 were being finalized, are not ready, and the screening technology does not exist.

Nevertheless, the PA said the Vehicular Security Center is set to be finished when the other buildings come on line, by 2011 or 2012.

"We will have the appropriate technology to do the screening when the VSC is completed," Sigmund said, noting the facility will meet DOD and Homeland Security standards.

Sigmund said they would inspect vehicles "off-site or in a holding area if necessary," declining to specify where it would take place.

That's a nightmare scenario for downtown residents, who say they're worried the Sept. 11 museum and other buildings will open before the Vehicular Security Center is completed, compromising security and the quality of life.

Asked if he was troubled the center has fallen behind schedule, Balboni said: "I'm not concerned yet, but that could change. We're watching it very closely."

dfeiden@nydailynews.com

^^ Michael Balboni, Gov. Spitzer's deputy secretary for public safety, emphasized, "At the end of the day, this will be one of the most secure footprints on the globe."


I agree with this 200% no matter what. They will figure out a way to really secure this property.. no matter how many different possible configurations this project can take, there will ALWAYS be vulnerabilities. There will most likely be different stages of checks done on all vehicles, as well as metal detectors at all pedestrian entrances.

:cheers:

You're welcome!


1. Standard operating procedure due to the complexity of the work involved.

2. Steel above the concrete base, steel and concrete below.

3. In the northwest corner of Ground Zero.

4. Obs deck and restaurant.

5. The steel columns were installed on the foundation, the core is growing and the basement / garage floors are being put in.

6. Steel should be at street level or slightly above it by then.

Ur a Legend Man! :hug:
Thanks Alot Buddy!! Now I can follow this thread from the last post onwards and watch this Queen soar into the sky with a sense of "Yes!, i was there from the start" lol, i'm sure u know what i mean :D
Cheers

P.S This also happens to be my 100th post!! YAY

You're welcome, and congrats on your 100th post!

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/02/24/2008-02-24_pros_fear_new_towers_at_world_trade_cent.html
Pros fear new towers at World Trade Center site have security gaps

by greg b. smith and douglas feiden
daily news staff writers

Sunday, February 24th 2008, 4:00 AM

http://www.nydailynews.com/img/2008/02/24/graf_wtc.jpg

Law enforcement officials have major concerns about security weaknesses in the planned World Trade Center complex, a Daily News investigation has found.

The potential problems expressed to the Port Authority and others involved in the most high-profile development project in New York City history include:

A row of three mostly glass towers positioned too closely to city streets, increasing their vulnerability to attack.

Difficulties in inspecting some 2,000 delivery trucks and sightseeing buses that will enter or leave the site daily.

A vehicle security center that hasn't been fully designed and relies on vehicle inspection technology that hasn't even been developed yet.

Asked about weaknesses uncovered by The News in the plans for rebuilding Ground Zero, Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne said, "The NYPD has been in talks with the Port Authority, but we don't disclose any information about possible security vulnerabilities for obvious reasons."

Port Authority spokesman Stephen Sigmund said the agency is "very confident that the entire rebuilt WTC site - every building and every square inch - will operate with an unprecedented level of safety and security."

Michael Balboni, Gov. Spitzer's deputy secretary for public safety, emphasized, "At the end of the day, this will be one of the most secure footprints on the globe."

Law enforcement counterterrorism specialists have pinpointed serious flaws in key components of the Trade Center site, including three of the signature office towers projected to open by 2012.

Towers 2, 3 and 4 - which will rise between Greenwich and Church Sts. to 79, 71 and 64 stories, respectively - contain too much glass, sources familiar with the issues said.

They also are not set back far enough from the two streets - where uninspected trucks will whiz by - to meet the most rigorous security standards, the sources said.

"The reimposition of the street grid is an integral part of the plan to bring vibrancy to lower Manhattan," said Avi Schick, chairman of the Lower Manhattan Development Corp.

"The administration understands the need to balance that goal with legitimate security concerns."

Another concern: The buildings do not meet Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security blast standards. That means they can withstand certain types of explosions - but not more powerful blasts.

The DOD blast standards - rarely applied to U.S. skyscrapers - are typically used in U.S. embassies and missions abroad, sensitive government facilities and military bases.

Counterterrorism officials contend that because of the 1993 and 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, and Al Qaeda's pattern of repeatedly striking targets, DOD blast standards should be used in the Ground Zero buildings.

"The plans have been out for quite a while on these buildings, and it would have been nice to voice these concerns at the start rather than wait until now," said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who represents lower Manhattan. "The community wants to move forward."

A spokesman for Larry Silverstein, the developer of the three towers, declined to comment on security issues.

Silverstein's buildings - including a 1,270-foot giant that will be taller than the Empire State Building - have been designed with a steel-encased concrete core and engineered with safety systems exceeding the city's building code and the requirements of the Port Authority, his company says.

The Freedom Tower's extra safety measures - including being set back farther from the street, thicker glass and upgraded blast standards - were done after the NYPD raised questions about the building's weaknesses. Similar changes were made to the trade center's transportation hub after issues arose.

Asked about the overall effort to ensure the new trade center is secure, James Kallstrom, the former director of the FBI's New York office and former Gov. George Pataki's homeland security chief, said: "It's complicated. It's a very crowded area. It's not easy ... It's going to require state-of-the-art technology and competent, trained manpower."

The need for screening every single truck entering the area and the difficulties of carefully managing inspections were key issues Kallstrom addressed in a report he completed before leaving government last year.

Kallstrom and Balboni declined to discuss the report's recommendations, though Balboni said most were being implemented.

While inspecting thousands of vehicles a day is tough enough, the problem is more complicated in lower Manhattan because of narrow streets and thick traffic.

"We can't let anything enter the underground in that acreage that could have the potential for certain size devices or bombs without proper screening," Kallstrom said.

All delivery trucks and buses will access the complex through a new Vehicular Security Center, an underground complex with an entrance and exit on Liberty St. that will function as the central security checkpoint.

The $478 million project has been on the drawing boards since 2003 and was to start last April, but all the Port Authority has done is move some utilities and sewer lines.

Delays in demolition of the toxic former Deutsche Bank tower have made it close to impossible for construction of the subterranean project to begin.

Bids for a contractor haven't gone out, and excavation of the so-called south bathtub for the center hasn't begun, the bistate agency confirmed.

"Obviously, the fact that [Deutsche Bank] is not down presents some serious challenges to the VSC," Sigmund said.

There's more: The design and engineering specifications, which the Port Authority said in 2006 were being finalized, are not ready, and the screening technology does not exist.

Nevertheless, the PA said the Vehicular Security Center is set to be finished when the other buildings come on line, by 2011 or 2012.

"We will have the appropriate technology to do the screening when the VSC is completed," Sigmund said, noting the facility will meet DOD and Homeland Security standards.

Sigmund said they would inspect vehicles "off-site or in a holding area if necessary," declining to specify where it would take place.

That's a nightmare scenario for downtown residents, who say they're worried the Sept. 11 museum and other buildings will open before the Vehicular Security Center is completed, compromising security and the quality of life.

Asked if he was troubled the center has fallen behind schedule, Balboni said: "I'm not concerned yet, but that could change. We're watching it very closely."

dfeiden@nydailynews.com

Uh-oh. they were redesigning it a year a go and now there are weaknesses!?

I have to agree with what Sheldon Silver said. Why'd they wait so long to say that they had concerns about the security of the other 3 WTC buildings?

Because they do thing stupid and ass-backwards.

Wonderful article you've found TalB. This keeps me laughing for a while.

It seems that no one in this article knows anything about structural engineering and building physics.

1) A glass facade is better than a stone one, because the glass can't absorb the energy of the explosion. This way the energy of a explosion can easily escape the building without causing much structural damage.
A stone facade will partly absorb the energy and create huge forces in the structure. This can lead to more damage and failure of the structure.

2) On the street level you can protect yourself from falling glass. With a bit of luck you'll only have some cuts in your arms. With bricks or concrete elements this is another story. I don't think you'll have much chance of surviving when you get one of those on your head.

3) A fire needs oxygen, heat and fuel to keep burning. When there's a fire glass will break anyway and give the fire an oxygen boost. However when a complete curtain wall breaks the heat can escape more easily than from a small window that acts like a opening in a furnace. With a curtain wall the fire will be faster and creates less heat. This is ofcourse better for the structure of the building.

1) A glass facade is better than a stone one, because the glass can't absorb the energy of the explosion. This way the energy of a explosion can easily escape the building without causing much structural damage.
A stone facade will partly absorb the energy and create huge forces in the structure. This can lead to more damage and failure of the structure.
This only works if it's an implosion, not an explosion, which are two different things, but this depends on the strength of the structure of the building.

2) On the street level you can protect yourself from falling glass. With a bit of luck you'll only have some cuts in your arms. With bricks or concrete elements this is another story. I don't think you'll have much chance of surviving when you get one of those on your head.
Keep in mind that glass falling that fast can possibly cut through blood vessels in your body causing less circulation to that area as well as blood clots from where the flow has stopped as oppossed to to a concusion on from bricks, stone, and concrete.

3) A fire needs oxygen, heat and fuel to keep burning. When there's a fire glass will break anyway and give the fire an oxygen boost. However when a complete curtain wall breaks the heat can escape more easily than from a small window that acts like a opening in a furnace. With a curtain wall the fire will be faster and creates less heat. This is ofcourse better for the structure of the building.
However, with concrete/stone, it is easier to put out the fire where it starts b/c it will take more time to spread as oppossed to glass.

lmfao talb.. lmfao

sooo i'm going to nyc in 6 days for a short vacation and to tour a school and i cant wait to stop by and check out ground zero!

Like I said in the WTC 2-4 thread, do they want to build a beautiful office complex so that we can remember what once was, or do they want us to build some sort of ugly fortress? 1 WTC's lobby is already a tad ridiculous. I hope they change their minds and make it similar to the old lobbies. A man can dream... :p

For better security, they should build a flak tower:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Vienna_flak_tower_dsc01594.jpg/450px-Vienna_flak_tower_dsc01594.jpg
(photo from Wikipedia)

For better security, they should build a flak tower:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Vienna_flak_tower_dsc01594.jpg/450px-Vienna_flak_tower_dsc01594.jpg
(photo from Wikipedia)

That dosn't look good:bash::ohno:

I wish the tower would be taller but the design is great and 541 is a heck of alot of meters, i cant wait for it to really get going my city is going to look stunning.

http://www.nydailynews.com/img/2008/02/24/graf_wtc.jpg



Hysteria about possible attacks may cause them in the end to build huge walls around the skycrapers, LOL. :bash:

How about 24-hour surveilence cameras? The complex having its own police like the colleges & universities do?

They need to stop making feable excuses which would delay the project & secure a plan.
Times a wasting!

I am keen on it to stop this whole security discussion, so i would like to give my statement to this topic.

IMO if terrorists will attack this towers they will, totally indifferent which security provisions they include......we have to deal with it we cant have 100% security made by people....i mean what will the build against simmilar attacks like on 911, again with planes?

Furthermore i cant understand why the press reports this security shit only related to THIS towers, i mean look at BOFA it has also a fully glas base, it is also a possible terrorist target and they dont care about it.....

So folks please stop this senseless discussions which impact is the closure of the thread......

Also the NYT Tower and TW Center.

I am keen on it to stop this whole security discussion, so i would like to give my statement to this topic.

IMO if terrorists will attack this towers they will, totally indifferent which security provisions they include......we have to deal with it we cant have 100% security made by people....i mean what will the build against simmilar attacks like on 911, again with planes?

Furthermore i cant understand why the press reports this security shit only related to THIS towers, i mean look at BOFA it has also a fully glas base, it is also a possible terrorist target and they dont care about it.....

So folks please stop this senseless discussions which impact is the closure of the thread......


i don't think such an attack with planes will ever happen again im the USA

How about 24-hour surveilence cameras? The complex having its own police like the colleges & universities do?

They need to stop making feable excuses which would delay the project & secure a plan.
Times a wasting!

Yeah! thats what I thought of.

lmfao talb.. lmfao

sooo i'm going to nyc in 6 days for a short vacation and to tour a school and i cant wait to stop by and check out ground zero!

Glass is actually weaker than both stone and concrete not to mention that some of it can break just by merely leaning on it.

Glass is actually weaker than both stone and concrete not to mention that some of it can break just by merely leaning on it.

Well, they wouldn't use such weak glass for windows in a skyscraper, get real!:nuts:

Glass is actually weaker than both stone and concrete not to mention that some of it can break just by merely leaning on it.

TalB, you are becoming ridiculous. Tell me when you have herd of a person that ha fallen from a skyscraper because he leaned on the window, and maybe I'll start to actually consider as a mature person.

Sincerely, it's better if you stop, before you humiliate yourself even more.

Getting away from these laughable considerations, can someone tell me what kind of concrete is being used for the core, and if the process is similar to the Burj Dubai as in the numerous types of concrete used in the hole building.
Thank you to whoever will be able to answer this question, and let us drop the nonsense about the glass (it was pathetic at the beginning, and it wasn't getting any better).

In the last photo, Towers 2, 3, and 4 contain too much glass, fail to meet blast standards, and are vunerable to vehicles in nearby streets. Do they need to be redesigned?

This is insane. Wasnt it our officials who said that if we let the terrorist place fear in us then we let the terrorist win?

Secondly, it is not common for terrorist to attack the same place twice. While your busy securing these buildings the terrorist will attempt to attack the least secure, vulnerable and unexpected.

The only solution is to continue as planned. If these are the buildings America chose then these are what America should build.

All of the stuff in between is ludicrous, cant make everyone happy anway.

Secondly, it is not common for terrorist to attack the same place twice. While your busy securing these buildings the terrorist will attempt to attack the least secure, vulnerable and unexpected.

The first WTC was attacked twice. Other than that I agree with you.

In the last photo, Towers 2, 3, and 4 contain too much glass, fail to meet blast standards, and are vunerable to vehicles in nearby streets. Do they need to be redesigned?

wow :nuts: :lol:

The threats that these buildings face are no different than other buildings. They're high visibility yea, just about any building is susceptible to a terrorist attack. If they can't attack on building, they can attack others. It would be ridiculous to implement these foolish safety standards for all buildings. If that happened, they would just figure out a new way to attack.

I noticed in the last few months that the core has been rising slowly

In the last photo, Towers 2, 3, and 4 contain too much glass, fail to meet blast standards, and are vunerable to vehicles in nearby streets. Do they need to be redesigned?
Not necessarily. They'll probably do something like with the FT and just change the materials at the base. That is if they go ahead with these changes.
The threats that these buildings face are no different than other buildings. They're high visibility yea, just about any building is susceptible to a terrorist attack. If they can't attack on building, they can attack others. It would be ridiculous to implement these foolish safety standards for all buildings. If that happened, they would just figure out a new way to attack.

I agree.

TalB, you are becoming ridiculous. Tell me when you have herd of a person that ha fallen from a skyscraper because he leaned on the window, and maybe I'll start to actually consider as a mature person.

Sincerely, it's better if you stop, before you humiliate yourself even more.

I didn't call your posts ridiculous, so I insist that you stop. Don't relate me to those others who known little or nothing about the difference in resistances of substances, b/c I have actually done the research. What I came up with between glass vs stone/concrete was based on van der Waals forces, which is the relatively weak attractive forces that act on neutral atoms and molecules and that arise because of the electric polarization induced in each of the particles by the presence of other particles hence I didn't just come up with that arbitrairly.

The only solution is to continue as planned. If these are the buildings America chose then these are what America should build.
It wasn't supported by the people, and I know this from going to the hearings, but I won't mention it in depth on it here.

This article is from last week, but not sure if everyone has seen it:

February 20, 2008

Associate Press
The World Trade Center site's owner turned over land where two office towers are planned to a developer, clearing the way for construction to begin soon on more skyscrapers at ground zero.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey finished excavating the land for the towers on Sunday, 48 days behind a deadline it set for itself in an agreement with Larry Silverstein. The agency paid $14.4 million in late fees to the developer. It said it partially made up for the cost by not paying the contractor a $10 million bonus it would have received for finishing on time.

Click here for the full article:
http://www.wtcrising.com/main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticContent&screenKey=cmpNews&show=news&htmlID=8798&s=wtcrising

I didn't call your posts ridiculous, so I insist that you stop. Don't relate me to those others who known little or nothing about the difference in resistances of substances, b/c I have actually done the research. What I came up with between glass vs stone/concrete was based on van der Waals forces, which is the relatively weak attractive forces that act on neutral atoms and molecules and that arise because of the electric polarization induced in each of the particles by the presence of other particles hence I didn't just come up with that arbitrairly.



TalB
I'm not questioning the difference between glass and stone (even though this is still ridiculous since at this point let's just build a stone monolite) but your phrase
"Glass is actually weaker than both stone and concrete not to mention that some of it can break just by merely leaning on it" that is, I repeat, a pointless observation. So I ask you again: since all modern buildings use glass generously, have you seen anybody falling down a skyscraper for this reason?
And, I'll add, with a statement like that, everything else you say looses credibility (even though I never thought there was any to begin with..).

Answer to that question, and maybe I will stop laughing at what you write.

Im sure that modern technology can make glass that will not brake, even when someone is leaning on it ...

TalB
I'm not questioning the difference between glass and stone (even though this is still ridiculous since at this point let's just build a stone monolite) but your phrase
"Glass is actually weaker than both stone and concrete not to mention that some of it can break just by merely leaning on it" that is, I repeat, a pointless observation. So I ask you again: since all modern buildings use glass generously, have you seen anybody falling down a skyscraper for this reason?
And, I'll add, with a statement like that, everything else you say looses credibility (even though I never thought there was any to begin with..).

Answer to that question, and maybe I will stop laughing at what you write.



I remember in '04 while vacationing in Las Vegas, I went up the Stratosphere Tower to visit both obs decks for the first time.

Because of the slant of the deck inward at the floor, if you look over, you could see the base (legs) of the tower at the street. I was deathly afraid to lean against the glass because I thought that I might fall through!

But I don't think it really would have happened, and I have yet to hear of anyone falling through the glass windows of a skyscraper just by leaning against it.

have you seen anybody falling down a skyscraper for this reason?

There was a lawyer who ran into the glass on a skyscraper and fell to his death, he was trying to prove that the companys glass he was defending was safe.

:lol:
really? talk about irony.

There was a lawyer who ran into the glass on a skyscraper and fell to his death, he was trying to prove that the companys glass he was defending was safe.



And what a stupid way to prove that!! What a stupid thing to do!!

I wonder while he did that if he fell off the stupid tree and hit every dumb branch on the way down!!

There was a lawyer who ran into the glass on a skyscraper and fell to his death, he was trying to prove that the companys glass he was defending was safe.

:lol:

no, seriously, that is one of those things that has been going around internet for ever. An urban legend that is at least 30 years old... (it was probably around before there was internet..). Probably before the crocodiles in manhattan's sewage. But who knows, maybe it has really happened, but he wasn't just "leaning"on the window.

Sorry everybody for the OT but what TalB is saying is just too much this time...

Actually, this is all such BS, but they did something like this on MythBusters and copied a standard skyscraper window exactly as it would be in real life (they even pressurized it) [and I'm sure the standards of the windows on the New WTC will make all other skyscraper windows look like a thin piece of clear plastic] and it turns out that you'd have to weigh something like 1,000 pounds and charge at the window at a speed faster than anyone can run for it to break. I am pretty sure they busted the myth.

Actually, this is all such BS, but they did something like this on MythBusters and copied a standard skyscraper window exactly as it would be in real life (they even pressurized it) [and I'm sure the standards of the windows on the New WTC will make all other skyscraper windows look like a thin piece of clear plastic] and it turns out that you'd have to weigh something like 1,000 pounds and charge at the window at a speed faster than anyone can run for it to break. I am pretty sure they busted the myth.

Actually, it is not BS, according to Snopes. A Toronto lawyer died after taking a run at a window in a highrise: http://www.snopes.com/horrors/freakish/window.asp

News story under Nominee #4:
http://dano.diaryland.com/fakedarwins.html

The question is, should you be able to break the window for safety reasons?

its a matter of time before this bldg starts rising faster! cant wait!

The original comment was that a window could BREAK by leaning on it. The examples in the previous posts is one incident. Plus no wear did it say the glass broke, it only said the glass fell out, which would have nothing to do with the glass itself, but rather it being poorly framed in. Like I said it's one incident and with the millions of windows in skyscrapers that one is very small fraction.

I know that some skyscrapers, especially the Sears Tower, has metal bars in front of the windows on the obs deck.

Actually, it is not BS, according to Snopes. A Toronto lawyer died after taking a run at a window in a highrise: http://www.snopes.com/horrors/freakish/window.asp

News story under Nominee #4:
http://dano.diaryland.com/fakedarwins.html

The question is, should you be able to break the window for safety reasons?

I meant BS in the sense that we can't stay on topic. This isn't even the right thread because Freedom Tower isn't accused of being at fault. Anyway, I haven't checked the cam in over a week and I'm sure I'll be happy when I check it later today. The below grade superstrucutre is going to go up quickly and will be completed by the time it gets warm outside.

When is route 9A underpass going to be done beacause I keep on getting confused?

The below grade superstructure is going to go up quickly and will be completed by the time it gets warm outside.

Don't raise expectations. It'll be warm for many months before this sucker rises up to street level. Heck, the core is only half complete at best.

Don't raise expectations. It'll be warm for many months before this sucker rises up to street level. Heck, the core is only half complete at best.


What I mean is that most of the below grade's construction apex will take place from now to the end of spring months. Recently we have seen the addition of many new below grade structures and columns and I see a new batch sitting next to the WFC connector, not to mention that the core has tripled in size from what it was only a few months ago. By the time we'll be dealing with snow storms again, above grade floors will be going up. Alas for you and many, many others, I'll 'raise expectations' as much as I desire, and those who don't like it can shove their negativity up their a$ses.

The article that talks about steel being above ground at the end of the year may be true, but it is likely that the core will be higher than the actual steel at that point.

I still think that the core will reach street level in the before June.

Whats the site that they put the pictures up on (although their 1 month late)?

And isnt the that road down into the pit supposed to be removed this month?

Huh? The Freedom Tower is, if anything, ahead of schedule; Tower 3 is behind by 1 month, and hopefully construction will start on Tower 2 too in a few months. Or are you talking about PANYNJ or WTC Rising pics?

The old staricase blocking Tower 2 is currently being removed from the WTC site. I am pretty sure that they have removed part of it already and I'm sure it will be totally gone in two or three months. I never heard anything about that ramp being removed. It's important for 1WTC's construction from what I gather; you usually see concrete trucks and trucks carrying steel and rebarb use it to reach Freedom Tower.


I think it's likely that they won't build the core up to grade until the steel reaches grade because in NYC you really never see a core rising, only the skyscraper itself because that's just the way things are done here. It's the steel that will be going higher soon, not stupid concrete. Steel is much cooler.

^^ The survivors staircase is indeed under deconstruction. From the cam it's not very spectacular to see, but after a while you notice things from the stairs are gone. I think it will be fully deconstructed within two to three weeks.

The Port Authorities ware planning to remove the ramp in March but I don't see that happening. They said they would install steel beams for the memorial in January, but so far only some small columns are installed along the western slurry wall. The big beams are still laying on the ground. I guess they will install steel this month and remove the ramp by May or June. :)

So they don't need that big ramp anymore? I guess it makes sense since there are still many other ways to reach all of the projects within the WTC site. It will be just another sign of progress.

There are some interesting new pics of the construction site on flickr, follow this link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/connectedpictures/page2/

According to one of the wtc sites, wtcrising or lower manhatten info, the ramp was supposed to be removed in April of this year so that the steel for the memorial and chiller plant could be installed. However, it should be noted that they were supposed to start erecting steel in January. After the delay announcement, events have slowed down. The slurry wall repair seems to be their main focus at the moment.

The survivor's staircase appears to be close to being ready to move. The sides and back have been removed and discarded and they appear to be cutting away the section where the escalator was. After that they just need to lift it onto a truck and they're outa there. I would give it a few more days...

There are some interesting new pics of the construction site on flickr, follow this link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/connectedpictures/page2/
Great on-site pics:)

There are some interesting new pics of the construction site on flickr, follow this link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/connectedpictures/page2/

nice pics

is the cam working for you guys? i can't see it :(

^^ The cam is working fine over here (in FF and IE). Maybe it's time to update flash?

Progress as of 2/29
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3227/2306434190_1961b1c3f7_o.jpg
by jebb

When they will remove whole station block, it´s a big part.

When they will remove whole station block, it´s a big part.

As far as I know they are not going to remove station at all, they will build over it

Down in the right corner of the above photo ... are those structures some remains of the underground levels of the former wtc ?

I hate seeing a big hole. :(


I cannot wait untill I see something rising above street level!

^^ The cam is working fine over here (in FF and IE). Maybe it's time to update flash?

yes that silly flash player was it :bash:


btw....i saw concrete pouring today but not on the core itself, just next to it :)

:eek:I am still surprised by some photos that show how massive the site is... :cheers:

The "big hole" to the front is something was just dug, not something that has been there.

According to one of the wtc sites, wtcrising or lower manhatten info, the ramp was supposed to be removed in April of this year so that the steel for the memorial and chiller plant could be installed. However, it should be noted that they were supposed to start erecting steel in January. After the delay announcement, events have slowed down. The slurry wall repair seems to be their main focus at the moment.

The survivor's staircase appears to be close to being ready to move. The sides and back have been removed and discarded and they appear to be cutting away the section where the escalator was. After that they just need to lift it onto a truck and they're outa there. I would give it a few more days...

Good news: they are going to start on the memorial.
bad news: they are going to have to pul the steel down with one of the cranes!!

I hate seeing a big hole. :(


I cannot wait untill I see something rising above street level!



It's happening now. Look how tall the southern half of the Freedom Tower's
core has gotten. Almost to the street level!:cheers:

Just trying to get my bearings here...the hole in the foreground where the blue man lifts are is where the south tower was, right? And the bottom of the ramp is where the north tower was? To the right of the circle of traffic cones, it certainly looks like remains of sub-basements to me, like the other poster alluded to.

Just trying to get my bearings here...the hole in the foreground where the blue man lifts are is where the south tower was, right? And the bottom of the ramp is where the north tower was? To the right of the circle of traffic cones, it certainly looks like remains of sub-basements to me, like the other poster alluded to.


The massive hole in the foreground was just fully dug out and is the foundation for WTC Tower 4 and WTC Tower 3; it was completed recently, as in a few weeks ago, and a slurry wall was erected around it for the two supertall skyscrapers which will rise there next year. The hole in the background was where both of the Twin Towers once stood, and the Freedom Tower is where the two tower cranes are concrete wall are located. Keep in mind that the Freedom Tower's plot size is the same size of that of the Twin Towers, and WTC Tower 2 to 5's plot sizes are about the same size to bigger than that of the old WTC, but just in different shapes. You cannot make out the square plots of the old WTC, marked by the u/c memorial from that angle, but I can tell you that the place where the ramp touches the dirt is where One World Trade Center - the North Tower - once stood. Where Two World Trade Center would be in that picture would be to the left of that (though you really can't see it), and the other low rise buildings of the old WTC would be located on WTC Tower 2, 3, and 4's plot, and also Freedom Tower's plot. There's still a lot of below grade structure remaining from the old WTC, and it is true that most of it that's near the Freedom Tower will be built over; I think the same goes for the below grade structure everywhere else because I think the schedule staded that the period of getting rid of the old WTC's structure has ended, but I could be wrong. Though that picture is amazing, it's still missing a massive chunk of ground zero; that's just how big the site is.

It just made me realize that for every building destroyed in the old WTC, a massive skyscraper will rise to replace it. I am glad that the Freedom Tower's name is also One World Trade Center, and hope that applies to the other towers too, and also hope that the PAC will be called 6WTC, just so that every destroyed building will be reborn in a new form.

Now I know.

There were no tall buildings on the eastern half of Ground Zero before, so for the first time ever since the land was cleared for the original WTC, that side has been excavated down to the bedrock, right?

A low-rise building of the old WTC once stood where Freedom Tower is right now, and they had to dig a tad before they started building the FT. There was sort of a 'semi-hole' where WTC Tower 3 and WTC Tower 4 will be, and where other low-rises once stood, but you really have to hand it to them since I looked at a cam shot from October and one from today and it seems as of a massive hole cam from out of no where; the PA never dug it out until recently - when they were forced to ready the site and make a new slurry wall for the new 4 and 3WTC. The site that needs to be dug out the most is the site for WTC Tower 2, and you can clearly tell just by looking at it, but they have plenty of time do dig so you should not worry at all. :cheers: I would assume they went down to bedrock, but it's Larry's job now and he said that the below grade structure for Tower 4 and 3 will start taking shape in 6 months from now, so whatever needs to happen will happen. What happens from now to six moths from now will likely be nothing exciting/nothing to look at. It will seem like forever, but one day, some steel will sprout, then rebarb, and a core, and one day in late 2009 it will all reach grade, and a little after that point, these suckers will be rising at light speed. By then, the Freedom Tower and 123 Washington will likely be ready to top out, so there will ALWAYS be something very exciting to watch. Then, together, we'll see 99 Church Street and WTC Tower 2 top out, and then, at last, WTC Tower 5. Amazing time to be alive.

On a side note, the GS Tower across the street from the Freedom Tower only has about 6 or 7 more floors to go before we top out, so it will be soon.

Fun, fun fun.

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3305/1230downtownskylinebyduzb0.jpg

Yeah, and Silverstein is planning to build another office tower right across Church Street
from Ground Zero. Wonder when THAT'LL get started.

Yeah, it DOES seem like a extremely long slow dragged out process, but eventually, they'll get there.

We'll be there soon enough because FT will be rising before you know it.

Believe it or not, I've never heard of the office tower Larry is planning on Church Street. Let's hope for a great design with a great height. I think it would be safe to assume that it may have a good possibility of being another great addition to the skyline of lower Manhattan since it's true that pretty much every skyscraper he has built or has planned for lower Manhattan since 2002 is or will be a major addition to the skyline with an amazing design.

Yeah, it DOES seem like a extremely long slow dragged out process, but eventually, they'll get there.

Well the pace is so slow because they are still building amongst the shatterd remains off the old WTC towers and its bang straight in the middle off NY!

Good seeing the complex making good progress :D

Cheers folks :cheers2:

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/farewell-to-freedom-for-a-while/
March 3, 2008, 10:01 am

Farewell to ‘Freedom’ for a While

By David W. Dunlap

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/03/02/nyregion/03dunlap.1.jpg
The “Freedom Tower” column as it appeared last week, surrounded by the plywood form into which concrete will be poured, encasing and protecting the steel. (Photo: David W. Dunlap/The New York Times)

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/03/02/nyregion/03dunlap.3.jpg
The “Freedom Tower” column as it appeared on Dec. 19, exactly a year after it had been set in place, when “Freedom” was still visible. (Photo: David W. Dunlap/The New York Times)

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/03/02/nyregion/03dunlap.2.jpg
A broader view of the east and south perimeter columns of the Freedom Tower, increasingly known as 1 World Trade Center. The “Freedom Tower” column is second from right, surrounded by plywood forms. (Photo: David W. Dunlap/The New York Times)

“Freedom” has disappeared from ground zero.

The blue “Freedom Tower” legend on the very first column to rise there, visible for the last 14 months on the column’s wide flanges, is covered in plywood forms. It will soon be encased forever in concrete.

George E. Pataki presided over the column-setting ceremony on Dec. 19, 2006, in his final days as governor of New York.

After learning last week that the lettering was now completely obscured, meaning that construction was advancing, Mr. Pataki said, “It is another milestone that continues what I knew would be the case — for all the difficulties, for all the naysayers, the brilliant master plan for downtown would move forward.”

The disappearance of the name “Freedom Tower,” which was Governor Pataki’s coinage, sometimes seems to be more than just a byproduct of construction. The building is increasingly referred to in official documents as 1 World Trade Center.

“I think the symbolic nature of ‘Freedom Tower’ is meaningful,” Mr. Pataki said on Friday, “but New Yorkers have a way of using, at the end of the day, what they think works best.” (After all, where do you see Sixth Avenue called by its official name, the Avenue of the Americas, except on street signs, corporate letterheads, real estate advertisements and in The New York Times?)

But then Mr. Pataki, whose office was once in the south tower, thought about the matter a bit more and added a personal note.

“One World Trade Center, on one hand, evokes pride in the sense that the trade center is back,” he said. “On the other hand, we’re not going to replace what was there. We’re going to build beyond what was there.

“It is a little troubling to me that again there is a 1 World Trade Center, because a lot of great people and a lot of true heroes died in 1 World Trade Center,” Mr. Pataki said. “I think that name should be reserved, for those who did die on that horrible day.”

w00t!

good news.
Thanks TalB.

None of us will EVER see that steel again; it's part of history rising now.

took this today
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a391/philvia/100_2224.jpg

None of us will EVER see that steel again; it's part of history rising now.



And what do they mean "for a while"?!

Hopefully Mr. Dunlap had many centuries in mind whe he used the word "while". He might not have had anything to do with the headline used.

Probably not.

He might not know it, but to me, the article makes it sound like some terrorists might want to try another 09-11-style attack on the tower someday.

The reason why I asked what do they mean by "for a while"

I think he means goodbye to the words freedom tower on the steel beam until the actual Freedom Tower is built. At that point you will be able to see the 'Freedom Tower" again.

This has to be one of the OLDEST discussions in town but I don't like the "Freedom" Tower and I think that Trump's plan of rebuilding the old WTC stronger and taller was better.

building an exact replica of the twin towers would bring back painful and hurting memories for many. not such a good idea in my opinion.:ohno: Also building a new design is refreshing, creative and symbolizes the start something new... we can remember the past but it is not wise to live in it

The new towers will be awesome. I dont think its fair to judge their grandiosity on renders. They will be splendiferous and spectacular once built but we have to be open minded until that comes into fruition. If not then we may miss the beauty and significance of all that is occuring right now . :banana:



This has to be one of the OLDEST discussions in town but I don't like the "Freedom" Tower and I think that Trump's plan of rebuilding the old WTC stronger and taller was better.

I understand the message that would have been sent by rebuilding exactly as it was. But the towers were '60's technology and in retrospect, were horribly inefficient. It would be like replacing a wrecked '65 Cadillac with the same car, rather than a 2008 model!!

The new World Trade Center, in toto, will be much grander than what was there before.

I miss the twins, but there's no doubt the new WTC is going to be amazing. Sadly, I don't think there is any doubt that the Freedom Tower will be a prime target for terrorists - it will sound like a strange thing to say maybe, but all the more reason why there should have been two Freedom Towers not one - removes the focus off one single building. For the record, I don't care how high they go in Dubai, the WTC is the biggest and the best thing going when it comes to supertalls!

I miss the twins, but there's no doubt the new WTC is going to be amazing. Sadly, I don't think there is any doubt that the Freedom Tower will be a prime target for terrorists - it will sound like a strange thing to say maybe, but all the more reason why there should have been two Freedom Towers not one - removes the focus off one single building. For the record, I don't care how high they go in Dubai, the WTC is the biggest and the best thing going when it comes to supertalls!

No it's not the biggest going on in supertalls! It's a nice project but totally dwarfed by projects like Burj Dubai and Russia Tower! There are other big building going on around the world so i don't think WTC i so special it's the history behind!

Here we go again.

No it's not the biggest going on in supertalls! It's a nice project but totally dwarfed by projects like Burj Dubai and Russia Tower! There are other big building going on around the world so i don't think WTC i so special it's the history behind!


Thanks for clearing that one up for us LOL

o my god, this is taking forever!

Don't just delete this time. Ban.

The main reason why nothing seems (key word: "SEEMS") to be growing quickly as of the past few weeks is because the area around the core is rising and getting bigger as the core gets bigger and rises. Bcause it's all underground, you can't see the majority of the progress.

A small part of the massive amout of progress of this year you can see now is one (or perhaps more) of the four empty concrete-encased staircases in the lower left corner of the skyscraper, I am pretty sure. This is, of course, all according to the angle of the HD cam.

Just popped over to see how the Freedom Tower is progressing.

The stupid responses I'm reading are still exactly the same old shit that was on here last year and like the site itself has changed very little since last year...and the year before...and the year before that...and the year before that.....and the year before that.....and the year before that...

In six and a half years Dubai have built the equivalent of six Manhattan's, whilst Manhattan dug a big muddy hole.

Yeah, well done!

I'll pop back again next year to see if they've filled that hole in! :shifty:

Skytower, this building will be an awesome one when completed. It has great public access and is nicer looking than the former twins. Unfortunately where I agree with you is that stupid ego politics got involved along with a ridiculous competition that was for nothing. There was a lot of complex underground work to be completed first and improved before they could do anything with the construction. The former twins had major city infrastructure below and now that they are gone, city planners had to modernize rapid transit, piping, walls, demolish old garages thus finally improving the entire infrastructure.

All this could have been finished much sooner if the polititians and leasing owners didn't squabble and play typical politics.

Here we go again.

And again, and again Daquan.

We'll just have to have fun with this one.

Just popped over to see how the Freedom Tower is progressing.

The stupid responses I'm reading are still exactly the same old shit that was on here last year and like the site itself has changed very little since last year...and the year before...and the year before that...and the year before that.....and the year before that.....and the year before that...

In six and a half years Dubai have built the equivalent of six Manhattan's, whilst Manhattan dug a big muddy hole.

Yeah, well done!

I'll pop back again next year to see if they've filled that hole in! :shifty:

For the love of Pete what is it with the Dubai people and this thread?

Everyone is presumed to be on notice of these rules. If you break them and find your account suspended, don't try to explain your way out of it by saying: "I didn't know this was against the rules."

For the love of god, can people read this ^^^??

Allright, back on topic. from Flickr:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2229/2315781323_1ee80f1ff9.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/2313187715_9232a70ca1.jpg?v=0

Allright, back on topic. from Flickr:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2229/2315781323_1ee80f1ff9.jpg?v=0
What is the big tent in the picture for? It looks like it's for some kind of ceremony or concert.

What is the big tent in the picture for? It looks like it's for some kind of ceremony or concert.

I pretty sure that is where they moved access to PATH station ( NyNJ)

Yes, it IS. A temporary cover for the entrance. I think it provide a little bit of protection for the passengers during inclement wheather.

Thanks Daquan

You're welcome.

I have never seen a such tricky and complex construction site like this, they have to build around a subway system virtually.

Much like they did with the Twins.

I have never seen a such tricky and complex construction site like this, they have to build around a subway system virtually.

And soon they will also start building underneath the subway tracks :nuts: :cheers:

:banana::banana::banana:

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/7498/megapixelcamera20080309ug7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I'd say that those people who have gathered there are the tousts or visitors who have come to check on Ground Zero's progress.

But I could be wrong.

I'm very excited to see this tower finished, but the works seem to be going really slow :?

Lots of dark colors there. May be there was a press announcement about the removal of the stairs and that picture just captured the reporters andpoliticians gathering to celebrate it?

I wonder, will the new WTC be ready by the time of the 10th anniversary from the attacks in 2011 ?

Lots of dark colors there. May be there was a press announcement about the removal of the stairs and that picture just captured the reporters andpoliticians gathering to celebrate it?

Yep.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23548910/

You can see the stairs on the flatbed truck on the right of the photo.

I wonder, will the new WTC be ready by the time of the 10th anniversary from the attacks in 2011 ?



It's supposed to be.

I'm very excited to see this tower finished, but the works seem to be going really slow :?



:wtf:

tower finished but work is slow?

^^ he meant to see the tower completed ....you forgot a verb before that "to see" ..but as you cand see the work is not slow :) it's starting to move resonable in a short time we'll have some nice progress

Those steel columns are huge... were they fabricated in a single piece? or are they welded/riveted together from separate columns?

The columns themselves are being fabricated in Luxembourg in long single pieces - about 30 ft long. Each beam weighs about 30 tons or so.

Then between Virginia and New Jersey, the final process takes place where they are trimmed and modified with the holes and brackets that help support the upper columns and girders as well as the girders for the floors between the core and the outer columns.

The process might sound ridiculously painstaking and slow, but that's how it is done. All in all, about 50,000 or so tons of steel will be need to build the tower's skeleton.

luxemborg? why on the other side of the world for somme collums ?

luxemborg? why on the other side of the world for somme collums ?


Thats Globalisation !

luxemborg? why on the other side of the world for somme collums ?



It's been that way for years and years.

The "bones" for the Twins and & 7 WTC, both old and new, came from there.

Bethlehem & USS Steel used to be the "bones" of many skyscrapers for many years, but I don't think they are around now.

Most of the structural steel is made over there and then shipped over to the USA to be trimmed and holes added for the rivets.

For those interested in finding out more about the steel, go here;

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=146434.

I think that you might find this article most intereasting!

Twenty bucks says that, within the next 100 posts, "someone" will be bragging about how Gov Spitzer soon will no longer be in office, giving him or her a new person to make up BS claims about how this new gov could easily stop the current WTC from being built because it's 'the right thing to do.'

Twenty bucks says that, within the next 100 posts, "someone" will be bragging about how Gov Spitzer soon will no longer be in office, giving him or her a new person to make up BS claims about how this new gov could easily stop the current WTC from being built because it's 'the right thing to do.'

and you will get credit for starting that nonsense. :cheers:

Twenty bucks says that, within the next 100 posts, "someone" will be bragging about how Gov Spitzer soon will no longer be in office, giving him or her a new person to make up BS claims about how this new gov could easily stop the current WTC from being built because it's 'the right thing to do.'



Funny that you mentioned him!

Don't mean to get off topic here, but a major bombshell has just been dropped on him this evening.

Seems that the friendly gov who has been fighting crime and corruption for years as AG, has admmitted that he's been involved in an Internet prostitution ring!!

I don't think he's in the position now to dig up any dirt on Ground Zero, nor is he in any position to have the rebuild stopped. He's got skeletons in his closet now!

Spitzer can't do much right now, but a new gov might be able to do anything, such as help developers build massive skyscrapers elsewhere in Manhattan and really help the new Penn Station plans. This bombshell may end up helping us NYC skyscraper lovers. In my opinion, no one, save Larry, can stop the New WTC at this point. The WTC is the only project in NYC with a 110% chance of getting done.

Yeah, since construction work on it has already begun and Towers 3 & 4 are about to get underway.

I haven't really been following this project...so forgive if it's been asked before...but did the name change for this project? "freedom tower" just sounds stupid to me.

It kinda looks like they are constructing a slurry wall just to the west of the West Bathtub slurry wall and just south of the WFC connector. Anyone have any idea what this is about? Also will the Freedom tower go up with just those two tower cranes? The old twins had four tower cranes each so it seems like going all they way up with just two might be stretching it.

For those interested in finding out more about the steel, go here;

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=146434.

I think that you might find this article most intereasting!

thanks :)

Four of them probably aren't needed for this tower.

thanks :)



You're welcome! Glad to help.

The same story has been posted here also, but I forgot where it is.

Good to see this whole site progressing, it's clear to see the massive amount of excavation and clearance that has had to take place, even before substructure work can start. How many sub grade levels will the main towers have? and are they used for car parking?

It'll probably be about 7, as before with the Twins.

And yes, there will bw parking again, but exactly where, I'm not sure yet.

And what do they mean "for a while"?!

whoever came up with that quote, is a dipshit! I got the same message from that post thinking I was the "only" one until I read through the thread further to find Daquan catching the same idea I was <- I guess it wasnt only me who saw that. The journalists and editors seriously need to get it together if they are going to report on something this significant and "watch" how they word things, as well as working better to get the proper info. I cant tell you how many people still think that they are building the bird cage proposal. :lol:
These very same people are quite surprised to hear that there are 4 BIG ASS beautiful (masterpiece) towers being rebuilt on the site.

Just to make a point and to only make a point.. --> Even if we say that this building hypothetically were to suffer the same fate as it's predecessor, there is no way we are going to be seing that freedom beam again!!

In reality though, this will be one of the most secure places on the entire planet (even with it's supposed shortcomings that nimrods seem to fixate on).
Also the simple fact that everybody is now vigilant. If some asshole were to lets say, pull out a gun or a bomb, you would have everyday normal people literally jumping up to beat the shit out of anybody trying to cause a problem (this is NO joke!!). What Im trying to say is that while the security will be quite substantial with this complex, its still going to be nothing compared to the thousands of "vigilant", and "ready" everyday normal people that want (like you and me) to never see anything like this happen again!

This complex is going to be standing very strong for "at least" a couple of hundred years. I was stuck on the idea of replacing the twins as they were for a while too, but its much better this way. This masterplan has evolved into something that is light years ahead (in comparison) to the originals and there are no words to quite describe just how elegant this is going to be. NONE of us saw this coming back when they were going to build the birdcage proposal! :lol: The original twins were very beautiful and nicely crafted inside (I never did get to see them :bleep:) but the fit and finish on these new structures will be probably unlike anything else that has been built in this country to date.

I cant wait until later this summer, which is when this mammoth core, and surrounding steel structure will start to climb above the street level. Ebola is for the most part correct, as I can recall throughout the years watching construction in NY and noticing that they tend to like keeping the steel or concrete structures (whatever is used) level with the gains in core height.. For that simple reason, these towers are going to be creating quite a shock and awe effect...

This is going to be one of the most watched construction sites ever, and everybody involved knows that quite well <-- Another reason that the builders are going to kick some serious ass, other than the fact of the sheer significant importance attached to this site for all of the people who have been hurt (and for all of the lost souls) by what happened in 2001. :cheers:

I just wanted to add...

The chances of this project being stopped for any reason, are about as great as the "Cloverfield" monster jumping out of the Hudson and breakdancing in central park! If that were to happen, maybe he could help us all out by eating whats left of the Duetch Bank tower.

Will they build an access ramp for the new east bathtub the way they did with the west bathtub?

Will they build an access ramp for the new east bathtub the way they did with the west bathtub?



They might, but then again, they might just use a built-up dirt ramp instead.

whoever came up with that quote, is a dipshit! I got the same message from that post thinking I was the "only" one until I read through the thread further to find Daquan catching the same idea I was <- I guess it wasnt only me who saw that. The journalists and editors seriously need to get it together if they are going to report on something this significant and "watch" how they word things, as well as working better to get the proper info. I cant tell you how many people still think that they are building the bird cage proposal. :lol:
These very same people are quite surprised to hear that there are 4 BIG ASS beautiful (masterpiece) towers being rebuilt on the site.

Just to make a point and to only make a point.. --> Even if we say that this building hypothetically were to suffer the same fate as it's predecessor, there is no way we are going to be seing that freedom beam again!!

In reality though, this will be one of the most secure places on the entire planet (even with it's supposed shortcomings that nimrods seem to fixate on).
Also the simple fact that everybody is now vigilant. If some asshole were to lets say, pull out a gun or a bomb, you would have everyday normal people literally jumping up to beat the shit out of anybody trying to cause a problem (this is NO joke!!). What Im trying to say is that while the security will be quite substantial with this complex, its still going to be nothing compared to the thousands of "vigilant", and "ready" everyday normal people that want (like you and me) to never see anything like this happen again!

This complex is going to be standing very strong for "at least" a couple of hundred years. I was stuck on the idea of replacing the twins as they were for a while too, but its much better this way. This masterplan has evolved into something that is light years ahead (in comparison) to the originals and there are no words to quite describe just how elegant this is going to be. NONE of us saw this coming back when they were going to build the birdcage proposal! :lol: The original twins were very beautiful and nicely crafted inside (I never did get to see them :bleep:) but the fit and finish on these new structures will be probably unlike anything else that has been built in this country to date.

I cant wait until later this summer, which is when this mammoth core, and surrounding steel structure will start to climb above the street level. Ebola is for the most part correct, as I can recall throughout the years watching construction in NY and noticing that they tend to like keeping the steel or concrete structures (whatever is used) level with the gains in core height.. For that simple reason, these towers are going to be creating quite a shock and awe effect...

This is going to be one of the most watched construction sites ever, and everybody involved knows that quite well <-- Another reason that the builders are going to kick some serious ass, other than the fact of the sheer significant importance attached to this site for all of the people who have been hurt (and for all of the lost souls) by what happened in 2001. :cheers:



Thank you!

Great minds think alike, hey?! Meeting of the minds.

Yeah, I don't like the way that they phrase things either. That was inappropreate, stupid, ill-timed and out of line to make such a dumb and idiotic statement like that!!!:ohno:

http://aycu11.webshots.com/image/47170/2001292308436583146_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001292308436583146)
http://aycu30.webshots.com/image/44269/2001252376251308083_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001252376251308083)

^^^^^^
Wow the disign is amazing:banana::banana::banana:

whats wrong my city....why are projects going so slow, damn!:(
i wanna see this half way done already!(it should've been)

What is wrong with NY? Well your bedrock is to hard :lol: It took the PA 6 months to dig some caissons for the tower. Other than that the tower is progressing with a normal speed compared to other towers :)

http://aycu11.webshots.com/image/47170/2001292308436583146_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001292308436583146)
http://aycu30.webshots.com/image/44269/2001252376251308083_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001252376251308083)



These are nice pics of the tower!!:cheers:

I dont like its base. I think that i would prefer it if the shape was more uniform from the bottom to the top. But except that, it is a nice design.

I dont like its base. I think that i would prefer it if the shape was more uniform from the bottom to the top. But except that, it is a nice design.

On the contrary, I think the base creates an interesting design element, otherwise the overall design verges on the banal. Besides, when seen from ground level the base should enhance the overall package.

:)

All that's left is from them to build and complete the tower.

The talk is over, now they should have no problem getting the job done!

Is there any chance that the change in the NY governor will affect this project? Like with the planned leases from the government? I know last time the governor changed there was a question of how he would relate to this project. Anyone know the new guy's views?

None at all.

^^ Is that based on something you know, or just a guess? No offense, but you tend to be very optimistic so I'd like to know if you've actually heard anything.

Is there any chance that the change in the NY governor will affect this project? Like with the planned leases from the government? I know last time the governor changed there was a question of how he would relate to this project. Anyone know the new guy's views?



I'm sure that he'll leave things for Ground Zero as is. I see no reason that he would want to change anything.

I'm sure that he'll leave things for Ground Zero as is. I see no reason that he would want to change anything.

My guess is that's true. I was just wondering if anyone has heard anything.

Only time will tell as to how he feels and his views on things.

All of the talking is over (it has been over for many months) and the plan is as concrete as the Freedom Tower's rising core. I bet Spitzer tells to the new guy:

1- Don't mess with the WTC
2- Don't pay em' hoes with cash

Couple new pics from wtcrising:

http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/men on rebar march 2008_big.jpg

http://www.wtcrising.com/images/FE/chain217siteType8/site187/client/photoGallery/189/eastern slurry wall_big.jpg

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

Maybe its a bit offtopic, but what has happened to those plans undertunneling the west street at the trade center to make a plaza which connects the WFC and WTC?

Imo it was a great idea!

That plan has been killed.

Pouring 'crete through buckets on the western side of the core. Looks like parts of the floor are being poured there. (very slim strip)

That plan has been killed.

Really, then those secant walls they've been building were just for show?:ohno:

That corridor is being built. I don't know where you got the information that it is not getting built lol.

To those that complain about how slow things have been going, listen up:

The Foundations for the original Twins have be preserved.
Foundations have been sunk for the Freedom Tower.
Now the steel columns are being installed over and straddling the PATH track ways below.
The foundations for the memorial are almost complete.
The WFC pedestrian connector is taking shape.
Underpinning the sub line though the site is ongoing and is nearing completetion.
The new long-term temporary PATH station is almost complete which allow the old one to be dismantled.
Also a pit was dug so that WTC3 & WTC4 can begin their own foundations.
Of course that was after massive utilities relocation all around the superblock.

And there's still an old subway station that needs to be dismantled.


Doing all that takes time.
IF you think you could do better then please explain how you would get it done quick.

That corridor is being built. I don't know where you got the information that it is not getting built lol.



The West Street tunnel is NOT being built. At least not for now.

The corridor that you're speaking of IS for the pedestrian tunnel link for underground access to the WFC from the new PATH Station.

The whole idea is to eventually link the WFC as well as the WTC with the PATH Station and the Fulton Street Transit Station.

i wonder if people dare to go into this tower...

You all know it was a traumatism and i would not surprised of frightened reactions of people who will work in this place. the traumatism is too high and present.

The tower is cool but the place reminds me too much what you know. If one day i go in New york, i can't imagine to go to the top of tower :(

People were once afraid to go back to work in the ESB after it was hit by the war plane lost in fog trying to get to Newark, NJ.


There are STILL people working in there today. Some have stated that they would go back to work in the Twins if they were rebuilt.

I thought he was talking about the street connector.

I thought he was talking about the street connector.



I believe that corridor will also help support Fulton Street when it's put back through there to run past the PATH Station and Freedom Tower.

Foundation is looking great! But i want to start seeing this tower begin to rise before i lose all motivation for this structure.

BTW, does anyone know if all 4 WTC's will be constructed at the same time??

Imagine seeing 4 massive towers in very close vicinity of each other being built at the same time...beautiful. lol

^^ EDIT: Found out answer to question above...and i'm as happy as larry :lol:

Doing all that takes time.
IF you think you could do better then please explain how you would get it done quick.

Plus New York winters are freezing cold but not as excruciating as Chicago.

A steel beam was added today. If you look carefully, it was placed on the eastern side of the core right up against the wall of the PATH tunnel. You can just see it peering over the roof of the tunnel, and a side of it.

I also believe I saw the delivery of steel at around 12-1 PM today.

It's coming more and more often now. I want to see it start rising!

We dont get much picture updates to say it's the biggest project in the U.S right now. surely someone lives nearby :)

We dont get much picture updates to say it's the biggest project in the U.S right now. surely someone lives nearby :)

Tell me about it. All the major Chicago projects get regular photo updates just about every other day yet with this project, which just happens to have a major mass transit facility inside the project zone, is, aside from the earthcam updates, virtually devoid of photographic documentation. Very strange indeed.

here is an update from flickr ;)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/2331926484_817ae5ac01_b.jpg

here is an update from flickr ;)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/2331926484_817ae5ac01_b.jpg

Could someone tell me the name of the building in the upper-left corner of this picture? I'm referring to the building that partially blocks the view of the Woolworth. I like the design and it looks brand new. Does anyone know the height as well??

Thanks

that's 10 Barclay Street ( 56f )

And it IS brand new. It was just built.

We dont get much picture updates to say it's the biggest project in the U.S right now. surely someone lives nearby :)

I too, was wondering why this is ?... Even more so at this phase of construction, to me foundation work to street level, is one of the most exciting parts of the construction process, esp. for this tower...!!

Hopefully someone local will pick up the ball, or the digital camera, and get this thread to the level of documentation that the Chicago, or even the Los Angeles threads contain.

Go here; http://www.wtcrising.com.

From time to time, they shows updates and pics of Ground Zero and its activities.

If no present pics are there, you should at least be able to READ the latest news on the projects there.

I too, was wondering why this is ?... Even more so at this phase of construction, to me foundation work to street level, is one of the most exciting parts of the construction process, esp. for this tower...!!

Hopefully someone local will pick up the ball, or the digital camera, and get this thread to the level of documentation that the Chicago, or even the Los Angeles threads contain.

From street level it is very hard to take any relevant pictures of the construction site around the core. Unless someone who happens to work in the surrounding office buildings appears and start snapping pictures, we will be in this bind until this building starts rising out of the ground.

I remember years ago when they did timelapse footage of the whole site, do they still update the timelapse footage or have they given up waiting?

We dont get much picture updates to say it's the biggest project in the U.S right now. surely someone lives nearby :)

Yes. We do need someone to take regular photos and update all us interstate and international forumers. :soon:
And especially for a great project on this scale we need someone like an Imre or Harryc, to provide detailed photo accounts of the construction site and building progress.
Any New Yorkers up for the job??

P.S from normal forumer, you will be hailed and lauded like a king and be praised for commitment held in the highest esteem. (Hopefully this incentive may get some people thinking twice) :banana::nocrook::yes::cheers2::applause:

as ramvid said earlier, it is very hard to get good street-level pics of the construction site. the entire area is surrounded by a high fence. some pedestrian bridges offer partial views, but for now the best images will be from the webcams high above the site.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03172008/news/regionalnews/rising_from_the_pit_102338.htm
RISING FROM THE PIT

WTC'S '1ST SPROUT'

By TOM TOPOUSIS

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03172008/photos/new021d.jpg
A WHOLE OTHER LEVEL:Digital renderings show the progress planned for the World Trade Center site, including the Freedom Tower breaking street level this year.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03172008/photos/new021c.jpg
2009

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03172008/photos/new021b.jpg
2010

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03172008/photos/new021a.jpg
2010

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03172008/photos/new021a.jpg
2011

March 17, 2008 -- The reborn World Trade Center will begin rising above street level this spring - when the Freedom Tower's steel frame emerges from its 80-foot-deep construction pit, officials say.

The tower itself is now just 10 feet from street level, Port Authority Executive Director Anthony Shorris said.

"We expect it to reach past street level in a few months," he said.

Shorris and Ground Zero developer Larry Silverstein, who is building three office towers at the site, said virtually every project at the World Trade Center is now under construction after years of cleanup, design and site preparation.

A time-lapse rendering of the 16-acre site prepared by the Port Authority shows the project coming together over the next five years like a massive jigsaw puzzle, with more than 10,000 construction workers assembling the pieces.

By the end of this year, the Freedom Tower's steel will be racing skyward, while a steel base for the memorial is being set in place. And foundations for Silverstein's three towers and the Santiago Calatrava-designed transit hub will be under construction.

By the end of 2010, the Freedom Tower and Silverstein's Towers 2 and 3 will reach rooftop level, and the memorial plaza will be complete and ready for the planting of more than 400 trees.

Silverstein's Tower 2, the second tallest at the site, will have topped out by the end of 2011.

"By the end of 2012, as they say, it'll all be over but the shouting," Shorris said at a New York Building Congress luncheon last week.

"What is falling into place is a construction-coordination machine of truly unprecedented complexity."

The four towers inside the perimeter of the original World Trade Center site will include 141,000 tons of steel and 593,000 cubic yards of concrete.

A fifth tower is planned a block away on the site of the former Deutsche Bank building. That tower is slated to be complete by the end of 2012.

Just to clear sites for Silverstein's three towers, the Port Authority excavated and hauled out enough dirt and rock to fill Giants Stadium.

Silverstein, who acknowledged that "things haven't always gone as smoothly or as swiftly as everyone - including me - had hoped," predicted that the final outcome in five years will create a new economic engine in lower Manhattan.

But Silverstein said the proof of progress for New Yorkers made skeptical by delays and missed deadlines will be the visible construction now shaping up.

"There has not been this much going on at the site since the cleanup concluded close to six years ago," he said.

tom.topousis@nypost.com

Great job!

The small pictures for each year seem very accurate, but it's just a shame that they are so small and deformed. There's only a small amount of time left before we start the first rise.