look on the webcam: http://www.earthcam.net/users2/interface.php?id=445&projectid=202&clientid=158

why needs the construction so a long time?they built for 3-4 years and there is already no core or any other part of a tower.when could we see the tower grow up ?

(sorry for my bad english :))

First: construction work on the tower started in April 2006. 2 years ago not 3 or 4 years as you said.
It took 6 months to dig the caissons for the foundation in worlds hardest rocks. This is a normal speed.
The foundation work itself took also 6 months. Also this is normal for a tower of this size in a dense urban environment. The construction of the subgrade structure will take about 18 months. A bit slow but parts of the building are being constructed between functional PATH tracks.

Second: I'm not sure if you look at pictures or start babbling right away. You said you see no core. The core of the FT is present and 3 stories tall (one story from grade). You also asked when you'll see this tower will grow. Answer: NOW, A few days ago a large part of B2 (the second basement floor) was poured. Also is formwork present for the remaining parts of B2. basement floor B3 & B4 were poured a few months ago.

Here's a picture:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2006/2461802250_75523d279f_b.jpg
The FT is that big piece of concrete in the right top of the picture.

I was wondering , what is under the center big highpath that I signaled in red? I know this is gonna be where the new street will be , but is there any tracks for the PATH/subway under it ?

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/4048/freedomtowerlive2gc8ix5.jpg

i'm also confused about what line is running where on this site , the big station in the middle of the site is what station ? And where the " looping " tracks are going ? to jersey ?

I can't really figure out using the metro map :

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2097/sanstitrewc5.jpg

The looping tracks are the PATH train that goes to New Jersey. The stationhouse for that is just above the red line you drew on the picture.

The line that runs where the red line is is the 1 train. If you look at the map you posted you'll see a greyed out station called World Trade Center

Thx , I found a pretty good subway map of the area.

But I still have some questions :


Is the Path terminal station open yet or closed? Are the tracks really doing a loop like on this map or is it just a regular dead end.


Will it be a new Cortlandt St. station on line 1 beeing built on the new site? Or maybe it's already operational?

The Cortlandt St. station on the yellow line is still open?

http://www.enregistrersous.com/images2/141513362320080504180906.jpg

Sorry for asking so many unuseful questions but it's pretty hard to understand what's going on and where on this site :)

Lower manhattan detailed subway map :

http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/lowermanhattan.pdf

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/6104/dsc00100at0.jpg
what is that building under construction at the financial district??
it looks like it's located on the WTC site tho..

They really take the time on this tower. I'd like to see it rise soon.

what is that building under construction at the financial district??
it looks like it's located on the WTC site tho..

Goldman Sachs Headquarters

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=452972

Thx , I found a pretty good subway map of the area.

But I still have some questions :


Is the Path terminal station open yet or closed? Are the tracks really doing a loop like on this map or is it just a regular dead end.


Will it be a new Cortlandt St. station on line 1 beeing built on the new site? Or maybe it's already operational?

The Cortlandt St. station on the yellow line is still open?

http://www.enregistrersous.com/images2/141513362320080504180906.jpg

Sorry for asking so many unuseful questions but it's pretty hard to understand what's going on and where on this site :)

Lower manhattan detailed subway map :

http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/lowermanhattan.pdf

PATH station is very much open, for the last 4-5 years. The tracks are really doing a loop, however they have seperate points of entry into the site and the station is to the left of the 1 line.

The 1 line's stop will be open eventually, but right now it's in the middle of a construction site.

Cortland Station is not open because of construction going on in that area. However I believed the northbound platform will open in the coming months.

Goldman Sachs Headquarters

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=452972

Yeah big one is GS HQ... if you mean the one with white crane.. that is coming down very slowly... had a fire last year as it was being pulled down...

firefox it works OK !!!

Just few moments ago they put plywood or formwork or however you call the thing over north east core of the foundation. (may be getting ready for major concrete pour)

seems they're prepairing the right half of the core for lifting up one more floor ( the left half is already )

The north core (right core from webcam view) is 1 basement floor below south core (left core from webcam view)

Just few moments ago they put plywood or formwork or however you call the thing over north east core of the foundation. (may be getting ready for major concrete pour)

The formwork is always on the core walls in this project. They are just lifting the formwork and putting a temporary floor above the core to work on putting in more rebar.

They did some serious laying down of rebar for the rest of the floor today. It would not be surprising to see a pour of another part of the floor by this coming Friday.

Hey People, They are raising the Core Forms on the Southern Core right now. Looks pretty cool when you Click on the button to go back in time and then play it again. Rise baby rise,

Lance

OK, at http://www.earthcam.net/users2/interface.php?id=445&projectid=202&clientid=158 today, 8th may 2008. I'm just curious if this happens other constructions, I know that form work only rises not goes back down.

(Compare pictures 6:45 AM and 7:00 AM, the form work on south core rise.

Compare pictures 7:00 AM and 7:15 AM, the form work goes back down

Play slide photos from 10:45 AM to 12 o clock, the form work slowly rises again)

One question, on that webcam, at freedom tower area below the core area there are construction workers active maybe putting in rebars. The floors there are black colour, I want to know what they are. I mean These floors really change in height compare 8th may and 7th may, the black floors rose by a lot.

We need picture Updates from someone because i cant view that stupid "Internet Explorer only" crap web cam

I'll try to post those photos but until i know how

Now I sort of know how to do this.

8th may 12 o clock today:

http://www.earthcam.net/cams2/snapshot/temp/445mhview_200805081200_uNspTqGE.jpg

8th april:

http://www.earthcam.net/cams2/snapshot/temp/445mhview_200804081200_G0RRuRaG.jpg

My bad, I need to learn more, sorry for the inappropriate size

You can really see the core grow taller, foot by foot.

We need picture Updates from someone because i cant view that stupid "Internet Explorer only" crap web cam

It works in Firefox for plenty of people.

I have grown to like the Freedom Tower, though I still hate that podium, though. It will not have any floors at all. and the 100th and 101st floors may house a new Windows on the World restaurant and bar.

Thats the rebar i was talking about last page...

My bad, I need to learn more, sorry for the inappropriate size

A good size would be 800 x 600. :)

Comparison between early Wednesday May 7, 2008 and the next afternoon. (found from SSP, originally from http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/groundzero/)

http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/temp/Freedom_Tower_20080508.jpg

This one is from flickr by bouncyhappygirl:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2382/2464640021_cc1d29af61_b.jpg

at http://www.earthcam.net/users2/inter...2&clientid=158 today, 8th may 2008. I'm just curious if this happens other constructions, I know that form work only rises not goes back down then comes back down again.

(Compare pictures 6:45 AM and 7:00 AM, the form work on south core rise.

Compare pictures 7:00 AM and 7:15 AM, the form work goes back down

Play slide photos from 10:45 AM to 12 o clock, the form work slowly rises again)

I'm writing this again, I want to know why this happens

This one is from flickr by bouncyhappygirl:

that picture was taken on 25th, Friday. :)

one more floor on the left core-half, getting faster!

wow, the core is rising at a really good speed. I love it :)

I'd say that the core is already at least 50 feet tall.

Why? Because sets of two steel beams are erected, one on top of the other, next to the core and it was stated that each beam is at least 31 feet long and as long as over 55 feet, and assuming that the core is almost at the height at the beams, there you go. Though its hard to tell from the cam, it is massive. So, in other words, the core is at least 30 feet tall, plus how ever tall it grew from the base of the second beam.

Very cool too. Next to the Freedom Tower's core, workers look like ants. The core's already much bigger and taller than my house.

allmost now on streat level maybe just 1 floor left

Yeah I think there's only about one floor left of core height to reach the stree level, BUT once they do that, I think all of the getting taller will stop for a short time because they may be working on the outter part of the tower, and the core will not rise first, so expect to see lots of other activity. Also there's still going to be more tower cranes, and all over, so the site will look great next year.

at http://www.earthcam.net/users2/inter...2&clientid=158 today, 8th may 2008. I'm just curious if this happens other constructions, I know that form work only rises not goes back down then comes back down again.

(Compare pictures 6:45 AM and 7:00 AM, the form work on south core rise.

Compare pictures 7:00 AM and 7:15 AM, the form work goes back down

Play slide photos from 10:45 AM to 12 o clock, the form work slowly rises again)

I'm writing this again, I want to know why this happens

It's quite normal that they move the forms up and down during the lifting of the forms. There are various reasons. Sometimes workers have left tools and rebar on the scaffolding around the forms. An Other reason can be that the forms are not lifted in straight. This can cause to much stress on the frame of the jumpform and can damage rebar an stuff. The frame will be lowered and they'll try again. Nothing to worry about :)

One question, on that webcam, at freedom tower area below the core area there are construction workers active maybe putting in rebars. The floors there are black colour, I want to know what they are. I mean These floors really change in height compare 8th may and 7th may, the black floors rose by a lot.

The floors you talked about are table forms to pour the real floor on. The black color is caused by the shadows (and the color) of the rebar. Forms with no rebar on it have a brown or dark brown color.

Didn't they build the Empire State Building in 12 months ???? I know below street level seems to take a long time but hope it climbs quicker from here on....It will still be years though....

Smart, comparing this to the ESB, and it will be topped out or closing in on it quickly in two years, but that's nothing out of the ordinary.

Probably the world has been watching this site since 2001.....but understand it's unique circumstances.....just seems forever that's all....!

marvelous

Didn't they build the Empire State Building in 12 months ???? I know below street level seems to take a long time but hope it climbs quicker from here on....It will still be years though....


I think it's because they had a really good system in place and plenty of workers. Different projects just have different minimum completion timetables.

- Andy

^^ Do not forget that was in the Depression Era. A lot of people were desperate for jobs. Most of New Yorkers who were unemployed at around that time got the jobs to build hundreds of skyscrapers in the 30s.

Didn't they build the Empire State Building in 12 months ???? I know below street level seems to take a long time but hope it climbs quicker from here on....It will still be years though....

1) There were more and cheaper workers available. This speeds up the building progress
2) The ESB has a steel skeleton while the FT has a concrete core. Steel is much faster to erect than concrete
3) In the 30's the traffic was less dense, so transport went much faster and there were no delays due to congestions.
4) Today the safety restrictions are much tougher. This slows down to progress to.
5) For the ESB they didn't need to spend 6 month of digging caissons in worlds hardest rocks.
6) The FT needs to be much stronger than the ESB due to terrorism. This means heavier columns and beams which take more time to build.
7) The FT needs to be a sustainable and eco-friendly building. Also this consumes more time. Especially if it's one of the first green buildings build in the US.

1) There were more and cheaper workers available. This speeds up the building progress.
Why? A building requires a given number of manhours to build, the cost per manhour only affects the total cost, not the time to build it

2) The ESB has a steel skeleton while the FT has a concrete core. Steel is much faster to erect than concrete
Not necessarily, many buildings that have concrete cores complete a floor in 3-4 days. Just look at some of the buildings going up in Dubai

3) In the 30's the traffic was less dense, so transport went much faster and there were no delays due to congestions
There haven't been any delays due to transportation issues. All major equipment and materials (with the exception of concrete) are moved at night when traffic is an issue

4) Today the safety restrictions are much tougher. This slows down to progress to.
Agreed, safety issues and unions do get in the way

5) For the ESB they didn't need to spend 6 month of digging caissons in worlds hardest rocks.
ESB stands on the same basic materials as FT does, besides even if you consider the six months the time to build FT is orders of magnitude longer

6) The FT needs to be much stronger than the ESB due to terrorism. This means heavier columns and beams which take more time to build.
Actually ESB is probably stronger than the new FT will be, because its exterior is stone. Don't forget ESB took a direct hit from a B-25 and only suffered superficial damage

7) The FT needs to be a sustainable and eco-friendly building. Also this consumes more time. Especially if it's one of the first green buildings build in the US.
This is true but it only significantly affects material selection. Its effect on construction time should be minimal.

If you look at the strides made in construction technology and equipment it's hard to see a logical reason why today's buildings should take so much longer than those in the past. The biggest logical explanation is the dedication of the workers.

6) The FT needs to be much stronger than the ESB due to terrorism. This means heavier columns and beams which take more time to build.
Actually ESB is probably stronger than the new FT will be, because its exterior is stone. Don't forget ESB took a direct hit from a B-25 and only suffered superficial damage


not really guy ^^, the stone is only the facade and can be destroyed very easy. maybe glass breaks earlier but that makes definitely no difference when a Boeing 777 flys into it ;).
and don't forget the todays materials are much better than in the 1930's, steel is much stronger now. ( also the quality of construction )

believe me: the FT will be MUCH stronger than the ESB

1) There were more and cheaper workers available. This speeds up the building progress.
Why? A building requires a given number of manhours to build, the cost per manhour only affects the total cost, not the time to build it

2) The ESB has a steel skeleton while the FT has a concrete core. Steel is much faster to erect than concrete
Not necessarily, many buildings that have concrete cores complete a floor in 3-4 days. Just look at some of the buildings going up in Dubai

3) In the 30's the traffic was less dense, so transport went much faster and there were no delays due to congestions
There haven't been any delays due to transportation issues. All major equipment and materials (with the exception of concrete) are moved at night when traffic is an issue

4) Today the safety restrictions are much tougher. This slows down to progress to.
Agreed, safety issues and unions do get in the way

5) For the ESB they didn't need to spend 6 month of digging caissons in worlds hardest rocks.
ESB stands on the same basic materials as FT does, besides even if you consider the six months the time to build FT is orders of magnitude longer

6) The FT needs to be much stronger than the ESB due to terrorism. This means heavier columns and beams which take more time to build.
Actually ESB is probably stronger than the new FT will be, because its exterior is stone. Don't forget ESB took a direct hit from a B-25 and only suffered superficial damage

7) The FT needs to be a sustainable and eco-friendly building. Also this consumes more time. Especially if it's one of the first green buildings build in the US.
This is true but it only significantly affects material selection. Its effect on construction time should be minimal.

If you look at the strides made in construction technology and equipment it's hard to see a logical reason why today's buildings should take so much longer than those in the past. The biggest logical explanation is the dedication of the workers.

You are not in the construction field are you ;)

1) Not true, The more people on a side the more progress is made. Manpower affects the total amount of time needed significant. In this case it's 1+1=3

2)Even in Dubai they need at least 5-6 days a floor. The 3-4 days you talk about is just commercial talk from the developers. With steel it is possible to reach the 3-4 days a floor.

3)You've got a point there. But still the chances of delay due to the traffic are much bigger.

5)You've got a point there as well.

6)No not really. It doesn't matter whether a facade is made out of stone, glass or aluminum panels. It's the support structure that makes a building strong. The ESB is designed to handle normal loads, while the FT is designed to handle normal + exceptional loads. This means that the floors, beams and columns need to be much stronger and much bigger. And believe me this consumes time.

7) It does effect construction time. It makes a huge difference in time whether you want a normal connection between a window frame and a wall or a connection that doesn't leak heat and air.

Please check the construction planning books for most of my points :)

maybe glass breaks earlier but that makes definitely no difference when a Boeing 777 flys into it ;).
and don't forget the todays materials are much better than in the 1930's, steel is much stronger now. ( also the quality of construction )

believe me: the FT will be MUCH stronger than the ESB


but if a boeing 777 crash into FT the average will be the same as if a plane crashs itno ESB...

excelente foto

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2382/2464640021_cc1d29af61_b.jpg

From flickr by A-Train2:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2022/2479167552_94424ea25e_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2382/2464640021_cc1d29af61_b.jpg

what is the buildin in the right side which is under construction ?

Goldman Sachs Headquarters, 228m :)

What exactly are they doing now? Are they still pouring the foundation?

^^ The foundation was finished some months ago. They've now started to build the core of the tower and they're pouring the basement floors. Soon the FT will rise above streetlevel :cheers:

did they finish the massive subway plan they had for that area already? ....or was it scrapped?

anybody know anything about that?

but if a boeing 777 crash into FT the average will be the same as if a plane crashs itno ESB...

thats not true, what do u think there going to have it as vulnerable as the esb ? no they wouldnt obvisly unless they want another 911. the steel there using for the ft is much different then normal steel. has a much higher strength, and can with stand alot hotter fires. and alot of the this tower will be reinforced concrete. which can take a blow from a plane, i'm not saying this tower is indestructible. but they have already planned this tower to with stand a huge hit, like a bomb etc. you have to remember we live in the age of terrorism. and construction materials are much stronger, especially reinforced concrete

Didn't they build the Empire State Building in 12 months ???? I know below street level seems to take a long time but hope it climbs quicker from here on....It will still be years though....

I think it's because they had a really good system in place and plenty of workers. Different projects just have different minimum completion timetables.

- Andy

^^ Do not forget that was in the Depression Era. A lot of people were desperate for jobs. Most of New Yorkers who were unemployed at around that time got the jobs to build hundreds of skyscrapers in the 30s.

[...]


Just as a piece of information: the Bank of America Plaza (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=bankofamericaplaza-atlanta-ga-usa) building, in Atlanta, was also built in only 14 months in the early 1990s.

[QUOTE=Tag_one;20574502]You are not in the construction field are you ;)

Please check the construction planning books for most of my points :)/QUOTE]

Actually, I am in the construction field and have been for almost 30 years, that's why I get so frustrated with the slow pace of construction today. Technology has advanced significantly yet build times have extended. When ESB, the Pentagon, Chrysler building etc. were built they didn't have concrete pumps, tower cranes etc. things that should help reduce construction times significantly.

As far as construction planning books (software in my case) goes, they are actually just based on historical times required for a given task so they just mirror reality. I've not seen any older planning books and I'm actually not sure they ever existed when some of the buildings we're talking about were built. If they did they also would just represent the historical times required for a given task.

The American construction industry needs some significant changes in order to remain competitive in world markets. Union labor wants to become more flexible and dedicated to the industry instead of to themselves. If changes don't occur we won't see many landmark structures built in the future because of prohibitive costs!

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/05/12/2008-05-12_failure_to_rebuild_wtc_site_quickly_will.html
Failure to rebuild WTC site quickly will cost taxpayers

BY DOUGLAS FEIDEN
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Updated Monday, May 12th 2008, 11:09 AM

http://www.nydailynews.com/img/2008/05/12/amd_goldman-graphic.jpg
Photos by Zuma and AP

Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein got (c.) sweet deal from Mayor Bloomberg (l.) and George Pataki.

New Yorkers are on the hook to hand over $321 million to Goldman Sachs, America's richest investment bank, because reconstruction of the World Trade Center has fallen way behind schedule.

Under the hidden terms of a deal that then-Gov. George Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg approved in 2005, the city and state agreed to pay huge penalties to the firm if major portions of Ground Zero redevelopment weren't complete by next year, a target now considered impossible to meet.

Goldman wanted speedy construction because the Wall Street giant is building its own $2.4 billion tower across from the site on West St.

Now, Goldman could snare 64 years of free rent worth $161 million that it's supposed to pay for leasing the state land. Goldman could also recoup an additional $160 million in sales tax payments.

The sweetheart deal okayed by Bloomberg and Pataki also provided $1.65 billion in tax-free

Liberty Bonds and a $115 million incentive package. At the time, the bank was threatening to decamp to New Jersey.

In return for constructing its 43-story office building for 9,000 employees, Goldman. was allowed to put $161 million it owed in rent and $160 million in sales taxes into escrow accounts, documents show. Albany and City Hall agreed that Goldman could keep its cash if two conditions were not met:

* Specific blockbuster transit-and-security projects on the Trade Center footprint had to be finished by the end of next year, when Goldman's tower will be finished. Officials concede that's not going to happen - and that the projects are years behind schedule.

* A comprehensive security plan for downtown had to be "implemented" before 2010. That counterterrorist plan can't be fully "implemented," as the deal requires, until the structures at Ground Zero are in place.

The bottom line: The $321 million bonanza in tax and lease payments could soon revert to the Wall Street powerhouse, which piled up $11.6 billion in profits last year.

Goldman spokeswoman Andrea Raphael declined to comment, but in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing four months ago, the firm made note of the escrow deal and implied it could be pocketing the ground-lease payments.

"Under the terms of the ground lease, we made a lump-sum ground rent payment in June 2007 of $161 million, which was paid into escrow, to be released to the Battery Park City Authority pending performance of specified state and city obligations," it said.

State officials wouldn't discuss specifics - even though the document they refused to discuss can be found on the SEC Web site. City officials think they're off the hook.

"The city is on track to provide a comprehensive security plan for lower Manhattan by the end of 2009 as required by the agreement, and we are working with the Port Authority and Lower Manhattan Development Corp. to help them meet the other deadlines," said Deputy Mayor for Economic. Development Robert. Lieber.

Lawyers are likely to argue this point: How can a security plan for Ground Zero. be "implemented" by 2010 if none of the iconic buildings at the site are wrapped up by that time?

Sources close to the deal said only that the state and city are in preliminary talks with Goldman to win a bit of flexibility.

"The state and Goldman Sachs have and continue to have productive conversations on ensuring that downtown is rebuilt in a manner that is fair to both workers and residents and, of course, all taxpayers," said Avi Schick, chairman of the LMDC.

Among the projects supposed to see ribbon cuttings by 2010:

* The Transportation Hub: With its soaring wings designed to resemble a bird in flight, the PATH terminal was originally planned to open in 2006. A new report says there's less than a 5% chance of the hub being complete before July 2012.

* The Vehicular Security Center under Liberty St.: A centerpiece of security operations, this is the planned $478 million subterranean complex through which delivery trucks and buses will access the 16-acre site. Construction of the high-tech security checkpoint can't even start until the toxic former Deutsche Bank tower above it is finally demolished. The latest estimated opening date is 2011 or 2012.

dfeiden@nydailynews.com

Ok the ESB is the greatest skyscraper every built. I'm sure someone going to try to break it's long stand record as the fast skyscraper every built. look all I'm saying is this building will be done when it's done. I mean ten years after 9/11 is a long time, but at less their working on fixing it. And with some of the other supertalls being built in the city NY will be greater then ever.

Even though it won't be done in a few months, by then no one save the haters and severely mentally challenged will be whining about it because kids need as much eye candy as possible, which is exactly what we'll be seeing a major increase of soon, not as if it has been going slow or is behind schedule. I'm shocked because the below grade parts are coming together faster than even I expected; you can see different parts of the floors poured or created every week, and if not, they're jacking up the core or erecting more rebarb. The other towers' plots will be active like they were at FT a little after it started and Tower 2 could start up in under a month. It only leaves WTC Tower 5 out of the picture for now and whatever they plan to erect on the plot (same plot size as 7WTC) next to the Freedom Tower. Twin 7WTC's would be funny to see.

Ready for rising :cheers:

they're pouring concrete again !!! this time on the north east corner of freedom tower.

The concrete pouring device (somebody correct me) was there from around 6:45 am at New York City time until now. It doesn't mean its been pouring all this time does it?

when they pour something ( for example a new floor ) they've to pour all in one action ^^

The arm of the concrete pumper will only extend for two reasons:

1) It is pouring concrete (you will see concrete trucks line up behind it usually)
2) They are performing maintanence.

In this case they have been pouring continously since 6:45AM

they are also pouring something around the path tracks at the bottom left corner of the webcam

Sounds like Goldman Sachs really took New York for everything they could via their threat to move. Must be nice to be able to legally blackmail the government.

The concrete pouring device (somebody correct me) was there from around 6:45 am at New York City time until now. It doesn't mean its been pouring all this time does it?

Actually, you are only talking about 5 hours which is relatively short for pours on a major construction site. Many times pours can go 12 or more hours for projects like this and for projects such as nuclear power plants can go several days. The continuous pour is required for slab integrity and overall strength.

Nearly reached the ground level.
From flickr by bencheikh.abla:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3256/2487359623_ff64b20994_o.jpg

Yeah, you can see the forms almost touching street level. One more hop up and the core may be slightly above the street.

Finally some real progress this is getting exciting now!

in one month or later we've the next floor completed ^^

when it will be finish? send me aprivete messages thanks!!

From the view of the usual webcam http://www.earthcam.net/users2/interface.php?id=445&projectid=202&clientid=158 they're working on the wall on the left side of the freedom tower site. Its covering with white and black paint or something, I don't know, someone kindly tell me what that is please.

That looks like its for the memorial, not the Freedom Tower. I read an article a few weeks back that they were going to leave part of the wall exposed after they reinforced the whole thing, so maybe that is what they are starting to do?

From the view of the usual webcam http://www.earthcam.net/users2/interface.php?id=445&projectid=202&clientid=158 they're working on the wall on the left side of the freedom tower site. Its covering with white and black paint or something, I don't know, someone kindly tell me what that is please.

The black stuff you see on the slurry wall is bitumen sheeting. They're placing it to prevent water and vapor entering the memorial building. I don't know exactly what the white sheeting is. It probably placed to prevent the bitumen from being damaged during the placement of the rebar and the concrete pour. The part in the middle without the sheeting will be exposed to the public like meh_cd said. They dug a second slurry wall behind that part to reduce the amount of tension on the old slurry wall. :)

May 13th, flickr:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/2495555271_8c2e966057_b.jpg

WOW, look at all of the progress at the Tower 2 site. Last time I saw it, it was at grade. Things are getting faster.

^^ I was gonna say exactly the same thing. Wow!

yeah I thought they were going to take their ever love time with tower 2. But they really went to work on it. How many workers do they have on this whole site. Anybody know the number!

WOW!!! Excellent construction process!!! I'm really excited about this massive project!!!

Well either my eyes are going or we have the first peice of the steel that rises above street level already installed on site!!

:shocked: :D good

Well either my eyes are going or we have the first peice of the steel that rises above street level already installed on site!!

Well you're right mate, in the south east corner around 2:00 pm. And the progress is really going on now.

don't see it, compared a pic from march 13th with today, the only difference is a new poured part on the floor

don't see it, compared a pic from march 13th with today, the only difference is a new poured part on the floor


its there, south east corner. as of right now its the tallest beam around the perimeter of the tower, so its easy to spot.

more steel is always good though! :banana:

don't see it, compared a pic from march 13th with today, the only difference is a new poured part on the floor

Oh yes ZZ II, when you just click on days it will show 12:00 of the day. You want to go to 17th which is today and compare 1:45 pm and 2:00 pm so you actually choose the time of the day.

ok, now i saw it also :D

By the view from lower angle (the live webcam) it clearly shows that the steel that added its height is definately above street level. Wikipedia says: "The tower's steel will begin to rise above street level by the end of the North American spring" I have no idea when north american spring ends though.

In a few weeks and I'm sure that we'll be seeing the core or steel reach grade soon.

^^ The steel is already at grade Ebola....

Actually two pieces are above grade. They added the first between 1:45 and 2:00PM and second between 2:45 and 3:00PM. They are both near the southeast corner.

^^ The steel is already at grade Ebola....


Come on, it JUST happened and most of us assumed that it wouldn't be this early because of what all the articles said.

Anyway, I checked, and it seems like it is above the street.

The Freedom Tower is, as of today, above street level!

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/8527/ft2008ik9.jpg

Great. :banana2:

The Freedom Tower seems to be a meter or two tall right now, maybe more, maybe a little less, but 3 beams on top of each other makes it over 90 feet tall, more than likely above grade now, and you can also tell just by looking and comparing older pictures from different angles. As a whole, it's in the area of 100 feet tall now.

I wonder when the core will reak the grade line too. I also wonder if well see horizontal and diagonal beams, like the old WTC had. I'd like to know a lot more about this building's structure, but not much info was released except that it will have a steel moment frame and reinforced concrete core.

Finally! Glad it's rising above the street level.

that's worth a celebration :cheers:

after such a long time :D ^^

The Freedom Tower is, as of today, above street level!

1 down, 101 to go!!! :cheers2:(above ground)

Wonderful news... this tower will redefine the New York skyline. The city really deserves this project. It will be interesting to see how quickly this rises. I wonder how many floors per month we can expect?

I'm really glad my trip to NY got postponed until this time next year. By that time the area will be quite the sight to see.

That's awesome, ive been waiting for this moment and finally this tower is above street level. We MUST celebrate :banana:

ok, lets have a party :D:D:D:D
:dance:

the lobby of the freedom tower is a nice tribute to the old towers...a lot of foreshadowing of what stood there before.

Amazing news! So excited :banana2:

today by Scruffy, SSP:

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z70/Scruffy66/Byram/DSC00388.jpg


the core
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z70/Scruffy66/Byram/DSC00392.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z70/Scruffy66/Byram/DSC00396.jpg

bringing the FT webcam a little closer

http://www.earthcam.com/swf/cam_player/enlarge_image.php?type=live&path=http://63.229.55.21/ec_metros/ourcams/milleniumhilton1.jpg&name=World%20Trade%20Center%20&width=1024&height=768&img_width=320&img_height=240

you can edit in your own screen size at the 1024 and 768 places

[/URL]http://www.earthcam.com/swf/cam_player/enlarge_image.php?type=live&path=http://63.229.55.21/ec_metros/ourcams/milleniumhilton1.jpg&name=World%20Trade%20Center%20&width=1024&height=768&img_width=320&img_height=240

:) Unlinked :)

today by Scruffy, SSP:

Thanks, finally some good close up. Even though the construction seems slow, we can see that there is lots of progress in the site. :okay:

Someone said it about ten feet above the ground. I bet we'll see a layer of horizontal beams next.

There's line of brown things laid vertically in the north east corner of the tower and progress of yesterday and today show another brown things being extended but in horizontal direction on top of vertical ones.

By 15 minute photo webcam its in the bottom left corner of the site.

By the end of July, two dozen more of those mega beams will be erected, likely most or all of them also reaching above grade, with the core even bigger and taller. In other words, we'll be seeing more beams go up very, very soon.

anything will make you people happy I see lol. This is truly good new and get for the city.

Why shouldn't we be happy? It was very symbolic for the first piece to reach out above zero and we should be excited; we'll be seeing over 20 more do the same, along with a growing core and more pouring and soon and after that most of the building and not just beams will be growing out of the pit.

Still, the erection is painfully slow...

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/19/not-yet-on-the-skyline-but-above-street-level/
May 19, 2008, 5:50 pm

Not Yet on the Skyline, but Above Street Level

By David W. Dunlap

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/05/19/nyregion/wtc-650.jpg
Two perimeter columns of the 1 World Trade Center tower rose above street level for the first time over the weekend. The 1,776-foot structure will now be climbing upward within public view. (Photo: David W. Dunlap/The New York Times)

Only 1,761 feet to go.

Another tangible and fanfare-free milestone occurred over the weekend at ground zero, where two steel columns of 1 World Trade Center rose above street level for the first time. That means the 1,776-foot skyscraper, until now an entirely subterranean structure, will be doing the rest of its climbing in the public eye.

In contrast to the heavily orchestrated ceremonies of past years — white doves taking flight (they turned out to be homing pigeons) and a 20-ton cornerstone being set into place (it had to be picked up again and moved off site) — the latest milestone was noted quite modestly by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Rather than staging speeches, the agency simply handed out prepared, two-sentence statements from Anthony R. Coscia, the chairman, and Christopher O. Ward, the new executive director.

One World Trade Center, also called the Freedom Tower, broke through the street-level barrier on Saturday when workers for DCM Erectors attached new sections atop two of the 24 jumbo columns that form the building’s perimeter. The additional steel brought the columns to a height of about 15 feet above grade. The authority said the 22 other columns were expected to sprout through May, June and July. Tishman Construction Corporation is the construction manager for the project, which is to be completed in 2012.

For now, the best vantages of the rising columns are either from the corner of Washington and Vesey Streets (through a chain-link fence) or from within the second-floor gallery of the Winter Garden at Battery Park City. If you wait long enough, however, you won’t have any trouble seeing the structure from almost any nearby vantage. And if you wait longer than that, you won’t be able to avoid seeing it from almost anywhere, since it will be the tallest in New York City.

Still, the erection is painfully slow...

Yeah, maybe for you.

Ok i hope this thing keeps a steady pace..

Still, the erection is painfully slow...

check your email... Big chance there's an advertisement that can help you :gossip:

Still, the erection is painfully slow...

probably a lot faster than yours:bash:

Still, the erection is painfully slow...

you're making this too easy for us:)you try and build 4 massive skyscrapers on such a complicated plot of land what with older pipes and wires and crap to work with

From flickr by estatik...
17 may 2008
a bit old but nice night pictures

Full size: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2206/2504300347_0d2ef82a03_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2206/2504300347_4e564db5a6_b.jpg

Full size: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2270/2505131714_446cb030b0_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2270/2505131714_1e6aca0331_b.jpg

Full size: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3243/2505131428_d62b67fe5a_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3243/2505131428_531c7ca648_b.jpg

Elevation

http://i30.tinypic.com/116s96u.jpg

I don't recall where the broadcasting floors would go (likely in the mech floors) and it may not have any to begin with.

Still, the erection is painfully slow...

You should go to the doctor and have that looked at. A painfully slow erection is never a good thing.

LOL

From the Port Authorities of NY & NJ :cheers:

http://www.panynj.gov/info/images/May08_WTC_1.jpg

http://www.panynj.gov/info/images/May08_WTC_4.jpg

http://www.panynj.gov/info/images/April08_WTC_1.jpg

More pictures here: http://www.panynj.gov/info/wtc_progress.html

Five bucks says some utter genius will say there has been slow progress within the next 30 posts.


It won't be long before the core hits street level. I think we'll be seeing, aside from the third set of 24 mega beams, different pieces of steel. I also wonder when we'll be seeing some other tower cranes.

i just hate that spire... why such a spire? Is this building even taller than the former wtc?

yes, with the spire it will be taller than the old WTC inclusive the Antenna

Cause you're in control of nothing. Without the spire, it is taller than the Twin Towers.

thought it is 415m to the roof.....

thought it is 415m to the roof.....

It will actually be 417 (roof height). And since the tallest WTC tower was 416, it would be 1 meter taller :)

It struck me as interesting that 3 of the big buildings within a block of the Freedom Tower are nearly the exact same height:

Goldman Sachs 749
7 World Trade Center 741
3 World Financial Center 739

Is that planned or coincidental?


Thanks,
Bugstone

It's just coincidental. Not counting spires, the Freedom Tower is about 40 feet (maybe as much as 80'+) taller than the old WTC. Roof height is nearly exactly the same for the FT/1/2WTC. Towers 2 and now perhaps 3 will be close to the old WTC's height.

(They never let out much data about the massive roof structure/crown, and are likely still working with it)

It's just coincidental. Not counting spires, the Freedom Tower is about 40 feet (maybe as much as 80'+) taller than the old WTC. Roof height is nearly exactly the same for the FT/1/2WTC. Towers 2 and now perhaps 3 will be close to the old WTC's height.

(They never let out much data about the massive roof structure/crown, and are likely still working with it)

Any more news about a possible Tower 3 height increase?

And while some people might think that the Freedom Tower should be taller than the old twins, I think it's important that the roof is the same height. That way people can easily visualize what used to be there, and when you're in the restaurant or observation deck you can almost imagine looking to the south and seeing the tops of the twins. :) :(

It will actually be 417 (roof height). And since the tallest WTC tower was 416, it would be 1 meter taller :)

Former One World Trade Center was exactly as tall as Freedom Tower will be: 1368 feet or 417 meters high. ;)

I know it was brought up before, but since we're talking about roof/spire heights, I have to say that I keep wishing that the Freedom Tower (1WTC) would be 1776ft @ roof & 2001ft @ spire tip. It's just more symbolic and meaningful to me that way, and it would be much taller and more prominent than towers 2 & 3, making it the undisputed centerpiece and focal point of the WTC complex, NYC, and USA. (It would also be 1ft taller than the Chicago Spire and therefore the tallest in America, something NYC deserves, in my opinion, because of 9.11.01 and everything they went through. I'm not saying that because I'm partial to NYC, I'm actually a huge fan of Chicago. Oh well, bottom line is the FT will be great as it is now.

Great updates ! Its almost there ! At street level... Nice progress...

the FT will be the tallest office building in the wolrd and that right there is good enough for me. And you people need to quit bitching about the height it's not going to change so get over it. And the FT isn't going to be the tallest building in NY forever.

the FT will be the tallest office building in the wolrd and that right there is good enough for me. And you people need to quit bitching about the height it's not going to change so get over it. And the FT isn't going to be the tallest building in NY forever.

Well said, height isn't everything. The only thing that matters is that the buildings looks good.

the FT will be the tallest office building in the wolrd and that right there is good enough for me. And you people need to quit bitching about the height it's not going to change so get over it. And the FT isn't going to be the tallest building in NY forever.

FT will not be the tallest office building in the world, it might be the tallest office building in New York depending on if you count the antenna as a spire or not.

FT will not be the tallest office building in the world, it might be the tallest office building in New York depending on if you count the antenna as a spire or not.

hope i'm not feeding fuel to the future city war that is going to occur in this thread, but i'm curious, what will be the tallest?

hope i'm not feeding fuel to the future city war that is going to occur in this thread, but i'm curious, what will be the tallest?

:nuts: Dubai :banana: Dubai :banana: Dubai!!!!!:nuts:




On a serious note, I was wondering the same thing as well. I liked that last night picture that showed the new WTC 7. It's a nice looking building.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2270/2505131714_1e6aca0331_b.jpg

Does anyone know what building is going up in the background (center)?

^^ Goldman Sachs Headquarters. There is a thread for it:http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=452972

they shouldn't have faked the height with that spire... now the 1WTC is just a nice supertall, but in no way a record

this baby is sitting underground much too long!!! Me wanna see it ABOVE GROUND!!!!

FT will not be the tallest office building in the world, it might be the tallest office building in New York depending on if you count the antenna as a spire or not.

Can you point to one office building anywhere, in any state, over 1,776'?

I have to say that I keep wishing that the Freedom Tower (1WTC) would be 1776ft @ roof & 2001ft @ spire tip.

I never thought of that. Those numbers would have a ton of signifigance to NYC and America. With that said, 1WTC as is will still be a nice fill to a void that is sorely missing downtown.

:nuts: Dubai :banana: Dubai :banana: Dubai!!!!!:nuts:




On a serious note, I was wondering the same thing as well. I liked that last night picture that showed the new WTC 7. It's a nice looking building.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2270/2505131714_1e6aca0331_b.jpg

Does anyone know what building is going up in the background (center)?

Dubai is mixed use. I think that is why they can call WTC1 the "tallest" office tower.

And come on people, this is at least the fourth time in as many pages that people have asked about Goldman Sachs. Read the thread!

^^ Goldman Sachs Headquarters. There is a thread for it:http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=452972

Thanks.

I never thought of that. Those numbers would have a ton of signifigance to NYC and America. With that said, 1WTC as is will still be a nice fill to a void that is sorely missing downtown.

I agree completely

what the hell is a fake height the spire is on the building and it can't be removed, there for it' apart of the building. And the sear tower roof is higher then the freedom tower and that it. Theres no other planned office tower, that going to be taller the the FT. And if you don't pay taxes in NY you shouldn't care what we build in our city. I know it hurts but we can careless what you think.

^^ do most New yorkers support the freedom tower?

To roof and tallest floors there are many office buildings taller (ICC, 2IFC, Sears), so if people want to be proud to have a tallest with huge spire be proud of it but keep in mind the facts. :)

And before I become the bad guy here, I love NYC and Freedom Tower. :)

To roof and tallest floors there are many office buildings taller (ICC, 2IFC, Sears), so if people want to be proud to have a tallest with huge spire be proud of it but keep in mind the facts. :)

And before I become the bad guy here, I love NYC and Freedom Tower. :)

ICC is mixed use and 2IFC is shorter that 1WTC... only the Sears is taller by roof.

Alas for you, spires count. Whine all you want, Freedom Tower will be the tallest office building on earth in 2011 and on for however long and that statment is 100% correct. My god, I know it must be very hard for many people to accept that America has something that's the biggest or tallest or best, especially something stands for so much power, so I understand. This office complex is unmatched, and it will be roughly the same size as the old one, the biggest in the world again too. This project isn't medium or big; it's beyond that, and even beyond special. I think most would agree that office skyscrapers the best symbols of might and success.

Must New yorkers are proud of the freedom tower and what it stand for, While must others don't care. New york is New york they build tall builds every year. And when the new WTC is finish, it will be just another part of NY. Must new yorkers didn't think much of the former WTC till it was gone. I mean it was a part of city, we thought would be there forever. I was a kid when I left the city but I still remember the last time I seen the old WTC in 1997. Now that I'm back out east I plan on visiting the new site as much as I can.

Alas for you, spires count. Whine all you want, Freedom Tower will be the tallest office building on earth in 2011 and on for however long and that statment is 100% correct. My god, I know it must be very hard for many people to accept that America has something that's the biggest or tallest or best, especially something stands for so much power, so I understand. This office complex is unmatched, and it will be roughly the same size as the old one, the biggest in the world again too. This project isn't medium or big; it's beyond that, and even beyond special. I think most would agree that office skyscrapers the best symbols of might and success.

I don't see how this can be called a spire instead of what actually is, an antenna! A spire is integrated into the designing of the building, the original design of FT had an integrated design for its spire and was a much better design. The spire on the present design looks like it was just stuck on top to get to the desired height, it certainly doesn't blend into the rest of the building. I guess New York had to do something to get some kind of title back in the skyscraper category.

If there is no radio equipment in the structure then it isn't an antenna.

It's not an antenna because you thought one of the other design's was better integrated.

It isn't an antenna if you dislike the building. It WOULD be an antenna if it's sole purpose was for communication, however alas that is not the case in point.

It is a spire. Get over it.

^Thank you!:applause:

I for one cannot wait to see the progress made here in the next couple of months. Seeing those first few beams pop up over street level was amazing eye candy for me.:banana:

hey man I just watch the king kong 1976 were he goes up the first WTC. classic trash movie but the building look great

today by Scruffy, SSP...one more steelbeam has reached streetlevel :):

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z70/Scruffy66/saya/DSC00527.jpg

Finally some progress!

any pics of the contruction site's toilets? :D

^^^^ don't be a ass. they crap in holes in the ground not toilets like u suggested lol.

I have a curiosity...How many inches will the tower be once fully erected?

I have a curiosity...How many inches will the tower be once fully erected?

21 thousand 312 inches.

Excellent process! :) I just remembered that Freedom Tower supposed to have 4 luffing cranes. When will another two luffing cranes installed and rise?

Actually I think those are just the two that are already above street level, just from a different angle. On Earthcam I don't see any new steel columns.

^^ Those where the new columns that were put in place about a week ago.

Just a question (I did not read all the 234 pages of the 3d!), but why are so slow the prep works? Due to the complexity of the site?

^^ you just have to look back a few pages and you will see that this question has been asked 10000 times before. :sleepy:

Just a question (I did not read all the 234 pages of the 3d!), but why are so slow the prep works? Due to the complexity of the site?

Basically, yeah. Constructing such a massive foundation over an existing, and operating, rail line is very challenging.

Excellent process! :) I just remembered that Freedom Tower supposed to have 4 luffing cranes. When will another two luffing cranes installed and rise?

They will be installed when the tower rises a few floors above street level. By that time the mobile cranes can't give additional crane capacity to the large cranes anymore because the tower is to high for them.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/nyregion/25hudson.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin
Exposing the Wall Between the River and New York City

By DAVID W. DUNLAP
Published: May 25, 2008

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/05/25/nyregion/25HUDSON.GR.jpg

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/05/25/nyregion/25hudson.span.jpg
David W. Dunlap/The New York Times

Parts of the river wall are visible north of Chambers Street, but the excavation at the trade center will show it at greater depth.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/05/25/nyregion/25hudsonEARTH.190.jpg
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Newly exposed granite blocks from the historic river wall that lies just west of the World Trade Center site.

To the builders of the 21st-century World Trade Center it is both an obstacle and an engineering marvel of 19th-century New York: the massive granite river wall that opened Manhattan’s edges to a world of seagoing commerce.

The river wall near the trade center was long ago cut off from the Hudson River by the landfill on which Battery Park City stands. But the wall’s granite and concrete blocks are very much in place under the western edge of West Street and have posed an engineering and archaeological challenge to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

That is because part of the river wall must be removed to allow construction of an underground passageway between the new World Trade Center and the World Financial Center in Battery Park City. But at the same time, by agreement with state preservation officials, the river wall must also be treated as the historical resource it is. The New York State Office of Historic Preservation has deemed it eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

As a result, archaeologists will be given the chance to monitor, inspect and document the river wall as it is being dismantled. And for a week or two early next year, before it is removed, the section of wall will be visible from the Winter Garden, its rough-hewn but handsomely coursed granite blocks exposed to a depth of perhaps 15 feet below street level.

The top of the wall, which runs from the Battery to 59th Street, can currently be seen from many places along the shoreline. Just walk out on a pier and look back. But the chance to see a whole section of the wall — dry — will be exceptional.

“The beauty of it is that they’re going to be able to view an entire length,” said Clarelle DeGraffe, the project manager for the Port Authority. “About 80 feet of granite wall section will be exposed. It’s awesome.”

Awesome, but little known.

By restraining the land mass behind it, a bulkhead allows large vessels to dock at the island’s edge, rather than at the end of piers or wharves hundreds of feet off shore.

The depth and sturdiness of the shoreline is taken for granted now, but in 1873, the waterfront was so dilapidated and unnavigable as to “awake the amazement and indeed scorn of the foreigner,” The New York Times said. “What is wanted is a broad thoroughfare clear round the City, stone-faced, with all necessary piers, solid and imperishable.”

The river wall, formally known as the Hudson River bulkhead, was built under an improvement plan proposed in 1870 by Gen. George B. McClellan, the chief engineer of the city’s Department of Docks, who was far better known as a Union leader during the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln’s Democratic challenger for the presidency in 1864.

McClellan’s plan was “as ambitious, in its way, as the Brooklyn Bridge” and “the greatest public-works project of its period,” Phillip Lopate wrote in “Waterfront: A Journey Around Manhattan.”

It took six decades to complete.

According to an archaeological report prepared in 2006 by the Louis Berger Group, the bulkhead nearest the trade center was built with granite blocks atop concrete blocks atop vertical piles and lateral braces. The method suggests it was installed between 1899 and 1915.

But only physical inspection can determine the dimensions of the wall for certain, and only exploration can uncover artifacts behind the bulkhead or evidence of an earlier river wall or piers. Among materials that might be found, the Berger report said, are “historic ceramics, curved glass (bottle, table and furniture glass), pipes, small finds/architectural, bone, floral, shell and aboriginal (prehistoric).”

Ultimately, demolition of part of the river wall is needed to permit a clear path under West Street between the trade center and Battery Park City. One day, a commuter getting off the subway along William Street will be able to walk underground as far as the World Financial Center.

To prevent flooding during construction — the water table is only about 10 feet below street level — the passageway under West Street will be built in three phases, with barrier walls between each segment. It is the second barrier wall that will displace the bulkhead.

“No matter what, we’ve got a dam between us and the river,” said Raymond E. Sandiford, chief geotechnical engineer at the Port Authority.

While Mr. Sandiford’s enthusiasm is obvious for the passageway project, so is his admiration for the engineering feats of an earlier age. He noted that a preliminary excavation had disclosed the possibility of coming across timber structures from the early 19th century that were used in cribworks that functioned like a bulkhead.

“We may be uncovering even more of the historic waterfront,” Mr. Sandiford said, sounding hopeful that he would.

Hoping that the site will flood in or something? Ahhh, sweet dreams.

Actually I thought the article was quite interesting. I had no idea about this historic wall. To think all that is partially being held by timber bracings! Neat...

Good article TalB, thanks for that excellent read.

Ebola, don't be a tosser all of your life.

Definitely interesting, didn't know about that wall too.

I've looked up on the webcam and there has been literally no progress on freedom tower site since 2 days ago.

sunday they dont work (or do they?) and today is a USA national holiday, so i doubt they're working

national holiday? like bank holiday in UK?

national holiday? like bank holiday in UK?

Memorial Day (always the last Monday in May).

No memorial day or something. I just googled it when I checked the EC and found a quiet GZ. :)

edit: too late I see :p

I've looked up on the webcam and there has been literally no progress on freedom tower site since 2 days ago.

It's memorial day weekend.

where it will rise (you can see the cranes)

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/7468/may2008037vu7.jpg

where do you see FT cranes?

right above the water^^ lol

Well it is Memorial Day here in the USA and yesterday was sunday so that might have a little to do with it.

Edit: Way late....

It's nice to see downtown from a different angle than what we're used to seeing with GS construction pics.

What is the blue 'marina' type low rise building to the left of the cranes? Looks pretty cool!

Hey can someone give me an update about the actual situation, I don't have time to read all the 250 pages;)

How tall? Wich design?Completed in...?

Thanks folks !!! :)

^http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/01/29/nyregion/churchst.531.jpg

Freedom tower 1368' to roof, 1776' to spire. Thats ~416 m to roof and 541 to spire

Questions: Is Beekman Place definite?
Would you be able to see Beekman from that angle, Or is it more towards American International?

Questions: Is Beekman Place definite?
Would you be able to see Beekman from that angle, Or is it more towards American International?

beekman is already underconstruction and above ground level -- on the second floor in fact. you wouldn't be able to see it from that angle, though. it is farther east, near the brooklyn bridge.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05252008/news/columnists/ground_zero_is_beckoning_112505.htm
GROUND ZERO IS BECKONING

May 25, 2008 -- WHAT hath Mike wrought?

More than is immediately apparent, but much less than he would have liked.

But all is not lost.

His mayoralty maintains for 585 more days, enough time (though barely) to forge a legacy worthy of the intelligence, energy and imagination of Michael R. Bloomberg.

As it stands, he'll be remembered for rezoning reform (huh?), the congestion-pricing debacle and a naive reliance on Albany to keep its word regarding mayoral control of the public schools.

And, yes, he's been a competent keeper of the city's books.

But they don't build monuments to accountants - and, besides, posterity is beckoning from Ground Zero.

Chaos has morphed into toxic stasis downtown.

No one seriously believes that the current schedule of construction deadlines is remotely achievable, and things are only getting worse.

Just last week, the Port Authority (the bi-state blob responsible for rebuilding on the World Trade Center site) pushed back projected completion dates for two of developer Larry Silverstein's Ground Zero office buildings - allegedly to give Merrill Lynch time to consider moving into one of them.

Here's hoping.

Much more likely, though, is that Merrill is on a subsidy-scrounging expedition; it lost billions last year, it needs desperately to recapitalize - and some believe it barely can afford its current Battery Park City digs.

Bottom line?

On Friday, Silverstein had six months longer - and likely longer than that - to complete his buildings, penalty-free, than he did on Wednesday.

Oh, and don't be looking for a 9/11 memorial dedication until well into the second term of Mayor Mike's successor.

Bloomberg can do something about this.

Yes, he's been deaf, dumb and blind on Ground Zero almost since he took office. It has essentially been his position that the heavy reconstruction lifting is properly to be done in Trenton and Albany - which technically is correct. But so what?

Mayors have no real power - absent their ability to inspire, cajole or bully.

Lawyers in Washington and Albany saved New York from the fiscal crises of the '70s - but Ed Koch's ebullient optimism convinced Gotham that the bitter medicine was worth swallowing. And so it was.

And Rudy Giuliani, through sheer force of will, saved the day two decades later.

Mike needs to focus on Ground Zero. He needs to poke and prod and holler and scold - to mount the world's bulliest pulpit and forge his legacy with, yes, intelligence, energy and imagination.

If not him, who?

If not now, when?

History looms, Mr. Mayor.

mcmanus@nypost.com

http://academics.triton.edu/faculty/fheitzman/freedom%20tower%202.jpg

I much prefer this spire design, it looks much cooler. I think it will look really good if they replace current spire with older spire design (on the corner of the tower)

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05252008/news/columnists/ground_zero_is_beckoning_112505.htm
GROUND ZERO IS BECKONING

May 25, 2008 -- WHAT hath Mike wrought?

More than is immediately apparent, but much less than he would have liked.

But all is not lost.

His mayoralty maintains for 585 more days, enough time (though barely) to forge a legacy worthy of the intelligence, energy and imagination of Michael R. Bloomberg.

As it stands, he'll be remembered for rezoning reform (huh?), the congestion-pricing debacle and a naive reliance on Albany to keep its word regarding mayoral control of the public schools.

And, yes, he's been a competent keeper of the city's books.

But they don't build monuments to accountants - and, besides, posterity is beckoning from Ground Zero.

Chaos has morphed into toxic stasis downtown.

No one seriously believes that the current schedule of construction deadlines is remotely achievable, and things are only getting worse.

Just last week, the Port Authority (the bi-state blob responsible for rebuilding on the World Trade Center site) pushed back projected completion dates for two of developer Larry Silverstein's Ground Zero office buildings - allegedly to give Merrill Lynch time to consider moving into one of them.

Here's hoping.

Much more likely, though, is that Merrill is on a subsidy-scrounging expedition; it lost billions last year, it needs desperately to recapitalize - and some believe it barely can afford its current Battery Park City digs.

Bottom line?

On Friday, Silverstein had six months longer - and likely longer than that - to complete his buildings, penalty-free, than he did on Wednesday.

Oh, and don't be looking for a 9/11 memorial dedication until well into the second term of Mayor Mike's successor.

Bloomberg can do something about this.

Yes, he's been deaf, dumb and blind on Ground Zero almost since he took office. It has essentially been his position that the heavy reconstruction lifting is properly to be done in Trenton and Albany - which technically is correct. But so what?

Mayors have no real power - absent their ability to inspire, cajole or bully.

Lawyers in Washington and Albany saved New York from the fiscal crises of the '70s - but Ed Koch's ebullient optimism convinced Gotham that the bitter medicine was worth swallowing. And so it was.

And Rudy Giuliani, through sheer force of will, saved the day two decades later.

Mike needs to focus on Ground Zero. He needs to poke and prod and holler and scold - to mount the world's bulliest pulpit and forge his legacy with, yes, intelligence, energy and imagination.

If not him, who?

If not now, when?

History looms, Mr. Mayor.

mcmanus@nypost.com

Pathetic, Bloomberg's been one of the best NY mayors; its sad to see the nypost sum up all of his mayoralty on his handling of Ground Zero.

http://academics.triton.edu/faculty/fheitzman/freedom%20tower%202.jpg

I much prefer this spire design, it looks much cooler. I think it will look really good if they replace current spire with older spire design (on the corner of the tower)

I liked that design too - it was part of the designer's Stonehenge-esque concept where the sun would shine directly onto a memorial in the morning of 9/11 every year. However, with the current construction plans, I don't think the corner spire will work.

At least something's being built. That site was at a construction stand-still for 6 years in some of the most expensive real-estate in the world.

yeah construction didn't start till 2005 but thats a whole other story. I could careless about the first design didn't like it then don't like it now. I love the design we got now, I just wish they would quit changing it.

Hey kingsc you got the photo of former world trade centre, how come when I post those photos on the threads it gets banned?

^^^^ well this picture was already on SSC. And I don't know why they would get banned.

I mean like the moderators don't make the photo appear on the threads

I liked that design too - it was part of the designer's Stonehenge-esque concept where the sun would shine directly onto a memorial in the morning of 9/11 every year. However, with the current construction plans, I don't think the corner spire will work.

At least something's being built. That site was at a construction stand-still for 6 years in some of the most expensive real-estate in the world.

It wasn't the spire that I disliked, although I prefer the FT's, it was the empty space on the top quarter of the building.

It wasn't the spire that I disliked, although I prefer the FT's, it was the empty space on the top quarter of the building.

I meant that too, I mean the current body of FT + the old spire design on top. Could someone do the photo work and produce that design?

I mean like the moderators don't make the photo appear on the threads
It's very simple, everybody can use a picture of them for an avatar because that has nothing to do with this thread.

It's prohibited to post pictures of them in this thread just to avoid useless discussions about them because this thread is only about the construction of the new tower and not about the old lowers and/or what happened on 9/11. It keeps this thread readable for anyone who is interested in the new tower.

Actually I thought the article was quite interesting. I had no idea about this historic wall. To think all that is partially being held by timber bracings! Neat...

I will only state the history of the ground structure about lower Manhattan one time and one time only, so if anyone misses this, I will not repeat it. When the island was first settled by the Dutch, the tip was actually thinner than it is right now. Streets today like Broad St, Peck Slip, and Old Slip used to be shipping channels. Where Water St stands today was once the bank of the East River hence its name. Over the years, it began to expand with the sediments from NY Bay on the both the ends of the Hudson and East Rivers. In the early 1800's, a landfill came over on the East River to form what is now South St Seaport, which is similar to BPC in the 1960's. When this occurred, the shipping channels were filed in and made into streets. Around the government buildings by city hall used to be a lake known Collect Pond, but was later on used a dump, which lead to it being filled in. Canal St at one point was an actual canal until it was filled up in the mid 1800's hence its name and with the streets aside from it having that name, which is similar to Wall St once having a giant wall by it. Minetta St in Greenwich Village used to be a brook in its name meaning "Devil Waters" before being filled in. All of this information was taken from my Forgotten NY book that I have just to clear that I didn't just make this up.

^^ Pretty cool stuff TalB, thanks. :)

One day, Manhattan may not be an island.

One day, Manhattan may not be an island.

lol i HIGHLY doubt that

Those rivers are pretty wide Ebola. I am not sure about that.

Give it enough time, like another ice age, and Manhattan probably won't be an island.

One day, Manhattan may not be an island.

That'll never happen. The harbor's are to important to New York, as the silt builds up it is dredged so any future buildup is controlled and minimize. Manhattan is the size it's going to be.

That'll never happen. The harbor's are to important to New York, as the silt builds up it is dredged so any future buildup is controlled and minimize. Manhattan is the size it's going to be.

I know that film 'the day after tommorow' shows scenes that has one in a million chance of happening. But who knows.

They've been developing formwork on the north half of the core, Should rise one floor soon.

it probably will rise a floor again in a few weeks

What's the height limit of the NYC skyscrapers?

it probably will rise a floor again in a few weeks

The north core is a long, long way from rising again. They're not even seriously working on it. The south core will rise first, probably in July.

What's the height limit of the NYC skyscrapers?

610m as for every skyscraper in the USA

610m as for every skyscraper in the USA

Wouldn't it depend on what part of USA its built in. Busy cities like NYC LA of Chi town, they can't build that tall because of busy air lines.

But if they build mile high tower in Montana, I think they could. I'm seriously thinking someone's gonna judge me, cos I'm not even sure

Wouldn't it depend on what part of USA its built in. Busy cities like NYC LA of Chi town, they can't build that tall because of busy air lines.

But if they build mile high tower in Montana, I think they could. I'm seriously thinking someone's gonna judge me, cos I'm not even sure

No, the limit is 610m/2000ft anywhere in the United States. Some places are actually are lower than that but that's the highest allowed anywhere. In some areas near airports or air force bases (Las Vegas strip for example) buildings much lower have had problems getting approvals. The limit is imposed by the FAA.

That'll never happen. The harbor's are to important to New York, as the silt builds up it is dredged so any future buildup is controlled and minimize. Manhattan is the size it's going to be.

Manhattan's size has expanded time and time again. In the far future, harbors may not even be important. With a growing population and compacted population, one day I bet long after we all die there will be some sort of massive land reclamation project for this area. It would be nice to see thousands of years into the future.

Passed by today, got some pics I'll post later, although they're not great.

Manhattan's size has expanded time and time again. In the far future, harbors may not even be important. With a growing population and compacted population, one day I bet long after we all die there will be some sort of massive land reclamation project for this area. It would be nice to see thousands of years into the future.

That will never happen. What about access up the Hudson? Manhattan is more likely to be under water than without it.

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj31/NYOS87/106_0551.jpg
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj31/NYOS87/106_0560.jpg
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj31/NYOS87/106_0563.jpg
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj31/NYOS87/106_0562.jpg

what is the cost of the project? what kind of features measures does it have so it can fend off possible future terrorist attacks?

I heard from a lower Manhattan website that the WTC and projects around it are costing over 22 billion dollars and it's likely the safest and strongest complex of skyscrapers ever. Each tower is costing well over a billion dollars with towers 1, 2 and 3 likely each over 2 billion dollars each and they say tower 1 could be over 3 billion. 7WTC was 700 million dollars. They have so many new features to remain safe and sturdy during a possible attack that you can't list them all. The towers set new standards for all skyscrapers. 7WTC was just a start.


You guys just can't accept that I totally win the debate about Manhattan possibly not being an island because all I said was "future" and "may" and as the plates of the earth move one day it won't be "here" or an island anymore. To add, anything could happen. Manhattan wasn't an island to begin with and it is clearly close to the Bronx, the only part of NYC connected to the motherland. A show about skyscrapers mentioned that Manhattan is connected to it by Manhattan Schist or some other rock.

One day, Manhattan may not be an island.

Unless the Harlem River is filled in don't count on it.

Manhattan's size has expanded time and time again. In the far future, harbors may not even be important. With a growing population and compacted population, one day I bet long after we all die there will be some sort of massive land reclamation project for this area. It would be nice to see thousands of years into the future.

Where would Manhattan join the mainland? Are you seriously proposing closing off the mouth of the Hudson River? Where would all of its discharge be re-routed?

what kind of features measures does it have so it can fend off possible future terrorist attacks?
It will have double pane windows. That should keep a wide body 767 flying at 500mph from crashing into it.:nuts:

Well, unlike LA which will move North to meet up with Alaska (aww! No more Santa Monica Beach), I don't think that Long Island will leave the New York area.

What is the blue 'marina' type low rise building to the left of the cranes? Looks pretty cool!

That is the Staten Island Ferry building. That is where you board the regular (and free!) ferry boats to New York City's smallest and furthest borough: Staten Island. Within a few minutes walk of there is the Skyscraper Museum, and also The Museum of the American Indian and the new Jewish Museum.

Thanks phillybud - that certainly explains why the view of the Twin Towers from the Staten Island Ferry always looked awesome in pictures and movies!

I heard from a lower Manhattan website that the WTC and projects around it are costing over 22 billion dollars and it's likely the safest and strongest complex of skyscrapers ever. Each tower is costing well over a billion dollars with towers 1, 2 and 3 likely each over 2 billion dollars each and they say tower 1 could be over 3 billion. 7WTC was 700 million dollars. They have so many new features to remain safe and sturdy during a possible attack that you can't list them all. The towers set new standards for all skyscrapers. 7WTC was just a start.


You guys just can't accept that I totally win the debate about Manhattan possibly not being an island because all I said was "future" and "may" and as the plates of the earth move one day it won't be "here" or an island anymore. To add, anything could happen. Manhattan wasn't an island to begin with and it is clearly close to the Bronx, the only part of NYC connected to the motherland. A show about skyscrapers mentioned that Manhattan is connected to it by Manhattan Schist or some other rock.

Not only is your argument valid, it is highly probable. Most of these guys have probably never heard of continental drift. Millions of years from now, nothing on this planet will be what or where it is today. What is now NYC could wind up at the South Pole someday!!

I will only state the history of the ground structure about lower Manhattan one time and one time only, so if anyone misses this, I will not repeat it. When the island was first settled by the Dutch, the tip was actually thinner than it is right now. Streets today like Broad St, Peck Slip, and Old Slip used to be shipping channels. Where Water St stands today was once the bank of the East River hence its name. Over the years, it began to expand with the sediments from NY Bay on the both the ends of the Hudson and East Rivers. In the early 1800's, a landfill came over on the East River to form what is now South St Seaport, which is similar to BPC in the 1960's. When this occurred, the shipping channels were filed in and made into streets. Around the government buildings by city hall used to be a lake known Collect Pond, but was later on used a dump, which lead to it being filled in. Canal St at one point was an actual canal until it was filled up in the mid 1800's hence its name and with the streets aside from it having that name, which is similar to Wall St once having a giant wall by it. Minetta St in Greenwich Village used to be a brook in its name meaning "Devil Waters" before being filled in. All of this information was taken from my Forgotten NY book that I have just to clear that I didn't just make this up.Thank you Talb :)

I heard from a lower Manhattan website that the WTC and projects around it are costing over 22 billion dollars and it's likely the safest and strongest complex of skyscrapers ever. Each tower is costing well over a billion dollars with towers 1, 2 and 3 likely each over 2 billion dollars each and they say tower 1 could be over 3 billion. 7WTC was 700 million dollars. They have so many new features to remain safe and sturdy during a possible attack that you can't list them all. The towers set new standards for all skyscrapers. 7WTC was just a start.


You guys just can't accept that I totally win the debate about Manhattan possibly not being an island because all I said was "future" and "may" and as the plates of the earth move one day it won't be "here" or an island anymore. To add, anything could happen. Manhattan wasn't an island to begin with and it is clearly close to the Bronx, the only part of NYC connected to the motherland. A show about skyscrapers mentioned that Manhattan is connected to it by Manhattan Schist or some other rock.

is it the city financing these exorbitant sums of money or some kind of firm?

Who cares what manhattan looks like a million years from now. None of us are going to be around to see it. What the hell does that have to do with the WTC, lets get back to topic thank you.

Let's get back on topic, please.

by cmkalina from flickr
May 24, 2008
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmkalina/2528852796/sizes/l/


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2418/2528852796_23db463f2b_b.jpg

Is the northern part of the core going to be rectangular (as the southern one) or not?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2351/2525416169_e06bb57788_o.jpg


And, is there any (steel) perimetral column placed in the North side of the FT yet? (The pic above was taken last 10th April).

nice to see alot of movement there.

The northern core will be square after it gets above the PATH tracks. THere is some steel placed on the north side, but you would never see it in that picture, it is under the temporary structure where the construction trailers are.

Does anyone have a higher resolution version of this diagram?

http://glasssteelandstone.com/Images/US/NY/NYC/WTC/FreedomTower3-002.jpg

I lost my original, and haven't been able to find a version on the internet that's large enough to be useful.

They seem to be working very late today. I spy a very large peice of steel waiting to be put in place.

Too bad, it seems like 8 Spruce Street will be blocking the WTC from certain angles, but the more the better:

http://curbednetwork.com/cache/gallery/3144/2536498909_ed3e036835_o.jpg

^^ Not from that angle. It only really blocks 7 WTC.

They seem to be working very late today. I spy a very large peice of steel waiting to be put in place.

It appears that a number of columns were shipped in today and they seemed to be preparing all of the south side columns for an extension to be attached. DCM Erectors should be busy tomorrow hauling them into place.

It does seem to be a trend almost since day one that the south side of the tower always gets the attention first and the other three sides follow. Any reason why? The only side with no obstructions?

... Around the government buildings by city hall used to be a lake known Collect Pond, but was later on used a dump, which lead to it being filled in. Canal St at one point was an actual canal until it was filled up in the mid 1800's hence its name and with the streets aside from it having that name, which is similar to Wall St once having a giant wall by it. Minetta St in Greenwich Village used to be a brook in its name meaning "Devil Waters" before being filled in. All of this information was taken from my Forgotten NY book that I have just to clear that I didn't just make this up.

The Minetta Brook still flows! It was diverted underground and flows through pipes and channels ... I am told you can still see it in a sub-basement of the Minetta Tavern in Greenwich Village.

My uncle lives right near Fulton Street near Pace University and the new Beekman Place tower that is now under construction -- on Gold Street. It was named that because in colonial times, more than 250 years ago, there was a place nearby called Golden Hill (approximately at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge and the New York Police Dept. main headquarters) that was in the warmer months covered with yellow 'golden rod' flowers.

New York history and geography is fascinating!

:)

It is interesting. Thanks guys, the history lesson is much appreciated. I don't know why but I never wouldn've guessed canal st was actually a canal centuries ago. haha

Too bad, it seems like 8 Spruce Street will be blocking the WTC from certain angles, but the more the better:

http://curbednetwork.com/cache/gallery/3144/2536498909_ed3e036835_o.jpg

These towers look cool - is there a thread on SSC?

Edit- Delete