28 Apr

Construction Begins on Freedom Tower



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Information:
Height (struct.) = 1,368 ft
Floors (OG)= 82
Construction end = 2011
Freedom Tower’s cornerstone was placed during a ceremonial groundbreaking on July 4, 2004.
– The 200-foot-high base will be coated in titanium and stainless panels, including the 80-foot-high lobby, to deflect potential bomb blasts.
– The 414-feet tall decorative spire will encase an antenna with a lighting system to make it into a beacon.
– There will be an outdoor observation deck at 1,362 feet above the ground, the same height as the one on the old South Tower. A parapet wall will then rise six more feet to a height of 1,368, the same heigh as the old North Tower.
– The desired schedule for construction, calls for the tower’s foundation to commence April of 2006, concrete to grade by the end of 2007, topping out in 2009 and completion in 2011.
– This building will consist of 69 office floors, and 13 non-office floors with uses ranging from mechanical to dining.
Companies involved in this building:
architect: Studio Daniel Libeskind, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (New York)
Other firms: Silverstein Properties, Inc., Tishman Construction Corporation, The Cantor Seinuk Group Inc., Schlaich Bergemann und Partner, Jaros, Baum & Bolles, Peter Walker & Partners, Studio Daniel Libeskind, Philip Habib & Associates, Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers, Ducibella Venter & Santore, Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin Inc..

Billy says:

Wild Thing,
That was spooky! Who was reading who’s mind there? Thank you for this post, I think it is extremly important that we acknowledge turning the corner on the long overdue reconstruction of Ground Zero. It is a tremendous positive in a predominantly negative saturated press. Hopefully, plans are in the works for a service to celebrate the reconstuction, maybe when the first cornerstone is laid. Thank you again.
Billy

Wild Thing says:

They might have something planned like you said when the first cornerstone is laid.
I know one thing I would not want to be in any of the top floors. yikes

TomR says:

I would have preferred rebuilding the Twin Towers exactly as before, plus one floor higher. However, it appears this Freedom Tower will be a good replacement. I hope it is built with no controversy or political problems.

Wild Thing says:

Me too Tom I agree with you, I hope there are not a lot of ego’s fighting about this.