The World Trade Center was once a large complex of seven buildings located in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan. It opened on April 4, 1973 and was eventually destroyed in the September 11 attacks. Today, the site is a memorial for the victims of those terrorist attacks. It is one of the most visited places in the world.
The World Trade Center began with an idea to promote world peace through world trade. The original design was a temporary pavilion at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City. Eventually, a more permanent World Trade Center was planned for lower Manhattan. Today, the site is a national landmark and a major tourist destination.
In 1960, the Port Authority reorganized, gaining influence in the city. By then, it employed 5,000 people and invested $1 billion in freight and transportation structures. It was then presided over by Austin J. Tobin, a former government official. During this time, Tobin and his team agreed to rehabilitate the Hudson and Manhattan commuter railroad, also known as PATH. The PATH terminal was located on the west side of Lower Manhattan.
The World Trade Center is a complex of buildings that surround a central plaza. In 2001, it was the site of the deadliest terrorist attack in U.S. history. The complex is located near Wall Street and the Hudson River. It was built by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and is notable for its twin towers, which rise to 110 stories.
A massive concrete core encases the uppermost floors of the towers. It provides strength against wind, earthquake, and gravitational loads. The core also houses all the means of egress. Steel beams set into the concrete core support the floors. Thus, these buildings can be made column-free.
One World Trade Center is one of the tallest buildings in the world. It has a floor plan that begins with a 200ft square footprint and gently tapers upwards. At the 104th storey, the floor plan twists through a 45-degree angle, creating an octagon-like shape. It is the tallest building in the western hemisphere.
The towers contain over forty percent post-industrial recycled content, including glass. Structural steel is 95 percent recycled. The towers also contain green concrete, which is made from waste fly ash collected from coal plants. The towers’ surrounding plazas also provide areas for gathering and reflection. They also connect the tower to neighboring neighborhoods, making the structure look like it is part of the neighborhood.
Before the attacks, the two towers of the World Trade Center complex stood as the tallest buildings in the world. They housed 430 companies and over 35,000 employees. They also boasted an observation deck on the 107th floor of the south tower.
