Friday, May 10, 2013 -- The spire topping One World Trade Center has been fully installed, bringing the iconic structure to its full, symbolic height of 1,776 feet. The spire's installation was completed this morning. The 408-foot spire, weighing 758 tons, has a LED-powered light seen from miles away, will serve as a world-class broadcast antenna and a permanent symbol of our country's strength. The addition of the spire raises the building height to 1,776 feet, making One World Trade Center the tallest structure in the United States, the tallest in the Western Hemisphere and third-tallest in the world.
One World Trade Center is expected to open for business in 2014, with tenants including magazine publisher Conde Nast, the government's General Services Administration and Vantone Holdings China Center, which will provide business space for international companies.
The
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns the site, said the LED-powered light would be activated in the next few months. "It's going to have a light that you can see from tens of miles away," said Port Authority Vice Chairman
Scott Rechler. "And that light will change colors and in the next few months we are going to be activating that light, and it will be a beacon of hope just like the Statue of Liberty."
"This really is a symbolic moment because this building really represents the resiliency of this country," Port Authority Vice Chair Scott Rechler told TODAY's Matt Lauer, who was perched on the 104th floor to witness the process. "These people, the thousand men and women who have worked here tirelessly, really as a tribute for the people that perished on 9/11 right on this site."
"It's an incredible achievement for the city, the state, the region and the country in terms of rebirth and recovery from the dark days of 9/11," said Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Executive Director Patrick Foye.
Lee Ielpi, President and Co-Founder of the September 11th Families' Association and 9/11 Tribute Center commented earlier today, "I have been watching with anticipation to see the spire restore our skyline. From completion of our recovery work at the World Trade Center in May 2002 to opening of the 9/11 Memorial in 2011, I could not be prouder of the people who have stood with us to work everyday to pay respects to my son and all of the people who lost their lives here. The completion of One World Trade Center reaching 1,776 feet is a true testament to the freedom of our nation. It is also a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and I thank all of the men and women who worked so hard everyday to build it. I have never left the site since 9/11 and I am so proud to bring people here and see what we have accomplished to allow them to pay their own respects."
Director of World Trade Center Construction for the Port Authority who has overseen the project Steven Plate told WABC that the spire will be a "beacon that'll be seen for miles around and give a tremendous indication to people around the entire region, and the world, that we're back and we're better than ever." Hoisted into the clear blue sky by crane, the spire was met by a crew of construction workers who maneuvered it into place and bolted it secure. "Been on the job for five years so it's a great honor to finish it off today," said WTC Ironworker Richard Christy. Ironworker Warren Smith, 49, expressed the significance saying, "I was on Broadway, I saw the plane hit the building," Smith said. "I'm one of the 9/11 workers ... It was a shame to see the towers go down, but now I feel good. I have a sense of accomplishment seeing it go back up, and I'm a part of it." Cheers from spectators and workers were heard as construction workers set the silver spire atop One World Trade Center. Emotions ran high culminating 12 years of earnest work to restore New York City's skyline.
"This milestone at the World Trade Center site symbolizes the resurgence and resilience of our state and our nation," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in the statement. The 1,776 feet - or 541 meters - is symbolic of the year 1776, when the U.S. declared its independence.
Visit the 9/11 Tribute Center exhibition "Building World Trade" which allows visitors to imagine the Center of the future in which hundreds of thousands of people will live, work, and travel each day.
Gallery visitors learn about the restoration of a community that has been revitalized with new parks, playgrounds and families and can see the progress. Incorporating a wall-length luminescent image of the future skyline of Lower Manhattan and multimedia animations, the displays project people into the dynamic vision of Lower Manhattan. Audio stories share inspiration from designers and architects in the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan.
9/11 Tribute Center | 120 Liberty Street, NY NY 10007
