In a short period following the September 11 terrorist attack in 2001, discussions began concerning what, if anything, was to be built in the place of the destroyed Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York. Following years of planning, consultation, and false starts, it was settled that a complex of towers, museum, and memorial would be constructed on the site (Executive Order No. 53). The main building, which was to be super tall, was to be called Freedom Tower. The construction of the tower started in 2006. Later, in 2009, the skyscraper was renamed ‘One World Trade Center” (OWTC). In 2012, the skyscraper became the tallest building in New York, and in 2017, its spire was added, making it reach its final height of 1776 feet. Exploring how the OWTC went from an idea to reality would help one to understand and appreciate the importance of resilience and determination, especially when faced with adversity since it represents a symbol of resilience after the attack.
The Origin of the Idea
The September 11 terrorist attack played a significant part in changing the architectural landscape and public involvement in architecture. Polish-American architect Daniel Libeskind stated that “everything changed in architecture” following the catastrophe in an exclusive interview with Dezeen (Crook). Before the attack, urban planning was conducted without the public’s input, but the attack showed large architectural projects belonging to the public; therefore, it became necessary to obtain their input. The attack had an effect in that people realized large-scale projects belong to citizens and are not just for private development. The horrific events of September 11, 2001, gave rise to the concept of reconstructing the World Trade Center site. In the beginning, the emphasis was on how crucial it was to rebuild the actual area while also symbolically illustrating how resilient the US is.
Two years after the attack, Libeskind won the race to masterplan the OWTC site. His design featured a transportation hub, a memorial and museum dedicated to the catastrophe, and a series of towers centred around a 1,776-foot-tall “Freedom Tower” that symbolized the year of American independence. Libeskind credited public demand for the existence of the design competition at all. He claimed that “It was the public that demanded what they saw, and luckily, my idea was the one that was in the eye of the public,” due to the public demand, the authority was forced to implement something that was not on their agenda originally. According to (Lower Manhattan Developmental Corporation) Planners changed Libeskind’s original plan to strengthen the structure’s defence against terrorist attacks, leading to the development of OWTC.
The Main Goals of the OWTC Masterplan
In an interview with Lizzie Crook, Daniel Libeskind, who was one of the architects behind the OWTC master plan, said that the primary goal of the tower’s masterplan was to establish a civic place not just concerned with private investment but to develop a significant memorial which brings individuals going to the site in an open social way (Crook). He also aimed to create and establish as much public space as possible to allow individuals to perceive the memorial as something that is vital to the city’s memory. Additionally, to strike a very special balance between the past and the future while simultaneously addressing the demands of the development of over 10 million square feet of office density, culture, and pedestrian delights. The master plan also aimed to convey the idea that this is for everyone, not just the fortunate few who work in those offices.
The Planning and Design of the OWTC
One World Trade Center is the result of an extensive design project spearheaded by the Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) office in New York, with significant input from the international engineering company WSP, as well as several consultants, manufacturers, and contractors. Building specialists concentrated on the aspects that could be measured, such as how future skyscrapers may better safeguard occupants and emergency responders in the event of a calamity, in spite of the incalculable emotional cost. The company’s goal was to create the world’s safest towers. The first building to rise on the 16-acre site was the 52-story, 743-foot-tall, glass-enclosed office tower known as 7 World Trade Center (Archello). One World Trade Center’s 200-foot-square size, which is precisely the same as the original towers’ footprint, makes it iconic in and of itself. For the first few stories, it is precisely rectangular; after that, it starts to taper all the way up to the top level, the 104th.
The lessons learned from the previous collapse of the two World Trade Centers served as the foundation for the towers’ entire engineering and construction process. After that accident, it became evident that the existing building rules would not allow for the construction of a completely safe skyscraper, so the engineers set out to make it as safe as they could. In 2006, the parallelogram-shaped building would act as a prelude to the design and building of One World Trade Center, its upcoming 1,776-foot-tall neighbour (Archello). The latter endeavour was not without its challenges. The One World Trade Center, a LEED Gold-certified building, took over ten years to complete, with design work completed between 2003 and 2005 and construction beginning in 2006.
Challenges and controversies from the idea of OWTC to the realization of the dream
First, the construction site presented a significant obstacle. The project’s chosen location, on Manhattan’s Lower West Side, was built on top of decades’ worth of waste, which over time expanded and compacted to the point where it stretched into the Hudson River, extending the Lower West Side of Manhattan. The workers had to excavate 70 feet (21.3 meters) to achieve a firm bedrock base (Lower Manhattan Developmental Corporation). Due to the river’s close vicinity, however, a wall would have to be built to prevent the area of the city that had been dug out from filling with water at the rate at which the earth was being removed.
Unveiling and Commemoration
A pivotal point in the history of the country was reached with the unveiling of One World Trade Center. With underground exhibits that display the slurry wall that resisted the terrorist attack, the tower will always stand as a tribute to the resilience of America’s foundations; the Memorial Museum opened its doors in the spring of 2014 (Young). The building influences a new generation of tall and supertall buildings in New York and beyond.
In conclusion, Examining the journey of the OWTC from concept to implementation can aid in comprehending and valuing the significance of perseverance and fortitude, particularly in the face of hardship such as the September 11 terrorist attack, since it stands as a testament to resilience in the wake of the attack. The towers develop a significant memorial as a significant part of the city’s memory. The architectural and engineering might manifest through the construction of OWTC, illustrating the realization of memorialization and rebuilding ideas after destruction.
Works Cited
Archello. “One World Trade Center | Skidmore, Owings & Merrill SOM.” Archello, 2013, archello.com/project/one-world-trade-center. Accessed February 20 2024.
Crook, L. “Everything Changed in Architecture” after 9/11 Attacks Says Daniel Libeskind.” Dezeen, September 6 2021, www.dezeen.com/2021/09/06/911-anniversary-daniel-libeskind-interview/.
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 53. CREATION of the LOWER MANHATTAN CONSTRUCTION COMMAND CENTER. 2004, www.nyc.gov/assets/records/pdf/executive_orders/2004EO053.pdf.
Lower Manhattan Developmental Corporation. Amendment to World Trade Center Memorial and Cultural Program General Project Plan. 2023.
Young, Michelle. “The NYC That Never Was: 1 WTC and the Competition for the World Trade Center Site.” Untapped New York, November 4 2014, untappedcities.com/2014/11/04/the-nyc-that-never-was-1-wtc-and-the-competition-for-the-world-trade-center-site/. Accessed February 20 2024.
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