World Trade Center
Aerial of the World Trade Center site.
Nearing the 15th anniversary of the tragic events of 9/11, the rebuilding effort at the World Trade Center site has made great strides over the past year towards completing the master plan. In late June, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners' tower at 3 World Trade Center topped out at 1,079 feet tall. Santiago Calatrava's World Trade Center Transportation Hub opened in March, while the retail component opened in August, including a massive two-story store from Apple.
World Trade Center Transportation Hub.
World Trade Center Transportation Hub reflected in the facade of 1 World Trade Center.
World Trade Center Transportation Hub (foreground), 3 World Trade Center (center), and 4 World Trade Center (background).
Close-up of the Transportation Hub's fins with 3 World Trade Center beyond.
Close-up of the facade of 3 World Trade Center.
Reflections of 3 and 4 World Trade Center on the facade of 1 World Trade Center.
Southeast corner of 3 World Trade Center.
Close-up of the exposed structure on 3 World Trade Center.
This past June, the elevated Liberty Park opened atop the World Trade Center Vehicular Security Center. Work continues on the adjacent St. Nicholas National Shrine, also designed by Calatrava, which replaces the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church that was destroyed on 9/11.
Liberty Park adjacent to the Memorial.
Designs for the final element, the Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center, were announced on September 8th. The REX designed center, set to open in 2020, will feature a glowing façade of translucent, veined marble laminated in a glass curtail wall.
Night Render from the Southeast (Hub) © LUXIGON
Architects: Adamson Associates (2 WTC, 3 WTC, 4 WTC), Davis Brody Bond (WTC Memorial and Museum, Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center), BIG (2 WTC), Maki and Associates (4 WTC), Michael Arad with Peter Walker and Partners (WTC Memorial), REX (Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center), Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (3 WTC), Santiago Calatrava (WTC Transit Hub), Snohetta (WTC Museum), SOM (1 WTC, 7 WTC), Studio Daniel Libeskind (WTC master plan);
Engineers: WSP Cantor Seinuk (1 WTC, 2 WTC, 3 WTC);
Developers: Silverstein Properties, Inc. (2 WTC, 3 WTC, 4 WTC, 7 WTC), The Durst Organization (1 WTC), The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (1 WTC, WTC Transportation Hub, WTC Memorial and Museum, Retail);
Program: Office, Retail, Memorial, Museum, Performing Arts Center, Transit, Park;
Completion: 1 WTC (2015), 2 WTC (TBD), 3 WTC (2018), 4 WTC (2013), 7 WTC (2006), WTC Transit Hub (2016), WTC Memorial (2011), WTC Museum (2014), Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center (2020).
1 World Trade Center - One World Observatory
In yet another milestone at the World Trade Center site, the observatory at One World Trade Center opened to the public last Friday. Known as One World Observatory, the attraction reinstates views lost due to the tragic events of September 11. Almost 14 years later, the public can once again view the city from its highest point.
One World Observatory entry canopy.
Like much else in New York, the opening day was marred by long lines. Although those in line had timed tickets, those times came and went before you could even enter the building. Once inside, there were more lines as you waited to pass through the security screening. At least a pat down wasn't required. After passing through security, it's on to more lines as you make your way through corridors with a brief exhibit about the building. This exhibit feels like a lost opportunity to actually discuss the design and construction of the tower with more engaging content like models, renderings, and extensive construction photos.
Stairs down to observatory entrance.
One World Observatory entry from the World Trade Center Transit Hub.
Ticket counter.
Observatory entrance.
Almost an hour after the time designated on the ticket, its actually time to enter the "skypod" elevator that takes you to the 102nd floor in less than a minute. The animation on three of the interior panels plays like a time lapse in Google Earth, illustrating Lower Manhattan's evolution from the time of the earliest European settlers to present day. It's very well done but hard to experience while crammed into an elevator.
Elevator vestibule.
Time lapse animation inside the elevator cab.
Arriving at the 102nd floor, there is yet another video presentation to watch on a screen composed of panels extruded in and out a few inches. Scenes of New York life play for several minutes before finally the screen moves upwards into the ceiling, revealing a dramatic view towards Midtown. This is but a teaser for what awaits below on floor 100, where visitors can see the entire city from double height glass. Unlike other observatories in the city, you are always viewing the city from inside, which means your photos will have to contend with reflections on the windows, exacerbated by the sloped facade and unfortunate placement of mechanical ventilation grills at the foot of each window. Even so, the views are spectacular, revealing old favorites, recent additions to the skyline, and the scores of new construction underway in the city. Nearby, you get up close views of the rest of the World Trade Center Site, Herzog & de Meuron's 56 Leonard and Robert Stern's 30 Park Place. Further afield, the rapid development of Brooklyn's waterfront parks and downtown towers are on display. Looking to Midtown, the eye dances from Riverside Park,to the Hudson Yards district, to Times Square, and up to 432 Park Avenue's slender tower rising above it all.
First glimpse of the views.
Lower Manhattan with the Transit Hub, 3 WTC, and 4 WTC (center).
56 Leonard.
30 Park Place.
Governors Island.
Downtown Brooklyn and Brooklyn Bridge Park along the waterfront.
View towards Midtown.
The west side of Manhattan.
The Jersey City waterfront.
There are many touristy attractions on the observation floors that try to complement the experience but only feel like distractions. City Pulse, a ring of touch screens that present images of the city and real time information from social sites, attempts to act as a tour guide that's tapped into the web. It's presence feels distracting, unnecessary and actually hinders visitors who line up around it to get to the windows behind. What would be more useful is if the cell service at the observatory level was a bit stronger so the visitor could actually share their experiences on social sites more easily. Service was often spotty at best. Among the other offerings, there is a restaurant and gift shop if you need to take a break from the views. After you have taken in every conceivable angle of the city and head back down the elevator, another animation shows the visitor what the area will look like with the full World Trade Center site master plan built out, including the old design for Tower 5.
The City Pulse kiosk at the south viewing station.
The City Pulse kiosk at the north viewing station.
The Sky Portal attraction.
Undoubtedly, in the weeks and months to come the kinks will get worked out and visitors will have a smoother visit. Its wonderful to once again see this area of the city from such heights and given the pace of development, it will be an ever changing vista.
World Trade Center Site
Construction continues at the World Trade Center site, as 3 World Trade Center restarts and the transit hub races to finish by year's end. Richard Roger's 80-story, 2.8 million-square-foot office and retail tower secured its financing late last year and steel has started to rise at the site. The tower should wrap up sometime in 2018, leaving only Foster's 2 World Trade Center, 5 World Trade Center, and the arts center as the remaining elements of the site not yet started construction. Tenants have begun to move in to 1 World Trade Center, which opened to them in November of last year. The observation deck at the city's tallest tower is slated to open in the spring of this year. Meanwhile, the transit hub topped out in late November of last year and hopes to open for passengers sometime this year. Given the state of the construction site, the opening date seems a bit optimistic, especially due to the bevy of delays that have plagued the project. Lastly, work continues on the elevated Liberty Park at the south end of the site, which will also be home to Calatrava's replacement of St. Nicholas Church that was lost on 9/11.
World Trade Center Transit Hub with 1 World Trade Center (behind).
World Trade Center Transit Hub with 1 World Trade Center (behind).
World Trade Center Transit Hub (right), 3 World Trade Center (center), and 4 World Trade Center (left) from Church Street.
East facade of 3 World Trade Center from Church Street.
Southeast corner of 3 World Trade Center from Church Street.
Southeast corner of the podium of 4 World Trade Center from Church Street.
Southeast corner of 4 World Trade Center from Church Street.
South facade of 4 World Trade Center from Liberty Street.
South facade of One World Trade Center.
West facade of 4 World Trade Center.
Southwest corner of 3 World Trade Center from the World Trade Center Memorial.
View of the World Trade Center site from Brookfield Place.
Liberty Park under construction.
Architects: Adamson Associates (2 WTC, 3 WTC, 4 WTC), Davis Brody Bond (WTC Memorial and Museum), Foster + Partners (2 WTC), Maki and Associates (4 WTC), Michael Arad with Peter Walker and Partners (WTC Memorial), Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (3 WTC), Santiago Calatrava (WTC Transit Hub), Snohetta (WTC Museum), SOM (1 WTC, 7 WTC), Studio Daniel Libeskind (WTC master plan);
Engineers: WSP Cantor Seinuk (1 WTC, 2 WTC, 3 WTC);
Developers: Silverstein Properties, Inc. (2 WTC, 3 WTC, 4 WTC, 7 WTC), The Durst Organization (1 WTC), The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (1 WTC, WTC Transportation Hub, WTC Memorial and Museum, Retail);
Program: Office, Retail, Memorial, Museum, Transit, Park;
Completion: 1 WTC (2015), 2 WTC (TBD), 3 WTC (2018), 4 WTC (2013), 7 WTC (2006), WTC Transit Hub (2015), WTC Memorial (2011), WTC Museum (2014).
World Trade Center Site
This year marks the 13th anniversary of the tragic events of 9/11. The rebuilding efforts at the World Trade Center site have been ongoing, fraught with many delays due to design, budget and even a hurricane. Now, the site is making great progress and has started to transition into a true neighborhood .
Looking west along Fulton Street to1 WTC (center), 7 WTC (right), and the wing of the WTC Transit Hub (left).
1 WTC, 7 WTC, and the WTC Transit Hub from the corner of Dey Street and Church Street.
The wing of the WTC Transit Hub.
The ribs of the WTC Transit Hub.
The oculus of the WTC Transit Hub.
The WTC Transit Hub (center) and WTC Museum (right) seen from the Memorial pools.
1 WTC (left), 7 WTC (right), and the memorial (bottom right) seen from the Memorial pools.
The top floors and spire of 1 WTC.
The Goldman Sachs Tower (center) amongst 1 WTC (left) and 7 WTC (right).
The podium and lower floors of 1 WTC from the memorial pools.
Detail of the glass fins that clad the podium of 1 WTC.
The main entry of 1 WTC on Fulton Street.
The WTC museum (left), 3 WTC (center), and 4 WTC (right) seen from the Memorial pools with 30 Park Place under construction in the background.
The northeast corner of 4 WTC.
The southeast corner of 4 WTC.
The retail podium of 4 WTC from Church Street.
Reflections in the façade of 4 WTC.
Looking east towards the pools from the Memorial Plaza.
Architects: Adamson Associates (2 WTC, 3 WTC, 4 WTC), Davis Brody Bond (WTC Memorial and Museum), Foster + Partners (2 WTC), Maki and Associates (4 WTC), Michael Arad with Peter Walker and Partners (WTC Memorial), Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (3 WTC), Santiago Calatrava (WTC Transit Hub), Snohetta (WTC Museum), SOM (1 WTC, 7 WTC), Studio Daniel Libeskind (WTC master plan); Engineers: WSP Cantor Seinuk (1 WTC, 2 WTC, 3 WTC); Developers: Silverstein Properties, Inc. (2 WTC, 3 WTC, 4 WTC, 7 WTC), The Durst Organization (1 WTC), The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (1 WTC, WTC Transportation Hub, WTC Memorial and Museum, Retail); Program: Office, Retail, Memorial, Museum, Transit, Park; Completion: 1 WTC (2015), 2 WTC (TBD), 3 WTC (2018), 4 WTC (2013), 7 WTC (2006), WTC Transit Hub (2015), WTC Memorial (2011), WTC Museum (2014).