WTC Site's Freedom Tower Is Completely Redesigned (It still will be tallest structure in the world!)

NY1 News ^ | 12/10/03

[areafiftyone]

The new design for the signature Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center site, which is set to be unveiled next week, looks nothing like the original, sources say.

It was originally designed in architect Daniel Libeskind’s master plan as an angular, asymmetrical tower. But the new, more detailed plans by David Childs, an architect hired by the World Trade Center lease-holder, calls for a tapered skyscraper with only 70 occupied stories, though it will still be the tallest structure in the world.

The top of the redesigned tower will feature a lattice of cables and antennas topping off at 2,000 feet above the ground. Initially, the tower was planned to be 1,776 feet tall, symbolic of the nation’s independence.

Wind turbines to generate some of the building's power will also be installed.

Libeskind won the design competition for the World Trade Center site, but Childs took over as the lead architect for the Freedom Tower in the summer, leading to some disputes between the two.

[Arkinsaw]

Too bad, the original blended very well with the Statue of Liberty and evoked the Statue's arm and torch in an abstract way. Hopefully it won't be just another bland tower.

[Wright Wing]

I'm SICK!!!

[thoughtomator]

Good. No German has any business being an architect on this project. They should go bid on gas chamber contracts in France instead. IMO except for Brits and Aussies, no foreigner should have a hand in it.

[Arkinsaw]

They've abandoned the 1,776 feet. Of course they did, that was too patriotic I guess.

[areafiftyone]

I really didn't like any of the designs but I will be happy when they finally start building and put that memorial there so that people can visit it. I still hold a very soft spot in my heart for the two towers. I remember when they were built. :-(

[stuartcr]

Probably will be, and in 15 or 20 yrs, just another place to go to work...they should have made a park out of it instead of a place where huge corporations can make money.

[LN2Campy]

Bad symbolism, if you ask me

1776 feet = 573 meters

573 A.D. = birth of Mohammed

[ThreeYearLurker]

GRRR.

[areafiftyone]

Yuck!

[Arthalion]

I can understand the desire to abandon the 1776 reference in order to build it even taller, but IMO they should add another foot to it and take it to 2001 feet. It'll add a little symbolism back to the building and act as a permanent reminder of what happened.

[RightWhale]

What the heck is going on in the Big Apple? This is craziness!

[areafiftyone]

I personally think they should put a middle finger at the top of the building. I would make a nice gesture for the terrorists.

[GulliverSwift]

with only 70 occupied stories

Planning ahead, are they? They better give everybody parachutes as well.

[1Old Pro]

but IMO they should add another foot to it and take it to 2001 feet. It'll add a little symbolism back to the building

Great idea!

[areafiftyone]

They had already decided a while ago on a design. This is just finalizing the work before they start building. This is what we get when we have a jerk for a mayor.

[Pyro7480]

I like that idea!

[GulliverSwift]

The infidels! They mock us!

[Liberty Valance]

I'm sure we've still got the blueprints for the original....save money...put them back the way they were.

[mr.pink]

Good. No German has any business being an architect on this project.

IMO, the pipsqueak's vulgarity and overbearing egotism were a disqualifier for such an important project, not his nationality.