Caption: Redesign Puts Freedom Tower on a Fortified Base

New York Times ^ | June 30, 2005 | Mine, Mine

[OESY]

Examining a tower model are the architect David Childs, Governor George Pataki, the developer
Larry A. Silverstein, the architect David (sic) Libeskind and Speaker Sheldon Silver.

"It has some really ingenious safety features. For example, the state offices will be in the silvery fortified base."

[OESY]

Above an impregnable 200-foot concrete and steel pedestal would rise office floors topped by a restaurant and observation decks.



The new design for the 77-story Freedom Tower features a pinstripe facade, centered antenna and proportions that evoke the Twin Towers.



An antenna within a trellis-like sculpture would bring the structure to the symbolic total height of 1,776 feet, one of the few elements left intact from the building first envisioned in 2002 by the architect Daniel Libeskind, the site's master planner.



The enormous, largely windowless pedestal, added after the New York Police Department insisted the building be more resistant to car and truck bombs, would overlook the Sept. 11 memorial.



The main shaft of the Freedom Tower would begin as a 200-by-200-foot square. As it rose, the corners would be cut away, creating an octagonal floor plan through the middle of the building.



"I feel better about this than the original," said the building's chief architect, David M. Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. "The building is simpler, architecturally. It is unique, yet it subtly recalls, in the sky, the tragedy that has happened here."







Facelift gone terribly wrong, or public reaction to the "new" Twin Towers?

[xcamel]

Happy, Dopy, Sleazy, Grumpy, and Scumbag.

[orionblamblam]

Hmmm. I know I've seen that "pedestal" before, somewhere...

[cvq3842]

I dunno. I liked Trump's design.

[EQAndyBuzz]

So they redesigned this so a truck bomb can't take it out. A truck bomb tried in 1993 and failed. I would be more concerned about another plane flying into it than anything.

On a lighter note, Sheldon Silver, the councilman who zapped the new Jets stadium at the Javitz Center is the same councilman responsible for the district where the new Trade Center is going. Which means Pataki and Bloomberg are not going to sign off on it.

WHat goes around comes around Councilman.

[Leo Carpathian]

"It has some really ingenious safety features. For example, the state offices will be in the silvery fortified base."

Like: Rest of you slobs will be unfortified above them?

[xcamel]

Schmelly Silversnakeinthegrass is the all-powerful leader of the State Asembly (speaker) - his credo is one for all and all for NYC.

[Moonman62]

The UN needs to be moved to the unfortified upper floors.

[Arkinsaw]

The Freedom Syringe

[JOE6PAK]

Can they dock blimps on top?

[Muzzle_em]

LOL!

[Muzzle_em]

I'm all for rebuilding it and I think it will be awesome.
It sickens me, however, to know our enemies will have GREAT resolve to destroy the newly built one. I know I would not work in that new building!

[eyespysomething]

an impregnable 200-foot concrete and steel pedestal

That sentence reminds me of an 'unsinkable' Titanic.

[boris]

"Above an impregnable 200-foot concrete and steel pedestal"

"Impregnable" is easy to say. Where did those Russian suitcase nukes go to?...

--Boris

[bandleader]

Me TOO!I want"The Twin Towers"back(like they were)but even TALLER!!!

[MeanWestTexan]

"The Freedom Syringe"

I concur. I've been saying the same thing.

It needs to be two towers, each one story taller than the last.

[JOE6PAK]

Why not pack a Saturn 5 rocket inside the base. If trouble comes, Just blast off to safty!

[stop_fascism]

Has SMO ever done a great (or even good) building? They're the McDonald's of architecture.