One World Trade Center isn't only redefining the New York skyline, it's also claiming the title of tallest building in the city, as of Monday.
Workers will be erecting steel columns that will make the unfinished skeleton of the building just over 1,250 feet high. This means that One World Trade Center is now peaking over the roof of the observation deck on the Empire State Building. When including the needle-like antenna, the Empire State Building stands at 1,454 feet high.
When complete, One World Trade Center will soar 1,776 feet, including its communications platform and a 408-foot antenna. Without its needle, One World Trade Center would be smaller than the Willis Tower in Chicago, formerly known as the Sears Tower. That massive structure is 1,451 feet without its own antennas, according to the
Associated Press
.
One World Trade Center was designed by David M. Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. It will be a 2.6-million-square-foot building that includes office space, an observation deck, restaurants, and broadcast and antennae facilities. The project was begun in April 2006 by Silverstein Properties but was later taken over by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
According to its website, above the base of One World Trade Center will be 69 office floors, including two television broadcast floors, mechanical floors, and two restaurants.
The 408-foot antenna was designed in collaboration with artist Kenneth Snelson.
One WTC will also boast some green features such as interior daylighting, cooling systems that use reclaimed rainwater, and waste steam used to help generate electricity. The Port Authority's website stated that the building's fuel cell will generate 4.8 million watts per hour of electricity.
A couple, posing for their pre-wedding photographs, are back-dropped by the One World Trade Center and Manhattan skyline as seen from New Jersey April 29, 2012. When complete, One World Trade Center will soar at 1,776 feet, including its communications platform and a 408-foot antenna.
REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
Ironworkers work while balancing on support beams above the 93rd floor of One World Trade Center as the building nears 100 stories tall in New York March 23, 2012.
REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
An ironworker steps down a ladder above the 93rd floor of One World Trade Center as the building nears 100 stories tall in New York March 23, 2012. One World Trade Center will claim the title of tallest building in New York City on Monday, as workers will be erecting steel columns that will make the unfinished skeletons of the building just over 1,250 feet high. This makes One World Trade Center just a little above the Empire State Building.
REUTERS/Lucas Jackson