Freedom Tower Starts Construction

[Tommouse]

Ran across this today

Freedom Tower steel beams go up
BY EMI ENDO
NEWSDAY STAFF WRITER

December 20, 2006
New York took a step toward restoring its skyline as workers erected the first two white columns of the Freedom Tower at Ground Zero Tuesday.

"The steel rises, the Freedom Tower rises from the ashes of September 11th and the people of New York and the people of America can be proud," said George Pataki, on what was likely his final trip to the World Trade Center site as New York's governor.

With a giant red crane, crews hoisted the first massive steel beam -- bearing the words "Freedom Tower" and a picture of an American flag -- onto the ground as Pataki, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and a host of other officials looked on from a balcony.

Whistles and applause from the workers in hard hats went up as the column, more than 30 feet tall and weighing nearly 25 tons, was bolted in place.

The steel piece was the first of 27, to be installed by May, that will make up the perimeter for the 1,776-foot high tower. Bloomberg said the city would never forget the victims lost in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

"Now we honor them by beginning to raise the Freedom Tower in the New York sky," he said, describing the building as symbolizing the city's spirit: "inspiring, soaring and undefeated."

As speeches were winding down during the news conference, a second column went up. The beam bore written messages left by hundreds of victims' loved ones and the public on Sunday.

Pataki said he was moved by a note he had seen that read, "God bless our sons," saying the message displayed the "magnitude of loss on a personal level."

The massive columns, produced in Differdange, Luxembourg, and manufactured in Lynchburg, Va., are the first chunks of some 45,000 tons of steel that will be used for the development. Plans for the tower, located in the northwest corner of the 16-acre site, include 2.6 million square feet of office space, restaurants and an observation deck.

Officials said construction would be visible at ground-level in about 14 months. The tower is expected to be completed in 2011. Preliminary work began in April.

Pataki said Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer's intention to take a "fresh look" at lower Manhattan development plans was "appropriate," but the governor expressed confidence that Spitzer would support the plans already in motion.

After redevelopment plans stalled earlier this year, the Port Authority, which owns the World Trade Center site, and developer Larry Silverstein, the leaseholder, struck a deal in April.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyo...5636202.story?coll=ny-rightrail-flashy

I personally don't like the connotation with the name "Freedom Tower." It's a bit overbearing.

 

[Shawn]

cool

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: Tommouse
I personally don't like the connotation with the name "Freedom Tower." It's a bit overbearing.

I agree. Something like Twin Towers II or anything more commemorating the towers that were there before.

Oh well, I don't live there and I didn't donate to it. Not like I have much say. But still good :thumbsup:

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Tommouse
I personally don't like the connotation with the name "Freedom Tower." It's a bit overbearing.

It's a terrible name.

Should have rebuilt the original towers (and made them stronger)

 

[Homerboy]

It's a terrible name.

Should have rebuilt the original towers (and made them stronger)

no doubt. I said this from 9/12 on... just a bad move

 

[Exterous]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Tommouse
I personally don't like the connotation with the name "Freedom Tower." It's a bit overbearing.

Should have rebuilt the original towers (and made them stronger)

Stronger? Why? They already exceeded the IBC, NPA and other various code requirements. As for the name...well...it is a bit much, but this project is a perfect example of what happens when you mix architecture and politics. I'm surprised it finally got started with all the back and forth bickering going on.

 

[acid45]

Whats with that name?

 

[JulesMaximus]

They should have built two towers similar to the original...maybe even with this design but two instead of one tower. I think those towers were part of the history of NY and they should stand again to keep the old skyline.

 

[Staples]

About time. I think the terrorist won because the sheer amount of time it took shows that they have had an effect on us.

 

[j00fek]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Tommouse
I personally don't like the connotation with the name "Freedom Tower." It's a bit overbearing.

It's a terrible name.

Should have rebuilt the original towers (and made them stronger)

:thumbsup:

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Staples
About time. I think the terrorist won because the sheer amount of time it took shows that they have had an effect on us.

Well, you don't throw up a skyscraper in 6 months with no blueprints or plans.

Obviously, the terrorists had an effect on us...two wars, thousands of dead civillians and soldiers, huge increase in national debt that we will be repaying for decades, increase hatred towards Americans overseas, further erosion of our civil rights...yeah, they definitely had an effect on us.

 

[Slick5150]

Its about damn time they started building SOMETHING there. I agree that they should have rebuilt the twin towers (except make them 1 story taller), but at least something is finally being done with that site. Way too much bickering over something that everyone should have been able to come together and agree upon within 5 months, not 5 years.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Staples
About time. I think the terrorist won because the sheer amount of time it took shows that they have had an effect on us.

nah, everyone hated the first design that showed up.

what did trump call it, a building with a skeleton on top?

 

[Miramonti]

I wouldn't have a problem with the name if Bush hadn't used it thousands of times trying to sell his war and toxic foreign policy.

But as a result, 'freedom' has practically become synonymous with 'bullsh!t', and should be banned from using it in the name of the new tower(s).

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: Homerboy

It's a terrible name.

Should have rebuilt the original towers (and made them stronger)

no doubt. I said this from 9/12 on... just a bad move

Agreed. The best symbol of strength is to rebuild what you lost. Rebuild what you lost strong and better, and it's a big fvck you to the terrorists.

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: Homerboy

It's a terrible name.

Should have rebuilt the original towers (and made them stronger)

no doubt. I said this from 9/12 on... just a bad move

Agreed. The best symbol of strength is to rebuild what you lost. Rebuild what you lost strong and better, and it's a big fvck you to the terrorists.

Donald Trump suggested the same thing.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/05/18/wtc.trump/index.html

 

[chrisms]

Should've rebuilt the towers twice as high with laser beam defenses and a picture of Osama doing a goat painted on one side.

Seriously though not everyone is going to agree so at least something is getting built.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: jjsole
I wouldn't have a problem with the name if Bush hadn't used it thousands of times trying to sell his war and toxic foreign policy.

But as a result, 'freedom' has practically become synonymous with 'bullsh!t', and should be banned from using it in the name of the new tower(s).

Agreed. It actually fits in nicely with the area on Liberty St (which bounds the WTC), Liberty Plaza, etc. But since we have a president with the vocabulary of a 3rd grader, it loses its luster.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: chrisms
Seriously though not everyone is going to agree so at least something is getting built.

That's how I see it. It would have been great to see them rebuild the towers as a big f*ck you to the terrorist world. On the other hand, some people didn't want that. At least it will no longer be a giant hole in the ground.

 

[mercanucaribe]

"Liberty Tower" would be a much better name. As everyone is saying in this thread, the word "freedom" has been ruined.

At least "liberty" has precedence- the statue, etc. Calling it "Freedom Tower" implies that freedom has something to do with the attack... as in political BS like "they hate our freedom".

 

[Exterous]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Staples
About time. I think the terrorist won because the sheer amount of time it took shows that they have had an effect on us.

Well, you don't throw up a skyscraper in 6 months with no blueprints or plans.

The bureaucracy surrounded the project has greatly slowed it down, from the controversy over the lead architect to the inclusion of everybody and their mother in the review phase. This project has been a perfect example of how to not run an architecture project. 7 World Trade Center was completed in 2005 by SOM. Granted it is a smaller building - but thats designed, constructed and finished before the Freedom Tower got started

 

[DanTMWTMP]

I hate the name, I dislike the design. It doesn't fit well w/ the overall architecture of classic New York.

I just with they made the originals, and made it Twin Towers II.


The whole concept and name sounds way too sentimental. It doesn't sound professional, nor business-like. As a business symbol, it royally sucks. It'll be more of a tourist attraction now than an imposing symbol of business success.

I hate it how NY's skyline will now be tarnished by some "new-age" lame-named tower. It shows that we are weak in that we rather have a symbol than get sh!t done. I want the "get sh!t done" attitude back that the Twin Towers seem to symbolize.

I hope someone stalls the project, or it runs out of money, or Trump aggresively lobbies for the reconstruction of the Twin Towers.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
"Liberty Tower" would be a much better name. As everyone is saying in this thread, the word "freedom" has been ruined.

At least "liberty" has precedence- the statue, etc. Calling it "Freedom Tower" implies that freedom has something to do with the attack... as in political BS like "they hate our freedom".

Already taken

 

[BoomerD]

Should have built this with one center tower 150 stories tall, flanked by 2 towers (one each side) about 90 stories tall...make it look like it's giving the finger to those who brought the twin towers down...AND, rather fitting since this is Noo-Yawk we're talking about... (you talkin about me?)

 

[chrisms]

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
I hate the name, I dislike the design. It doesn't fit well w/ the overall architecture of classic New York.

I just with they made the originals, and made it Twin Towers II.


The whole concept and name sounds way too sentimental. It doesn't sound professional, nor business-like. As a business symbol, it royally sucks. It'll be more of a tourist attraction now than an imposing symbol of business success.

I hope someone stalls the project, or it runs out of money, or Trump aggresively lobbies for the reconstruction of the Twin Towers.

Why? So the project can be stalled another 4 years? I agree with you on what should go up but there comes a time when you just need to settle on something so we at least have a structure instead of empty space and two holes in the ground.