CNN editorial consultation
Updated 12:46 pm EDT, Friday, July 22, 2022

View of One World Trade Center, also known as the 'Freedom Tower', and the Manhattan skyline looking south from the Empire State Building on February 14, 2014 in New York City. (STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)
CNN—
Here is some basic informationUN World Trade Center. It's himthe tallest buildingin the United States and the second largest in the Western Hemisphere.
other facts
One World Trade Center was designed to besafest business structure in the world.
The New York Police Department's Counterterrorism Bureau is responsible for policing the area.
An underground vehicle inspection center acts as a security checkpoint for all vehicles entering the site.
Characteristics
building height:1,362 feet, the height of the original WTC South Tower.
Building with observation deck,Height:1,368 feet, the height of the WTC's original North Tower.
Building, with gazebo and antenna, height:1,776 feet, which corresponds to the year the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Base:200 square feet, the same as the original Twin Towers.
Stories:104
Chronology
Herbst 2001 -ANDLower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC)is made to plan itWorld Trade Center site reconstruction.
July 2002 -The first round of designs for a new WTC site is on display for public comment. The public rejects the designs as uninspired, and they are discarded.
August 2002 -The LMDC invites architects from around the world to submit ideas for the World Trade Center site.
December 2002 -Semi-finalists from the second round of the design competition will display their work in the World Financial Center conservatory.
February 2003 -Architect Daniel Libeskind's "Foundations of Memory" was selected as the new design plan for the World Trade Center site.
July 2003 -Architect David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill has been selected to design the Freedom Tower, which will be the tallest of four towers planned for the WTC site.
December 19, 2003 -The plans for the Freedom Tower are revealed. The skyscraper will occupy the northwest corner of Ground Zero.
July 4, 2004 -During a special ceremony, a 20-tonne granite slab inscribed with "the enduring spirit of freedom" will be laid as the cornerstone of the Freedom TowerAlcaide Michael Bloomberg.
May 4, 2005 - New York Governor George Patakiannounces that Freedom Tower will be redesigned due to security concerns.
June 29, 2005 -Revised plans for Freedom Tower are released.
April 26, 2006 -The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and developer Larry Silverstein reach agreement on funding for Freedom Tower, resolving issues that have delayed construction on the site.
April 27, 2006 -Construction begins on the Freedom Tower.
March 26, 2009 -The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announces that the skyscraper will no longer be called the Freedom Tower. It is called One World Trade Center by its legal name and address.
May 10, 2013 -Construction workers bolt the final pieces of a 408-foot tower to the top of One World Trade Center, raising the building to a height of 1,776 feet.
March 2014 -In two separate incidents, trespassers are arrested for sneaking into the building and climbing to the top. The first episode includes aNew Jersey teenager accessing property through hole in fence. Days later, a group of four stuntmenClimb to the upper floors and parachute to the ground.
November 3, 2014 -One World Trade Center will open when the first tenant, Condé Nast, moves in.
November 12, 2014 -Rescuers rescue two window cleaners outside the building's 68th floor after a cable came loose from their suspended platform. Crews broke through thick glass to remove men from the damaged platform.
May 29, 2015 -ANDone world observatoryopens on the top three floors of the tower. The complex rotates 360 degrees, overlooking New York and New Jersey from approximately 1,250 feet. In addition to the main observatory, the complex has three restaurants, an exhibit called "Voices" about the construction of One World Trade Center and an area called Sky Portal, a circular platform with live video of street scenes on the ground floor. .
September 8, 2018 -WTC CortlandtU-Bahn StationReopening before the 17th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
The tallest buildings in the world
Completed in 2010 in Dubai, the Burj Khalifa has an architectural height of 2,717 feet (828 meters) and a height of 1,918 feet (584.5 meters). The architectural height of a building may include towers but not antennas, masts or signage, as per Council on Tall Buildings criteria.

The tallest buildings in the world
New York City's One World Trade Center (shown under construction in May), when completed, will be the tallest building in the United States, surpassing Chicago's Willis Tower and likely the third tallest in the world, according to an announcement. . Tuesday, November 12, by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. One World Trade Center measures 1,776 feet compared to 1,451 feet for the Willis Tower. Click through the gallery to see the world's tallest completed buildings.

2. Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel, Saudi Arabia —
Completed in 2012 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel has an architectural height of 1,972 feet (601 meters) and sits at an elevation of 1,833 feet (558.7 meters).

3. Taipei 101, Taiwan—
Completed in 2004, Taipei 101 has an architectural height of 1,667 feet (508 meters) and sits at an elevation of 1,437 feet (438 meters).

4. Shanghai World Financial Center, China —
Completed in 2008, the Shanghai World Financial Center has an architectural height of 492 meters (1,614 feet) and stands at an altitude of 474 meters (1,555 feet).

5. World Trade Center, Hong Kong —
Completed in 2010, the Hong Kong International Trade Center has an architectural height of 484 meters (1,588 feet) and is occupied at a height of 468.8 meters (1,538 feet).

6. (Tie) Petronas Towers 1 & 2, Malaysia —
Completed in 1998, the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur have an architectural height of 1,483 feet (451.9 meters) and stand at an elevation of 1,230 feet (375 meters) each. The two towers are tied for the sixth tallest skyscraper in the world.

8. Torre Zifeng, China—
Completed in 2010, Zifeng Tower in Nanjing has an architectural height of 450 meters (1,476 feet) and occupies a height of 316.6 meters (1,039 feet).

9. Willis Tower, EE. UU. —
Completed in 1974, Chicago's Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) has an architectural height of 442.1 meters (1,451 feet) and is capped at 412.7 meters (1,354 feet).

10. KK100, China —
Completed in 2011, KK100 in Shenzhen has an architectural height of 441.8 meters (1,449 feet) and sits at an elevation of 427.1 meters (1,401 feet).

11. Guangzhou International Financial Center, China —
Completed in 2010, this tower in Guangzhou, China reaches an architectural height of 1,439 feet (438.6 meters) and occupies a height of 1,362 feet (415.1 meters).

12. Trump International Hotel & Tower, EE. UU. —
Completed in 2009, this Trump Tower rises to an architectural height of 1,389 feet (423.2 meters) and occupies a height of 1,116 feet (340.1 meters).

13. Torre Jin Mao, China—
Completed in 1999, this Shanghai tower reaches an architectural height of 1,380 feet (420.5 meters) and occupies a height of 1,143 feet (348.4 meters).

14. Princess Tower, United Arab Emirates —
Completed in 2012, the Princess Tower in Dubai reaches an architectural height of 1,356 feet (413.4 meters) and is occupied at a height of 1,171 feet (356.9 meters).

15. Al Hamra Tower, Kuwait —
The Al Hamra Tower (left) in Kuwait City, completed in 2011, is shown here under construction in 2009. It rises to an architectural height of 1,354 feet (412.6 meters) and is occupied to a height of 1,218 feet (371 meters). .4 meters). .

16. Two International Financial Centers, Hong Kong —
Completed in 2003, this building reaches an architectural height of 1,352 feet (412 meters) and is occupied at a height of 1,271 feet (387.6 meters).

17. 23 Navy, United Arab Emirates —
Completed in 2012, this skyscraper in Dubai reaches an architectural height of 1,289 feet (392.8 meters) and occupies a height of 1,029 feet (313.5 meters).

18. Plaza CITIC, China —
Completed in 1996, this tower in Guangzhou reaches an architectural height of 1,280 feet (390.2 meters) and occupies a height of 974 feet (296.9 meters).

19. Praça Shun Hing, China —
Completed in 1996, this Shenzhen tower rises to an architectural height of 1,260 feet (384 meters) and is manned to a height of 978 feet (298 meters).

20. Empire State Building, Nova York –
Completed in 1931, the New York landmark rises to an architectural height of 1,250 feet (381 meters) and sits at an elevation of 1,224 feet (373.1 meters). The Empire State Building was the tallest skyscraper in the world for nearly 40 years.
Photos: The tallest buildings in the world
FAQs
Why is the One World Trade Center important? ›
The complex—located at the southwestern tip of Manhattan, near the shore of the Hudson River and a few blocks northwest of Wall Street—was built by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as a central facility for businesses and government agencies involved in international trade.
What are some facts about the One World Trade Center for kids? ›The building has 94 stories, with the top floor numbered 104. The new World Trade Center complex will have five high-rise office buildings built. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum, located just south of One World Trade Center where the original Twin Towers stood, was also built.
What is inside One World Trade Center? ›One World Observatory, a three-story observation deck with 360-degree views, is located on the top of 1 WTC, and offers views of the 9/11 Memorial Pools, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and the Brooklyn Bridge.
How many died in World Trade Center? › Why does One World Trade Center have 94 floors? ›94-99 are included in the mechanical floors because they are taller in height than the typical office floors.” In other words, 1WTC is the equivalent of 104 floors, but it's actually 85.
How many people died on 911? › Why did they only build One World Trade Center? ›As the city and the nation reeled from the attacks, which set into motion the series of U.S-led military operations dubbed the War on Terror, it was decided that the Twin Towers should be replaced by new office buildings, parks, a museum, and a memorial to those who died.
How many stories is one world trade? ›One World Trade Center is the seventh-tallest building in the world. The building has 104 stories, much of which is used for office space.
Why was it called World Trade Center? ›In 1939, when Europe was on the brink of another world war, a group of business and trade associations created the first World Trade Center dedicated to promoting world peace through world trade.
How many pools were in the World trade Center? ›The focal points of the Memorial are two pools, each nearly an acre in size, that sit in the footprints of the former North and South Towers. The pools contain the largest manmade waterfalls in North America, each descending 30 feet into a square basin.
How long did it take to build the one trade Center? ›
More than 13 years in the making, the 104-story, 3.5-million-square-foot, 1,776-foot tower — the tallest in the Western Hemisphere — recaptured the New York skyline, reasserted Lower Manhattan's preeminence as a global business center, and established a new civic icon for the country.
What was found underneath the World Trade Center? ›Wooden Ship Unearthed at World Trade Center Site From Revolutionary-Era Philadelphia. Excavations at the World Trade Center site uncovered the remains of a ship built with timber harvested in the early 1770s.
What is the pole on top of One World Trade Center? ›When the spire is fully installed, One World Trade Center will stand a symbolic 1,776 feet high, making it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. The 408-foot spire will serve as a broadcast antenna.
Could the Twin Towers have been saved? ›It is generally taken as a given that there is no reasonable design concept that could have prevented the collapse of the Twin Towers, once it was initiated, from progressing all the way down to the ground.
How many people escaped twin towers? ›Some 15 people below floor 22 survived the collapse of WTC 1, later escaping or being rescued from the rubble. Only 14 people escaped from the impact zone of the South Tower (floors 77 to 85) after it was struck by United Airlines Flight 175 at 9:03 am, while a further 4 escaped from the floors above it.
How many firefighters died on 9 11? ›On Sept. 11, 2001, 343 firefighters died, lost in the collapse of buildings, from smoke inhalation and from more of the devastating impacts that day.
Who was the last person pulled from the World Trade Center? ›Their rescue was later portrayed in the Oliver Stone film, World Trade Center. In total, twenty survivors were pulled out of the rubble. The final survivor, Port Authority secretary Genelle Guzman-McMillan, was rescued 27 hours after the collapse of the North Tower.
Who survived 9 11 from the highest floor? ›...
Stanley Praimnath | |
---|---|
Occupation | Executive |
Employer | Fuji Bank |
Known for | Survivor of September 11 attacks |
The twin towers did have a 13th floor, as does their replacement, One World Trade Center.
How many stairs was it to the top of the World Trade Center? ›The World Trade Center stood at 110 stories tall with over 2000 steps to reach the top. Participants walked roughly seven rounds through the City Stadium bleacher.
What was the deadliest event in history? ›
Table ranking "History's Most Deadly Events": Influenza pandemic (1918-19) 20-40 million deaths; black death/plague (1348-50), 20-25 million deaths, AIDS pandemic (through 2000) 21.8 million deaths, World War II (1937-45), 15.9 million deaths, and World War I (1914-18) 9.2 million deaths.
How many planes crashed on 911? ›Nineteen terrorists from al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airplanes, deliberately crashing two of the planes into the upper floors of the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center complex and a third plane into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.
How many people died in the South Tower? ›Sixty companies with offices at the World Trade Center reportedly lost employees that day; 1,402 people died in the north tower; 614 in the south tower.
How much did it cost to clean up 9 11? ›Using data through June 2002—the month in which the recovery process at the tradecenter site ended—they estimate that earnings losses, property damage, and cleanup costs total between $33 billion and $36 billion.
How much did the One World Trade Center cost? ›One World Trade Center | |
---|---|
Construction started | April 27, 2006 |
Topped-out | May 10, 2013 |
Opened | November 3, 2014 May 29, 2015 (One World Observatory) |
Cost | US$3.9 billiona |
$21.8 billion: Cost to replace the buildings and infrastructure in New York destroyed in the attacks. $500 million: Cost to repair the Pentagon after the attack.
How long does the elevator take in One World Trade Center? ›The five elevators servicing the observatory, which has been opened today, represent a significant engineering feat, are able to travel at nearly 23 mph and climbing to the 102nd floor in just 60 seconds. At this speed, the elevators nearly outpace Usain Bolt's world-record 100-meter sprint.
How tall is one trade? › What replaced Twin Towers? ›Freedom Tower (1 WTC) in Manhattan or One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and the third-tallest building in the world. It is the skyscraper that replaced the Twin Towers in New York's skyline.
What floor did the plane hit Tower 1? ›8:46:40: Flight 11 crashes into the north face of the North Tower (1 WTC) of the World Trade Center, between floors 93 and 99. All passengers aboard are instantly killed with an unknown number inside the building. The aircraft enters the tower intact.
Who owns the world center? ›
Larry A. Silverstein (born May 30, 1931) is an American businessman. Among his real estate projects, he is the developer of the rebuilt World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan, New York City, as well as one of New York's tallest residential towers at 30 Park Place, where he owns a home.
Why they are demolishing twin tower? ›The twin towers are being demolished because of serious violations of building codes. Supreme Court said that the Noida Authority and Supertech had engaged in “nefarious complicity” and ordered the company to demolish the buildings at its own expense under the guidance of the Noida Authority.
How deep are the 9 11 pools? ›The pits, 192 feet by 192 feet and 30 feet deep, are lined in black granite—black as death. Water cascades down the four walls and disappears into a square hole in the center of the pool. The effect is quite beautiful—and the sound of the cataracts effectively masks the noise of the surrounding city.
What kind of tree survived 9 11? ›A Callery pear tree became known as the “Survivor Tree” after enduring the September 11, 2001 terror attacks at the World Trade Center. In October 2001, a severely damaged tree was discovered at Ground Zero, with snapped roots and burned and broken branches.
Where is the oldest pool in the world? ›The "Great Bath" at the site of Mohenjo-Daro in modern-day Pakistan was most likely the first swimming pool, dug during the 3rd millennium BC. This pool is 12 by 7 metres, is lined with bricks, and was covered with a tar-based sealant.
How long did it take to destroy the Twin Towers? ›Twin Towers Collapse
Less than 15 minutes after the terrorists struck the nerve center of the U.S. military, the horror in New York took a catastrophic turn when the south tower of the World Trade Center collapsed in a massive cloud of dust and smoke.
"And it's been very somber, but it's very important to do this in memory of those who lost their lives on 9/11." At the Gaylord National Convention Center, they climbed 11 flights of stairs to the top, 10 times, representing 110 flights: the height of the World Trade Center.
What materials were used in the One World Trade Center? ›Hybrid Concrete-and-Steel Structure
The design of One WTC is very different from that of the twin towers. While they were held up by external steel columns, it has a hybrid concrete-and-steel structure. The key to its strength is a massive, extremely strong concrete core.
However, it has previously been reported that the terrorist attacks on 9/11 directly caused 83,000 jobs to be lost, which amounted to $17 billion in lost wages.
Where did 911 rubble go? ›The city trucked the debris from the disaster site, designated Ground Zero, to docks at the southern tip of Manhattan. From there the city used Department of Sanitation barges to transport the debris to the recently closed Fresh Kills Landfill in the borough of Staten Island.
What was found in ground zero? ›
In July 2010, construction of the Ground Zero memorial ground to a halt when remains of an 18th-century ship were found in the mud. It was speculated that the hull of this wooden ship was used as part of the debris in a landfill to extend the island of Manhattan into the Hudson River.
What are 3 facts about the One World Trade Center? ›- Second tallest of WTC Towers.
- 80+ Stories / 1,270 feet tall.
- 2.8 million rentable square feet of space.
- 40 foot high office lobby.
- Life-safety systems to far exceed NYC building code.
- Located at 200 Greenwich St. and bound by Church Street to the east, Vesey Street to the north and Fulton Street to the south.
May 30, 2002: Last piece of steel removed from Ground Zero
The remains of all the other buildings in the World Trade Center were demolished. And finally, by the end of May, the last piece of steel was ceremonially removed.
Celebrate the season at ONEDERLAND, One World Observatory's holiday experience. Climb to the top of One World Trade Center and enjoy a magical mountaintop-inspired experience with unforgettable views and cheer-filled moments at every turn. Elevate your holidays!
Why didn't the sprinklers work in the twin towers? ›Unfortunately, the impacts dislodged fireproofing insulation that coated steel in the floors and columns, leaving the metal vulnerable to weakening under fire. The ceiling sprinklers also did not work, because the water supplying them was cut off by the collisions.
How many workers died building the World Trade Center? ›In all, 60 workers were killed in construction accidents while the World Trade Center was being built. The topping out ceremony of the North Tower (1 World Trade Center) took place on December 23, 1970, while the South Tower (2 World Trade Center)'s ceremony occurred on July 19, 1971.
Could the twin towers survive a plane crash? ›The WTC towers were indeed designed to withstand the impact of a large commercial aircraft. They were not, however, designed to withstand the prolonged effect of fire resulting from a bomb in the guise of a fully fueled aircraft.
What is unique about the World Trade Center memorial? ›Their design features twin waterfall pools surrounded by bronze parapets that list the names of the victims of the 9/11 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The pools are set within a plaza where more than 400 swamp white oak trees grow.
How long did it take the One World Trade Center to be built? ›Though its cornerstone was laid in 2004, construction on One World Trade did not begin until the summer of 2006. The slow pace of construction—the tower “topped off” in August 2012 and the spire was not installed until May 2013—was a frequent source of consternation for the building's developers and the city.
How many elevators does the One World Trade Center have? ›The five elevators servicing the observatory, which has been opened today, represent a significant engineering feat, are able to travel at nearly 23 mph and climbing to the 102nd floor in just 60 seconds. At this speed, the elevators nearly outpace Usain Bolt's world-record 100-meter sprint.
Are there human remains in the 9 11 museum? ›
The remains of World Trade Center victims are behind a wall inside The National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
What are some fun facts about the 911 museum? ›The museum holds 10,000 artifacts, including wrecked emergency vehicles, 911 phone calls and emergency response recordings, pictures of all of the victims and media of the entire event from crash to cleanup. There are also more than 2,000 recordings of firsthand oral history.
How many people escaped Twin Towers? ›Some 15 people below floor 22 survived the collapse of WTC 1, later escaping or being rescued from the rubble. Only 14 people escaped from the impact zone of the South Tower (floors 77 to 85) after it was struck by United Airlines Flight 175 at 9:03 am, while a further 4 escaped from the floors above it.
What floor did the plane hit tower 1? ›8:46:40: Flight 11 crashes into the north face of the North Tower (1 WTC) of the World Trade Center, between floors 93 and 99. All passengers aboard are instantly killed with an unknown number inside the building. The aircraft enters the tower intact.
What was found under the Twin Towers? ›The World Trade Center (WTC) attack, which took place on September 11th, 2001, left the world in shock; however, in the midst of this tragedy and chaos, cleanup crews discovered something amazing. In 2010, buried underneath the ruins of the Twin Towers, we found the remains of a large ship's hull.
How much did World Trade Center cost? ›^ "World Trade Center". Emporis. Archived from the original on September 30, 2015. The core complex was built between 1966 and 1975, at a cost of $400 million (equivalent to $3.56 billion in 2022).
Why is One World Trade Center 1776 feet tall? ›With the observation deck and antenna, the 104-storey One World Trade Center (One WTC) stands 1,776 feet tall. This number represents the year the Declaration of Independence was signed (July 4, 1776).
How long did it take to fix the Twin Towers? ›The attacks on the World Trade Center killed 2,753 people. The resulting collapse of the World Trade Center caused structural failure in the surrounding buildings as well. The process of cleaning up and recovery at the World Trade Center site took eight months, after which rebuilding of the site commenced.
How many planes crashed on World Trade Center? ›On the morning of 11 September 2001, 19 Al Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger planes in the United States. Two planes were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, causing both towers to collapse.
What's the fastest elevator in the world? ›Shanghai Tower – Shanghai
The Shanghai Tower Unit OB-3 is the world's second tallest building and its lift, NexWay, travels at speeds of 73.8km per hour, or 45.9 miles per hour.