History of the World Trade Center

 World Trade Center's twin towers were more than just buildings. That in itself was proof of faith in New York. Was constructed at a time when New York's future seemed uncertain, the towers restored confidence and lack of Lower Manhattan, helped to prevent. Brash, glitzy, and grand, they quickly became symbols of New York.

Rockefeller Brainchild
World Trade Center in lower Manhattan, downtown - development association in the early 1960s was pregnant seedy "radio row" to revitalize dominated by electronic stores. Chase Manhattan Bank chairman David Rockefeller, founder of the Association, and his brother, New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, pushed hard for the project, insisting it would benefit the entire city.

In 1962, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey began the construction project. Minoru Yamasaki and Associates of Michigan was hired as architect. Eventually, Yamasaki decided on two huge towers. Critics accused the character of New York is a modern monolith rob, destroy the skyline, disrupt television reception, and strain city services. However, the project was approved and construction was started in 1966.

World Trade Center on 16 acres in order to create a Web site, five streets were closed off and 164 buildings were demolished.During peak construction, 3,500 people worked on the site. A total of 10,000 people worked at Towers, 60, died during its construction.

Quick landmarks
December 1970 North Tower and South Tower was opened in January 1972, he was dedicated in April 1973. Only for a short time was the world's tallest buildings, the Sears Tower in Chicago was completed in May 1973. However, the destruction of the tower in the world's fifth and sixth tallest buildings on September 11, 2001 were classified.

Four smaller buildings and a hotel, a central landscaped plaza around the building nearest the full complex. World Trade Center mall, which was located immediately below the Plaza in Lower Manhattan was the largest shopping mall. Six-layer two metro stations on the way there and wait for the trains to New Jersey.

Some 50,000 people work in buildings, while another 200,000 visited or passed through each day. Top floor observation deck of the 26,000 daily visitors, which on a clear day could see for 45 miles. Land, at least 20 towers were visible for miles. Complex own zip code, 10048 did.

Previous bombings
1993 World Trade Center by terrorists in the basement parking garage with explosives drove trucks filled with 1,100 pounds. Despite the size of the explosion left a crater 22 inches wide and five stories deep-only six people were killed and 1,000 injured. Tower repair, were cleaned, and reopened in less than a month.

September 11, 2001
September 11, 2001 morning, with Al Qaeda terrorists hijacked four planes. Two Boston - Flights to Los Angeles, the hijackers had been diverted to New York City. At 8:45 am, American Airlines Flight 11 World Trade Center's north tower had been moved. Eighteen minutes later, United Airlines Flight 175 was taken in the South Tower. Every ship of the intended cross-country travel, the effects of fire filled with enough jet fuel, causing both towers to the massive fireballs and structural integrity of each weak. 9:50 am, hit the south tower floor gave way, less people on upper floors collapsed, destroying the tower and everyone in it was still crushing. 10:29 am, what happened with the North Tower. 2,824 people, including firefighters and other rescue workers, hundreds of attacks, was killed in.

(One of two other hijacked planes, the Pentagon was hit, the other southeast of Pittsburgh, apparently kidnapped by the war resulted in crashes are passengers, there were no survivors.)

Reconstruction Project
World Trade Center design competition in 2002, a separate Web site for the reconstruction and a memorial to the victims of the attacks were organized. Site, unveiled in July 2002, for the final round before being too large and too boring office space on a maximum was criticized as being, The leading contender for the new round in December.

In February 2003, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, which was founded by Governor Pataki and advisory committees of various agencies involved in reconstruction efforts was to coordinate the 16-acre World Trade Center site reconstruction Daniel Libeskind's design for the architect is chosen. Design a hanging garden, a memorial, a cultural center, and the Freedom Tower, from the ground and wrapped her in a symbolic 1,776 feet tall to the top will be included. Any building currently standing in the world will make the longest. (United Arab Emirates The Burj Dubai skyscraper under construction in the act, however, is expected.)

In July 2003, David Children's Freedom Tower's new leadership was brought in as architect, Libeskind, although general in charge of designing the website. The two towers had a different dream, a vision of combining the two architects design was announced in December 2003. Wind turbines in its spire, the building of more than 20% of the electricity generated will be added to the design.

4 July 2004, New York Governor Pataki, New Jersey Governor McGreevey, and New York City Mayor Bloomberg founded the Freedom Tower.

Just as construction was started, raised security concerns, the tower was vital to a complete redesign. New plans on June 29, 2005 was issued.Wind turbines have been eliminated. Design that recalls the old buildings, while adding his own twists: starting from square base, tower design is moving in triangular form, in the middle of the Octagon, and a square at the top end, the rotated by 45 degrees. A wrap is a little over 400 feet away from growth, the total height of 1,776 feet, the plan will be to maintain.

After working on the dig got underway in late April 2006. Improvement plans were announced in June 2006, based around a solid glass prisms are calling for, while you live in the area of ​​security requirements. Tower for a cost of $ 2 billion now, and be ready for tenants in 2011 is planned.

WTC Memorial design selected for
Lower Manhattan Development Corporation announced in January 2004 by Michael Arad and Peter Walker Construction is one of those who died in World Trade Center Memorial design competition was won. Than there were over 5,000 entries.

Memorial, Reflecting Absence, who on September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, died at the World Trade Center, and February 26, 1993 will honor. North Towers tragedy in 1993, a truck bomb exploded in a garage, killing six and wounding more than a thousand.

Absence of reflection, which once stood where the twin towers will be constructed in two shallow pools surrounded by leafy trees are included. Victims' names will be etched in the walls around the pool.

"The footprints of the twin towers of the powerful, yet simple articulation, as indicated in the absence gaping 'tower's destruction voids left by the loss of the primary target is made," Vartan Gregorian, the jury selected the winners The presidency said.

Memorial Plan in June 2006 due to security concerns, budget issues, and input from victims' families had been redesigned. Two pools, fed by the other features - well maintained - will be. Names of those killed around the Plaza will be moved over land.

Construction began in 2006, and Memorial September 11, 2009 is set to open what will be.

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