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9/11 and the Rise of the World Trade Center

As the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attack on the New York City World Trade Center approaches in less than a month, it is important to remember those who murdered that day, and the America, with its Constitutional rights and inalienable human rights that they represented then and must still represent now.

Living here in Washington DC, I remember the 9/11 attacks also on our nation’s capital and the pain that these attacks caused all Americans.  In New York City, I stood at the 9/11 crater and remember the horrific act of war that was indelibly burned into the memories of all Americans at the remains of the World Trade Center and “Ground Zero.”

Amidst the pain, we must also remember the progress that we have and must continue to make.  America needs the World Trade Center to be rebuilt as a symbol that America will not submit to terrorists, anytime, anywhere.

Americans can keep track of the new 1 World Trade Center (previously named “Freedom Tower”) construction progress online at:  http://bit.ly/freedomtower.

Photos of the progress on the rebuilding of 1 World Trade Center and June 2010 photographs on the progress of the building are also available online. In addition, photos of the construction progress of the 9/11 National Memorial are also online.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey states that it has a live camera to see the work, and the national 911 memorial also has a webcam of this.

The Rebuilding of the World Trade Center: (1) Rendering of 1 World Trade Center, (2) June Photo of Construction Progress on 22nd Floor, (3) Construction on 9/11 Memorial  (Image: Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center)

The Rebuilding of the World Trade Center: (1) Rendering of 1 World Trade Center, (2) June Photo of Construction Progress on 22nd Floor, (3) Construction on 9/11 Memorial (Image: Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center)

According to the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center, “The Port Authority is making progress on the $3.1 billion 1 World Trade (formerly called the ‘Freedom Tower’). Located at the northwest corner of the WTC site, installation of steel columns and core concrete continues.”

“The skyscraper is being built according to a revised design released in June 2005. The new design retains essential elements of the original plan– soaring 1,776 feet into the sky, its illuminated mast evoking the Statue of Liberty’s torch — but features a smaller, cubic base set back further from West Street to protect the building against future attacks.”

“Rising from its square base — which will be constructed of impermeable concrete and steel — the redesigned Freedom Tower will taper into eight tall isosceles triangles, forming a perfect octagon at its center. An observation deck will be located 1,362 feet above ground and there will be a square glass parapet at 1,368 feet, the heights of the original Twin Towers. From these, an illuminated spire containing a television antenna will rise to a final height of 1,776 feet.”

“Other key elements include; 2.6 million square feet of office space, tenant amenity spaces, world-class restaurants, below-grade retail, and access to the PATH, subway, and World Financial Center. According to the Port Authority schedule, the tower is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2013.”

The Command Center states that “One significant delay was the redesign of the tower in the spring 2005, to better accommodate security measures at street level.”

While some talk about creating new buildings, the 1 World Trade Center is being BUILT.

United We Stand.

United-We-Stand

New World Trade Center Building Rendering (Image: Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center)

New World Trade Center Building Rendering (Image: Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center)

Description: WTC 1 emerges from city skyline, as viewed from across East River  (Image: Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center)

Description: WTC 1 emerges from city skyline, as viewed from across East River (Image: Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center)

Description: World Trade Center 1 as it will appear when viewed from Brooklyn and points east (Image: Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center)

Description: World Trade Center 1 as it will appear when viewed from Brooklyn and points east (Image: Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center)

Description: A view of 1 World Trade Center from the National 9/11 Memorial’s north pool.  Photo from June 2010 Construction Images (Photo: Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center)

Description: A view of 1 World Trade Center from the National 9/11 Memorial’s north pool. Photo from June 2010 Construction Images (Photo: Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center)

Description: Building section looking east  (Image: Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center)

Description: Building section looking east (Image: Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center)