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The massive redevelopment of the World Trade Center site in New York City is one of the most exciting projects under construction in the United States. The new complex is bringing six skyscrapers to the Lower Manhattan location, a venture made possible by a multitude of developers, engineers, builders and architects. On a recent trip to New York, SkyriseCities navigated the area and witnessed firsthand how the development is reshaping the neighbourhood.
Though confusion over ownership of the property and changing building designs initially delayed the project, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has now completed much of the complex. The National September 11 Memorial opened in 2011, ten years after the attacks. Designed by Michael Arad of Handel Architects, the memorial is consistent with Daniel Libeskind's original master plan for the site, which called for two footprints situated at the locations of the former Twin Towers. The names of the victims surround the footprints as water flows into the depths of the two 30-foot deep holes. A forest of greenery surrounds the memorial as envisioned by landscape architect Peter Walker and Partners.
The National September 11 Museum opened three years later. The Davis Brody Bond-designed museum welcomes guests underground through a deconstructivist pavilion by Snøhetta Architects. The memorial contains a number of artifacts from Ground Zero, including wrecked emergency vehicles and steel from the original towers. It also remembers the lives lost with images and audio recordings.
Adjacent to the memorial and museum, the Santiago Calatrava-designed Transportation Hub will serve over 200,000 commuters every day who traverse the 11 subway lines, the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) rail system, and the Battery Park City Ferry Terminal that intersect the site. The Hub will also contain a large retail mall dubbed the Westfield World Trade Center with a spiked wing-shaped Oculus acting as the main concourse.
The most visible completed building is the 1,776-foot One World Trade Center, which opened in 2014. Developed by the Durst Organization, the sleek office building was designed by David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). Clad in curtain wall glass and topped by a large antenna, the 94-storey structure includes an observatory, returning the world-class view above Manhattan that was lost in 2001.
Silverstein Properties is responsible for several buildings on the site, including 7 World Trade Center, the SOM-designed 49-storey tower which was the first skyscraper completed on the property. The Maki and Associates-designed 4 World Trade Center was completed last year and recently opened its doors for us to tour.
Now, 3 World Trade Center by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners is rising high. The 80-storey building will be followed by 2 World Trade Center, which recently went through a redesign by famed Danish architect Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG).
The offset stacked box design of 2 World Trade Center will stand tall at 82 storeys. It will eventually be joined by 5 World Trade Center, though no design has been selected and no timeframe for completion has been determined. Renderings depicting 2 World Trade Center are currently being showcased inside 7 World Trade Center, with BIG employees working hard on the design in the image below, giving onlookers a taste of what to soon expect.
It's been a long journey, but the massive puzzle that is the World Trade Center site is coming together piece by piece. With the Transportation Hub due for a 2016 open, the entire picture will become a little clearer. You can help us stay updated with these projects by checking out the Database files linked below and posting to the associated Forum threads. Want to get involved in the discussion? Leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
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