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Like the rest of New York City, Lower Manhattan's genesis from a Dutch fur trading post to a network of busy thoroughfares and envelope-pushing towers has been well documented in historical photographs. The skyline of 100 years ago might be unrecognizable to most people today, but looking back about 30 years in time, there are some noticeable perennials that, despite an encroachment of new skyscrapers, are still visible from New York Harbor.
An elevated perspective of the skyline in 1982, pictured above, shows the ill-fated World Trade Center complex commanding the skyline. The landmark Twin Towers — One and Two World Trade Center — opened in 1973 and became the tallest buildings in the world. The 22-storey Marriott hotel sandwiched in between the monolithic skyscrapers is also visible in the image. Battery Park is discernible to the right, while the Empire State Building anchors the Midtown Manhattan skyline on the left.
The 1991 image seen above presents some conspicuous changes to the built form, particularly to the previously untouched and now-occupied lot between the World Trade Center, Battery Park and the Hudson River. Future residential development and the César Pelli-designed Brookfield Place, originally known as the World Financial Center, would occupy this massive space, obscuring the World Trade Center Marriott and the lower levels of the Twin Towers. Further to the right, the copper crown of 40 Wall Street still remains a highly recognizable beacon on the skyline. It surpassed the Woolworth Building in 1930 to become the tallest building in the world, but that record was short lived. Just a month later, the iconic Chrysler Building gained the honour.
Jumping forward to 2016, the most obvious alteration to the skyline is the new World Trade Center. Fully enveloped in glass, the rebuilt complex currently consists of the 94-storey One World Trade Center, the 65-storey 4 World Trade Center, and the 52-storey 7 World Trade Center. The World Trade Center Transportation Hub and the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, not visible in the photo below, have also been completed. The Rogers Stirk Harbour-designed 3 World Trade Center is currently under construction, while a 64-storey residential tower, 50 West Street, will begin occupancy over the next few months.
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