Jump to content

Talk:World Trade Center/old: Difference between revisions

Page contents not supported in other languages.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
add short explanation following style used at Talk:Jelly/Old history
 
(22 intermediate revisions by 13 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
This is the old page history that used to be at the title [[World Trade Center]]. Its accompanying talk page is still located at [[Talk:World Trade Center]] and a fuller explanation of how this came to be can be found there. The history here has been preserved for [[Wikipedia:Copying within Wikipedia|attribution purposes]], do not delete it. [[User:Jenks24|Jenks24]] ([[User talk:Jenks24|talk]]) 11:48, 16 August 2015 (UTC)
<!-- {{coord|40|42|42|N|74|00|5|W|type:landmark_region:US-NY|display=title}} -->
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2014}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2015}}
{{good article}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{About||other World Trade Centers|List of World Trade Centers|other uses|World Trade Center (disambiguation)|and|WTC (disambiguation){{!}}WTC}}
{{split|World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center (2001–present)|discuss=Talk:World Trade Center#Draft split|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox building
| name = World Trade Center
| image = World Trade Center, New York City - aerial view (March 2001).jpg <!--DO NOT CHANGE. SEE TALK PAGE FOR CONSENSUS. -->
| image_size = 300px
| caption = The original World Trade Center in March 2001. The North Tower (''left''), with antenna spire, is [[One World Trade Center#Original building|1&nbsp;WTC]]. The South Tower (right) is [[Two World Trade Center#Original building|2&nbsp;WTC]]. All seven buildings of the WTC complex are partially visible; refer to map below. The red granite-clad building left of the Twin Towers is the original [[7 World Trade Center]]. In the background is the [[East River]].
| status = '''First WTC:''' <span style="color:red">Destroyed</span><br>'''Second WTC:''' <span style="color:green">Partially complete</span>;<br><span style="color:purple">under construction</span><ref group=note>1, 4, and 7 WTC, as well as the 9/11 Memorial and Museum are complete. 2, 3, and 5 WTC, as well as Liberty Park and the Vehicle Security Center, the Transportation Hub, and the Performing Arts Center are under construction.</ref>
| highest_prev = [[Empire State Building]]
| highest_next = [[Willis Tower]]
| highest_start = 1971
| highest_end = 1973
| location = [[New York City]]
| latd = 40| latm = 42| lats = 42| latNS = N
| longd = 74| longm = 00| longs = 45| longEW = W
| iso_region = US-NY
| coordinates_display = inline, title
| start_date = '''First WTC:'''<br>{{unbulleted list
|1 WTC: August 1968
|2 WTC: January 1969
|3 WTC: December 1979
|4, 5, and 6 WTC: 1970
|7 WTC: 1983
}}'''Second WTC:'''<br>{{unbulleted list
|1 WTC: April 27, 2006<ref>{{cite news|title=Building of N.Y. Freedom Tower begins|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-04-27-ny-development_x.htm|agency=Associated Press|accessdate=February 1, 2009|work=USA Today|date=April 28, 2006}}</ref>
|4 WTC: January 2008
|7 WTC: May 7, 2002<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/08/nyregion/as-a-hurdle-is-cleared-building-begins-at-ground-zero.html?scp=36&sq=%227+World+Trade+Center%22&st=nyt|title=As a Hurdle Is Cleared, Building Begins At Ground Zero|first=Charles V.|last=Bagli|work=The New York Times|date=May 8, 2002|accessdate=August 16, 2009}}</ref>
}}
| completion_date = '''First WTC:'''<br>{{unbulleted list
|1 WTC: December 23, 1970
|2 WTC: July 19, 1971
|3 WTC: July 1981
|4, 5, and 6 WTC: 1975
|7 WTC: May 1987<ref>[http://www.panynj.gov/wtcprogress/history-twin-towers.html History of the Twin Towers - World Trade Center]. Panynj.gov. Retrieved on June 1, 2014.</ref>
}}'''Second WTC:'''<br>{{unbulleted list
|4 WTC: November 13, 2013<ref name="Wtc.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.wtc.com/ |title=&#124;&#124; World Trade Center &#124;&#124; |publisher=Wtc.com |date=December 31, 2013 |accessdate=February 3, 2014}}</ref>
|7 WTC: May 23, 2006<ref name="lowermanhattan.info">{{cite web|url=http://www.lowermanhattan.info/news/7_world_trade_center_50451.aspx|title=7 World Trade Center Opens with Musical Fanfare|publisher=Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC)|date=May 22, 2006|accessdate=July 27, 2007|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070809115805/http://www.lowermanhattan.info/news/7_world_trade_center_50451.aspx|archivedate=August 9, 2007 |deadurl=no}}</ref>
}}
| groundbreaking_date= '''First WTC:''' August 25, 1966<br>'''Second WTC:''' 2002
| opening = '''First WTC:''' April 4, 1973<br>'''Second WTC:'''<br>1 WTC: November 3, 2014
| destruction_date = '''First WTC:''' [[September 11 attacks|September 11, 2001]]

{{collapsed infobox section begin|Information}}

| floor_count ='''First WTC:'''<br>{{unbulleted list
|1 and 2 WTC: 110 floors
|3 WTC: 22 floors
|4 and 5 WTC: 9 floors
|6 WTC: 8 floors
|7 WTC: 47 floors
}}'''Second WTC:'''<br>{{unbulleted list
|1 WTC: 104 floors<ref name="sc1">{{cite web |url=http://skyscrapercenter.com/new-york-city/one-world-trade-center/98/ |title=One World Trade Center&nbsp;– The Skyscraper Center |publisher=Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat|accessdate=April 14, 2014}}</ref>
|4 WTC: 78 floors<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.4wtc.com/leasingcenter/stackingdiagram |title=Stacking Diagram &#124; 4 World Trade Center &#124; Silverstein Properties |publisher=4wtc.com |date= |accessdate=February 3, 2014}}</ref>
|7 WTC: 52 floors<ref name="som7">[https://www.som.com/project/7-world-trade-center 7 World Trade Center], Skidmore, Owings & Merrill</ref><ref>[http://silversteinproperties.com/commercial/7-world-trade-center/ Building Tenants], Silverstein Properties</ref><ref>[http://www.ctbuh.org/Events/ToursVisits/2011TourArchive/NewYorkCitySkyscraperTours/WorldTradeCenter/tabid/2172/language/en-GB/Default.aspx World Trade Center Tour], Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH)</ref>
}}
| antenna_spire = ''' First WTC:'''<br>1 WTC: 1,727 ft (526.3 m)<br>'''Second WTC:'''<br>1 WTC: {{Convert|1776|ft|m}}
| roof =''' First WTC:'''<br>{{unbulleted list
| '''added_to_NRHP'''= '''May 25, 1993'''
|1 WTC: 1,368 ft (417.0 m)
|2 WTC: 1,362 ft (415.0 m)
|3 WTC: 242 ft (74.0 m)
|4 and 5 WTC: 118 ft (36.0 m)
|6 WTC: 105 ft (32.0 m)
|[[7 World Trade Center|7 WTC]]: 610 ft (186.0 m)
}}'''Second WTC:'''<br>{{unbulleted list
|1 WTC: {{convert|1368|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}<ref name="Associated Press">{{cite web | url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/04/29/one-world-trade-center-to-retake-title-nyc-tallest-building/ | title=One World Trade Center to retake title of NYC's tallest building | publisher=Associated Press | work=Fox News | date=April 29, 2012 | accessdate=May 1, 2014}}</ref>
|4 WTC: {{convert|978|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|7 WTC: {{convert|741|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="som7"/>
}}
| top_floor = '''First WTC:'''<br>{{unbulleted list
|1 WTC: 1,347 ft (411.0 m)
|2 WTC: 1,341 ft (409.0 m)
}}'''Second WTC:'''{{unbulleted list|
|1 WTC: {{convert|1268|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}<ref name="sc1"/>
|7 WTC: {{convert|679|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="sc7">{{cite web|url=http://skyscrapercenter.com/new-york-city/7-world-trade-center/|title=7 World Trade Center - The Skyscraper Center|work=Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat}}</ref>
}}
| floor_area = '''First WTC:'''<br>{{unbulleted list
|1 and 2 WTC: {{convert|4300000|sqft|m2|-4|abbr=on}} each
|[[Four World Trade Center|4]], [[Five World Trade Center|5]], and [[Six World Trade Center|6 WTC]]: {{convert|500000|sqft|m2|-4|abbr=on}} each
|[[7 World Trade Center|7 WTC]]: {{convert|1868000|sqft|m2|-4|abbr=on}}
}}'''Second WTC:'''<br>{{unbulleted list
|1 WTC: {{convert|3501274|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web | url=http://skyscrapercenter.com/building/one-world-trade-center/98 | title=One World Trade Center | website=The Skyscraper Center | accessdate=16 December 2014 }}</ref><ref name="Associated Press"/>
|4 WTC: {{convert|2500000|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="sc1"/>
|7 WTC: {{convert|1681118|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="sc7"/>
}}
| elevator_count = '''First WTC:'''<br>1 and 2 WTC: 99 each<br>'''Second WTC:'''<br>{{unbulleted list
|1 WTC: 71<ref name="sc1"/>
|4 WTC: 55
|7 WTC: 29<ref name="sc7"/>
}}
| architect = {{unbulleted list
|[[Minoru Yamasaki]]
|[[Emery Roth & Sons]]
}}
| engineer = [[Magnusson Klemencic Associates|Worthington, Skilling, Helle & Jackson]],<ref>{{cite news |url = http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19930227&slug=1687698 |title = Twin Towers Engineered To Withstand Jet Collision |agency = [[Seattle Times]] |date = February 27, 1993 }}</ref> [[Leslie E. Robertson|Leslie E. Robertson Associates]]
| contractor = [[Tishman Realty & Construction|Tishman Realty & Construction Company]]
| developer =
| owner = [[Port Authority of New York and New Jersey]]
|footnotes=<ref>{{emporis|131020}}</ref>
{{collapsed infobox section end}}
}}
The '''World Trade Center''' is a partially completed complex of buildings, under construction, in [[Lower Manhattan]], [[New York City]], [[United States]], replacing an earlier complex of seven buildings with the same name on the same site. The original World Trade Center featured landmark twin towers, which opened on April 4, 1973, and were destroyed in the [[September 11 attacks]] of 2001, along with [[7 World Trade Center]]. The other buildings in the complex were severely damaged by the collapse of the twin towers, and their ruins were eventually demolished. The site is being rebuilt with six new skyscrapers, a [[National September 11 Memorial & Museum|memorial]] to those killed in the attacks, and a [[World Trade Center (PATH station)|transportation hub]]. [[One World Trade Center]], the tallest building in the [[United States]], is the lead building for the new complex, reaching more than 100 stories<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.newsday.com/news/new-york/new-world-trade-center-climbs-to-100-stories-1.3637907 |title = New World Trade Center climbs to 100 stories |agency = [[Associated Press]] |date = April 2, 2012 }}</ref> upon its completion in November 2014.<ref name="yahoo"/>

At the time of their completion, the "Twin Towers" — the original [[One_World_Trade_Center#Original_building|1 World Trade Center]], at {{convert|1368|ft|m}}; and [[Two_World_Trade_Center#Original_building|2 World Trade Center]] — were the [[History of the tallest buildings in the world#Tallest buildings (from 1901)|tallest buildings]] in the world. The other buildings in the complex included the [[Three World Trade Center|Marriott World Trade Center]] (3 WTC), [[Four World Trade Center|4 WTC]], [[Five World Trade Center|5 WTC]], [[Six World Trade Center|6 WTC]], and [[7 World Trade Center|7 WTC]]. All these buildings were built between 1975 and 1985, with a construction cost of $400&nbsp;million (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|400000000|1971|2014|r=-8}}}} in 2014 dollars).{{Inflation-fn|US}} The complex was located in New York City's [[Financial District, Manhattan|Financial District]] and contained {{convert|13400000|sqft|m2}} of office space.<ref>{{Cite news |url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F01E4D81030F935A35752C0A9649C8B63 |title = Commercial Property; In Office Market, a Time of Uncertainty |work = The New York Times |author = Holusha, John |date = January 6, 2002 |accessdate = November 21, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3601/is_30_48/ai_83762552 |title = Ford recounts details of Sept. 11 |work = Real Estate Weekly |date = February 27, 2002 |publisher = BNET |accessdate = January 3, 2009 }}</ref>

The World Trade Center experienced a fire on {{Nowrap|February 13}}, 1975,<ref name="nyt 19750214"/> a [[1993 World Trade Center bombing|bombing]] on {{Nowrap|February 26}}, 1993,<ref name="reeve p10"/> and [[1998 Bank of America robbery|a robbery]] on {{Nowrap|January 14}}, 1998.<ref name="mafia 2007"/> In 1998, the Port Authority decided to privatize the World Trade Center, leasing the buildings to a private company to manage, and awarded the lease to [[Silverstein Properties]] in {{Nowrap|July 2001}}.<ref name="cuozzo"/>

On the morning of [[September 11, 2001]], [[Al-Qaeda]]-affiliated hijackers flew two [[Boeing 767]] jets into the complex, beginning with the North Tower at 8:46 AM then the South Tower at 9:03 AM, in a coordinated act of [[terrorism]]. After burning for 56&nbsp;minutes, the South Tower collapsed at 9:59 AM. 29 minutes later, the North Tower collapsed. The attacks on the World Trade Center killed 2,753 victims,<ref name=Borg>{{Cite news |url = http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/06/18/2011-06-18_manhattan_mans_death_brings_wtc_toll_to_2753.html |title = Man's death from World Trade Center dust brings Ground Zero toll to 2,753 |date = June 18, 2011 |newspaper = NY Daily News |accessdate = September 1, 2011 |agency = Associated Press }}</ref> including the 147 [[civilians]] aboard the two planes. Falling debris from the towers, combined with fires that the debris initiated in several surrounding buildings, led to the partial or complete collapse of all the other buildings in the complex and caused catastrophic damage to ten other large structures in the surrounding area (including the World Financial Center); three buildings in the World Trade Center complex [[Collapse of the World Trade Center|collapsed]] due to fire-induced structural failure,<ref>{{Cite news|first=Bill |last=Miller |title=Skyscraper Protection Might Not Be Feasible, Federal Engineers Say |url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2002-05-01/news/0205010358_1_engineers-jet-fuel |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=May 1, 2002 |accessdate=November 24, 2013}}</ref> and when the North Tower collapsed, debris fell on the nearby 7&nbsp;WTC, damaging it and starting fires so that it eventually collapsed.<ref>''World Trade Center Building Performance Study'', Ch. 5 WTC 7&nbsp;– section 5.5.4</ref><ref>''Final Report on the Collapse of World Trade Center Building 7'', p. xxxvii.</ref> The [[Rescue and recovery effort after the September 11 attacks|process of cleaning up and recovery]] at the [[World Trade Center site]] took eight months.<ref>{{Cite news
| last=Iovine
| first=Julie V.
| title=Designers Look Beyond Debris
| newspaper=[[The New York Times]]
| date=September 27, 2001
| url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04E7DB103AF934A1575AC0A9679C8B63
| accessdate=July 31, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| title=The Last Steel Column
| url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F02E4D71E3BF933A05756C0A9649C8B63
| newspaper=[[The New York Times]]
| date=May 30, 2002
| accessdate=July 31, 2010}}</ref>

Over the following years, plans were created for the reconstruction of the World Trade Center. The [[Lower Manhattan Development Corporation]] (LMDC), established in {{Nowrap|November 2001}} to oversee the rebuilding process,<ref>{{Cite news
| last=Pérez-Peña
| first=Richard
| title=A NATION CHALLENGED: DOWNTOWN; State Plans Rebuilding Agency, Perhaps Led by Giuliani
| newspaper=[[The New York Times]]
| date=November 3, 2001
| url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DEFD81639F930A35752C1A9679C8B63
| accessdate=July 31, 2010}}</ref> organized competitions to select a [[site plan]] and memorial design.<ref>{{cite news |title=Up From The Ashes |publisher=Newsweek |date=November 12, 2001 |author=McGuigan, Cathleen}}</ref> [[Memory Foundations]], designed by [[Daniel Libeskind]], was selected as the master plan;<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.renewnyc.com/plan_des_dev/wtc_site/new_design_plans/Sept_2003_refined_design.asp | title=Refined Master Site Plan for the World Trade Center Site | work=Lower Manhattan Development Corporation | accessdate=May 1, 2014}}</ref> however, substantial changes were made to the design.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/1-world-trade-center-is-a-growing-presence-and-a-changed-one/|title=1 World Trade Center Is a Growing Presence, and a Changed One|author=David W. Dunlap|work=New York Times|date=June 12, 2012|accessdate=December 9, 2012}}</ref>

The first new building at the site was 7&nbsp;WTC, which opened in {{Nowrap|May 2006}}.<ref name="lowermanhattan.info"/> The memorial section of the [[National September 11 Memorial & Museum]] opened on September 11, 2011<ref>{{cite web| title=Public Gets First Glimpse Of 9/11 Memorial |url=http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/146985/public-gets-first-glimpse-of-9-11-memorial |author=[[NY1]] News |date=September 12, 2011 |accessdate=September 12, 2011}}</ref> and the museum opened in May 2014.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.myfoxny.com/story/25574078/national-september-11-memorial-museum-opens | title=National September 11 Memorial Museum opens | work=Fox NY | date=May 21, 2014 | accessdate=May 21, 2014}}</ref> 1&nbsp;WTC opened on {{nowrap|November 3}}, 2014;<ref name="yahoo">{{cite web |url=http://news.yahoo.com/world-trade-center-reopens-business-071956091.html |title=World Trade Center Reopens for Business |publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=November 3, 2014}}</ref> 4&nbsp;WTC opened on {{nowrap|November 13}}, 2013;<ref name="Wtc.com"/> and 3&nbsp;WTC is under construction and expected to open in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nypost.com/2014/03/17/blocking-3-world-trade-center-deal-a-bad-idea |title=Blocking 3 World Trade Center deal a bad idea |publisher=New York Post |date=March 17, 2014 |accessdate=June 9, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/deal-reached-finish-3-world-trade-center-tower | title=Deal Reached to Finish 3 World Trade Center Tower | work=Associated Press | last=Porter | first=Dave | date=June 25, 2014 |accessdate=August 2, 2014}}</ref> {{as of|November 2013}}, according to an agreement made with Silverstein Properties Inc., the new 2&nbsp;WTC will not be built to its full height until sufficient leasing is established to make the building financially viable;<ref>{{cite news |title = NYC’s World Trade Tower Opens 40% Empty in Revival |url = http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-12/world-trade-center-tower-debuts-in-manhattan-leasing-test.html |accessdate = February 22, 2014 |newspaper = Bloomberg |date = November 12, 2013 |author = David M. Levitt }}</ref> and 5&nbsp;WTC will be developed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, but, as of February 2014, a schedule was not confirmed.<ref>{{cite web |title = 5 World Trade Center |url = http://www.wtc.com/about/office-tower-5 |work = World Trade Center |publisher = Silverstein Properties, Inc |accessdate = February 22, 2014 |year = 2014 }}</ref>

==Original buildings==

===Before the World Trade Center===
[[File:Radio Row-Berenice Abbott.jpg|225px|left|thumb|The [[Radio Row]] in 1936, with the [[Cortlandt Street (IRT Ninth Avenue Line)|Cortlandt Street]] station in the background, as seen in a photograph by [[Berenice Abbott]]]]
The western portion of the World Trade Center site was originally under the [[Hudson River]], with the shoreline in the vicinity of Greenwich Street. It was on this shoreline close to the intersection of Greenwich and the former Dey Street that Dutch explorer [[Adriaen Block]]'s ship, the ''[[Tyger (ship)|Tyger]]'', burned to the waterline in November 1613, stranding Block and his crew and forcing them to overwinter on the island. They built the first European settlement in [[Manhattan]]. The remains of the ship were buried under landfill when the shoreline was extended starting in 1797, and were discovered during excavation work in 1916. The remains of a second ship from the eighteenth century were discovered in 2010 during excavation work at the site. The ship, believed to be a Hudson River [[sloop]], was found just south of where the Twin Towers used to stand, about 20 feet below the surface.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2010-07-15/us/new.york.ground.zero.ship_1_ship-archaeologist-ground-zero?_s=PM:US|title=CNN: Pieces of ship made in 1700s found at ground zero building site|publisher=|accessdate=October 4, 2014}}</ref>

Later, the area became [[Radio Row]]. New York City's Radio Row, which existed from 1921 to 1966, was a warehouse district on the [[Lower West Side, Manhattan|Lower West Side]] in the [[Financial District, Manhattan|Financial District]]. Harry Schneck opened City Radio on Cortlandt Street in 1921, and eventually the area held several blocks of electronics stores, with Cortlandt Street as its central axis. The used radios, war surplus electronics (e.g., [[ARC-5]] radios), junk, and parts often piled so high they would spill out onto the street, attracting collectors and scroungers. According to a business writer, it also was the origin of the electronic component distribution business.<ref>{{cite book|title=Ruthless Execution: What Business Leaders Do When Their Companies Hit the Wall|first=Amir|last=Hartman|publisher=Financial Times Prentice Hall|year=2004|isbn=0-13-101884-1}}, [http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0131018841&id=hlmssVxlUUgC&pg=RA63-PA167&lpg=RA63-PA167&sig=Ggo8KPh1PnE9-5UuWOpDfAGMAwQ p. 167] "The electronic component distribution business started in the 1920s and 1930s, selling radio tubes on lower Manhattan's Cortland{{sic}} St...."</ref>

The idea of establishing a World Trade Center in New York City was first proposed in 1943. The [[New York State Legislature]] passed a bill authorizing New York Governor [[Thomas E. Dewey]] to begin developing plans for the project<ref name="nyt-07061946">{{Cite news |title=Dewey Picks Board for Trade Center |work=The New York Times |date=July 6, 1946}}</ref> but the plans were put on hold in 1949.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Lets Port Group Disband, State Senate for Dissolution of World Trade Corporation |work=The New York Times |date=March 11, 1949}}</ref> During the late 1940s and 1950s, economic growth in New York City was concentrated in [[Midtown Manhattan]]. To help stimulate [[urban renewal]] in Lower Manhattan, [[David Rockefeller]] suggested that the Port Authority build a World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan.<ref>Gillespie (1999), pp. 32–33</ref>

Plans for the use of [[eminent domain]] to remove the shops in Radio Row bounded by [[Vesey Street (Manhattan)|Vesey]], [[Church Street (Manhattan)|Church]], [[Liberty Street (Manhattan)|Liberty]], and [[West Street (Manhattan)|West]] Streets began in 1961 when the [[Port Authority of New York and New Jersey]] was deciding to build the world's first [[List of World Trade Centers|world trade center]]. They had two choices: the east side of [[Lower Manhattan]], near the [[South Street Seaport]]; and the west side, near the [[Hudson and Manhattan Railroad|H&M]] station, [[Hudson Terminal]].<ref name="glanz">{{cite book|title=City in the Sky: The Rise and Fall of the World Trade Center|first= James|last=Glanz|author2=Eric Lipton |year=2003|publisher=Times Books|isbn=0-8050-7428-7 | url=http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0805074287&id=yE1Pyui4GpkC&pg=PA62&lpg=PA62}}</ref>{{rp|page=56}} Initial plans, made public in 1961, identified a site along the [[East River]] for the World Trade Center.<ref>Gillespie (1999), pp. 34–35</ref> As a bi-state agency, the Port Authority required approval for new projects from the governors of both [[New York]] and [[New Jersey]]. New Jersey Governor [[Robert B. Meyner]] objected to New York getting a $335&nbsp;million project.<ref>Gillespie (1999), p. 38</ref> Toward the end of 1961, negotiations with outgoing New Jersey Governor Meyner reached a stalemate.<ref name="nyt-1961dec29" />

At the time, ridership on New Jersey's [[Hudson and Manhattan Railroad]] (H&M) had declined substantially from a high of 113&nbsp;million riders in 1927 to 26&nbsp;million in 1958 after new automobile tunnels and bridges had opened across the [[Hudson River]].<ref>Cudahy (2002), p. 56</ref> In a {{Nowrap|December 1961}} meeting between Port Authority director [[Austin J. Tobin]] and newly elected New Jersey Governor [[Richard J. Hughes]], the Port Authority offered to take over the Hudson & Manhattan Railroad to have it become the [[Port Authority Trans-Hudson]] (PATH). The Port Authority also decided to move the World Trade Center project to the [[Hudson Terminal]] building site on the west side of Lower Manhattan, a more convenient location for New Jersey commuters arriving via PATH.<ref name="nyt-1961dec29">{{Cite news|title=Port Unit Backs Linking of H&M and Other Lines |author=Grutzner, Charles |work=The New York Times |date=December 29, 1961}}</ref> With the new location and Port Authority acquisition of the H&M Railroad, New Jersey agreed to support the World Trade Center project.<ref>{{Cite news |title=2 States Agree on Hudson Tubes and Trade Center |author=Wright, George Cable |date=January 23, 1962 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> In compensation for Radio Row business owners' displacement, the PANYNJ gave each business $3,000 each, without regard to how long the business had been there or how prosperous the business was.<ref name="glanz"/>{{rp|page=68}} After the area had been purchased for the World Trade Center in March 1964,<ref name="nyt 19650329"/> Radio Row was demolished starting in March 1965.<ref name="gillespie-p61"/> It was completely demolished by 1966.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/programs/lnfsound/stories/020603.radiorow.html|title='Radio Row:' The neighborhood before the World Trade Center|accessdate=October 1, 2006|date=June 3, 2002|publisher=National Public Radio}}</ref>

Approval was also needed from New York City Mayor [[John Lindsay]] and the [[New York City Council]]. Disagreements with the city centered on tax issues. On {{Nowrap|August 3}}, 1966, an agreement was reached that the Port Authority would make annual payments to the City in lieu of taxes for the portion of the World Trade Center leased to private tenants.<ref>{{Cite news |title=City Ends Fight with Port Body on Trade Center |author=Smith, Terence |date=August 4, 1966 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> In subsequent years, the payments would rise as the [[Property tax|real estate tax]] rate increased.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Mayor Signs Pact on Trade Center |author=Smith, Terence |work=The New York Times |date=January 26, 1967}}</ref>

===Design and construction===
{{Main|Construction of the World Trade Center}}

====Architectural design====
[[File:World Trade Center Building Design with Floor and Elevator Arrangement.svg|thumb|225px|left|A typical floor layout and elevator arrangement of the WTC towers.]]

On {{Nowrap|September 20}}, 1962, the Port Authority announced the selection of [[Minoru Yamasaki]] as lead architect and [[Emery Roth|Emery Roth & Sons]] as associate architects.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Architect Named for Trade Center |author=Esterow, Milton |date=September 21, 1962 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> Yamasaki devised the plan to incorporate twin towers; Yamasaki's original plan called for the towers to be 80 stories tall,<ref name="nyt-1964jan19a">{{Cite news|title=A New Era Heralded |author=Huxtable, Ada Louise |work=The New York Times |date=January 19, 1964}}</ref> but to meet the Port Authority's requirement for {{convert|10000000|sqft|m2}} of office space, the buildings would each have to be 110 stories tall.<ref name="huxtable">{{Cite news |title=Biggest Buildings Herald New Era |author=Huxtable, Ada Louise |date=January 26, 1964 |work=The New York Times}}</ref>

A major limiting factor in building height is the issue of elevators; the taller the building, the more elevators are needed to service the building, requiring more space-consuming elevator banks.<ref name="huxtable" /> Yamasaki and the engineers decided to use a new system with two "[[sky lobby|sky lobbies]]"—floors where people could switch from a large-capacity express elevator to a local elevator that goes to each floor in a section. This system, inspired by the local-express train operation that the [[New York City Subway]] system used,<ref name="gillespie-p76">Gillespie (1999), p. 76</ref> allowed the design to stack local elevators within the same elevator shaft. Located on the 44th and 78th floors of each tower, the sky lobbies enabled the elevators to be used efficiently, increasing the amount of usable space on each floor from 62 to 75 percent by reducing the number of elevator shafts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wtc.nist.gov/pubs/NISTNCSTAR1-1.pdf |title=Design, Construction, and Maintenance of Structural and Life Safety Systems (NCSTAR 1-1) |publisher=National Institute of Standards and Technology |page=9 |author=Lew, H.S., Richard W. Bukowski, Nicholas J. Carino |date=September 2005}}</ref><ref>Gillespie (1999), pp. 75–78</ref> Altogether, the World Trade Center had 95 express and local elevators.<ref name="ruchelman-p11">Ruchelman (1977), p. 11</ref>

Yamasaki's design for the World Trade Center, unveiled to the public on {{Nowrap|January 18}}, 1964, called for a square plan approximately {{convert|208|ft|m}} in dimension on each side.<ref name="nyt-1964jan19a" /><ref>NIST NCSTAR 1-1 (2005), p. 7</ref> The buildings were designed with narrow office windows {{convert|18|in|cm}} wide, which reflected Yamasaki's [[Acrophobia|fear of heights]] as well as his desire to make building occupants feel secure.<ref name="pekala">{{Cite news|title=Profile of a lost landmark; World Trade Center |publisher=Journal of Property Management |date=November 1, 2001 |author=Pekala, Nancy}}</ref> Yamasaki's design included building facades sheathed in aluminum-alloy.<ref name="nyt-1966may29">{{Cite news|title=Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Buildings |author=Huxtable, Ada Louise |date=May 29, 1966 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> The World Trade Center was one of the most-striking American implementations of the architectural ethic of [[Le Corbusier]], and it was the seminal expression of Yamasaki's gothic modernist tendencies.<ref>Darton (1999), pp. 32–34</ref>

In addition to the twin towers, the plan for the World Trade Center complex included four other low-rise buildings, which were built in the early 1970s. The 47-story 7&nbsp;World Trade Center building was added in the 1980s, to the north of the main complex. Altogether, the main World Trade Center complex occupied a {{convert|16|acre|m2|adj=on}} [[City block#Superblock|superblock]].<ref>{{Cite book |author=Nobel, Philip |title=Sixteen Acres: Architecture and the Outrageous Struggle for the Future of Ground Zero |publisher=Macmillan |year=2005 |page=54 |isbn=0-8050-8002-3}}</ref>

====Structural design====
[[File:Twin Towers under construction.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Construction underway in late 1969]]
[[File:WTC-1971-under-construction.jpg|thumb|left|200px|World Trade Center under construction in 1970]]

The structural engineering firm Worthington, Skilling, Helle & Jackson worked to implement Yamasaki's design, developing the [[tube (structure)|tube-frame structural system]] used in the twin towers. The Port Authority's Engineering Department served as [[geotechnical engineering|foundation engineers]], Joseph R. Loring & Associates as [[electrical engineering|electrical engineers]], and Jaros, Baum & Bolles as [[mechanical engineering|mechanical engineers]]. [[Tishman Realty & Construction|Tishman Realty & Construction Company]] was the [[general contractor]] on the World Trade Center project. [[Guy F. Tozzoli]], director of the World Trade Department at the Port Authority, and Rino M. Monti, the Port Authority's Chief Engineer, oversaw the project.<ref>NIST NCSTAR 1 (2005), p. 1</ref> As an interstate agency, the Port Authority was not subject to local laws and regulations of the City of New York, including [[building code]]s. Nonetheless, the structural engineers of the World Trade Center ended up following draft versions of the new 1968 building codes.<ref name="ncstar1-1-p10">NIST NCSTAR 1-1 (2005), pp. 40–42</ref>

The tube-frame design, earlier introduced by [[Fazlur Khan]], was a new approach that allowed more open floor plans than the traditional design that distributed columns throughout the interior to support building loads. The World Trade Center towers used high-strength, load-bearing perimeter steel columns called [[Truss#Vierendeel truss|Vierendeel trusses]] that were spaced closely together to form a strong, rigid wall structure, supporting virtually all lateral loads such as wind loads, and sharing the gravity load with the core columns. The perimeter structure containing 59 columns per side was constructed with extensive use of prefabricated modular pieces, each consisting of three columns, three stories tall, connected by [[wikt:spandrel|spandrel]] plates.<ref name="ncstar1-1-p10">NIST NCSTAR 1-1 (2005), p. 10</ref> The spandrel plates were welded to the columns to create the modular pieces off-site at the fabrication shop.<ref>NIST NCSTAR 1 (2005), p. 8</ref> Adjacent modules were bolted together with the splices occurring at mid-span of the columns and spandrels. The spandrel plates were located at each floor, transmitting [[shear stress]] between columns, allowing them to work together in resisting lateral loads. The joints between modules were staggered vertically, so that the column splices between adjacent modules were not at the same floor.<ref name="ncstar1-1-p10" />

The core of the towers housed the elevator and utility shafts, restrooms, three stairwells, and other support spaces. The core of each tower was a rectangular area 87 by 135&nbsp;feet (27 by 41&nbsp;m) and contained 47 steel columns running from the bedrock to the top of the tower. The large, column-free space between the perimeter and core was bridged by prefabricated floor trusses. The floors supported their own weight as well as [[live loads]], providing lateral stability to the exterior walls and distributing wind loads among the exterior walls.<ref>NIST NCSTAR 1 (2005), pp. 8–9</ref> The floors consisted of {{convert|4|in|cm}} thick lightweight concrete slabs laid on a fluted steel deck. A grid of lightweight bridging trusses and main trusses supported the floors.<ref name="NIST NCSTAR 1 2005, p. 10">NIST NCSTAR 1 (2005), p. 10</ref> The trusses connected to the perimeter at alternate columns and were on 6&nbsp;foot 8&nbsp;inch (2.03&nbsp;m) centers. The top chords of the trusses were bolted to seats welded to the spandrels on the exterior side and a channel welded to the core columns on the interior side. The floors were connected to the perimeter spandrel plates with [[viscoelasticity|viscoelastic]] dampers that helped reduce the amount of sway felt by building occupants.

Hat [[truss]]es (or "outrigger truss") located from the 107th floor to the top of the buildings were designed to support a tall communication antenna on top of each building.<ref name="NIST NCSTAR 1 2005, p. 10" /> Only 1&nbsp;WTC (north tower) actually had an antenna fitted; it was added in 1978.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/newyork/sfeature/sf_building_pop_01_qt.html |title=New York: A Documentary Film – The Center of the World (Construction Footage) |publisher=Port Authority / PBS |accessdate=May 16, 2007}}</ref> The truss system consisted of six trusses along the long axis of the core and four along the short axis. This truss system allowed some load redistribution between the perimeter and core columns and supported the transmission tower.<ref name="NIST NCSTAR 1 2005, p. 10" />

[[File:Twin Towers-NYC.jpg|thumb|right|225px|The [[World Financial Center]] and [[Battery Park City]], next to the World Trade Center, were built on [[Land reclamation|reclaimed land]].]]

The tube frame design, using steel core and perimeter columns protected with sprayed-on fire resistant material, created a relatively lightweight structure that would sway more in response to the wind compared to traditional structures, such as the [[Empire State Building]] that have thick, heavy masonry for [[fireproofing]] of steel structural elements.<ref name="glanz"/>{{rp|page=138}} During the design process, [[wind tunnel]] tests were done to establish design wind pressures that the World Trade Center towers could be subjected to and structural response to those forces.<ref>NIST NCSTAR 1-1A (2005), p. 65</ref> Experiments also were done to evaluate how much sway occupants could comfortably tolerate; however, many subjects experienced dizziness and other ill effects.<ref name="glanz"/>{{rp|page=139–144}} One of the chief engineers [[Leslie Robertson]] worked with Canadian engineer [[Alan Garnett Davenport|Alan G. Davenport]] to develop viscoelastic [[damping|dampers]] to absorb some of the sway. These viscoelastic dampers, used throughout the structures at the joints between floor trusses and perimeter columns along with some other structural modifications, reduced the building sway to an acceptable level.<ref name="glanz"/>{{rp|page=160–167}}

====Construction====
[[File:Manhattan 1971.jpg|thumb|right|225px|Birds'-eye view of the construction in 1971.]]
In March 1965, the Port Authority began acquiring property at the World Trade Center site.<ref name="nyt 19650329">{{Cite news|title=Port Agency Buys Downtown Tract |author=Ingraham, Joseph C. |date=March 29, 1965 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> Demolition work began on {{Nowrap|March 21}}, 1966, to clear thirteen square blocks of low rise buildings in Radio Row for construction of the World Trade Center.<ref name="gillespie-p61">Gillespie (1999), p. 61</ref> Groundbreaking for the construction of the World Trade Center took place on {{Nowrap|August 5}}, 1966.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Federal Emergency Management Agency |date=May 2002 |title=World Trade Center Building Performance Study |chapter=Chapter 1 |url=http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/mat/mat_fema403.shtm|isbn=0-16-067389-5|accessdate=June 9, 2011}}</ref>

The site of the World Trade Center was located on landfill with the [[bedrock]] located {{convert|65|ft|m}} below.<ref name="iglauer">{{Cite news|url=http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1972/11/04/1972_11_04_130_TNY_CARDS_000308769 |title=The Biggest Foundation |author=Iglauer, Edith |date=November 4, 1972 |work=The New Yorker|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20011218095545/http://www.newyorker.com/FROM_THE_ARCHIVE/ARCHIVES/?010917fr_archive06|archivedate=December 18, 2001}}</ref> To construct the World Trade Center, it was necessary to build a "[[the Bathtub|bathtub]]" with a [[slurry wall]] around the [[West Street]] side of the site, to keep water from the Hudson River out.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Tall Towers will Sit on Deep Foundations |last=Kapp |first=Martin S |publisher=Engineering News Record |date=July 9, 1964}}</ref> The slurry method selected by Port Authority's chief engineer, John M. Kyle, Jr., involved digging a trench, and as excavation proceeded, filling the space with a "slurry" mixture composed of [[bentonite]] and water, which plugged holes and kept groundwater out. When the trench was dug out, a steel cage was inserted and concrete was poured in, forcing the "slurry" out. It took fourteen months for the slurry wall to be completed. It was necessary before excavation of material from the interior of the site could begin.<ref name="gillespie-p68">Gillespie (1999), p. 68</ref> The {{convert|1200000|yd3|m3}} of material excavated were used (along with other fill and dredge material) to expand the Manhattan shoreline across West Street to form [[Battery Park City]].<ref name="gillespie-p71">Gillespie (1999), p. 71</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=New York Gets $90&nbsp;Million Worth of Land for Nothing |publisher=Engineering News Record |date=April 18, 1968}}</ref>

In January 1967, the Port Authority awarded $74&nbsp;million in contracts to various steel suppliers, and [[Karl Koch Steel Consulting|Karl Koch]] was hired to erect the steel.<ref name="nyt-1967jan24">{{Cite news|title=Contracts Totaling $74,079,000 Awarded for the Trade Center |work=The New York Times |date=January 24, 1967}}</ref> [[Tishman Realty & Construction]] was hired in {{Nowrap|February 1967}} to oversee construction of the project.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Trade Center Job To Go To Tishman |author=Kihss, Peter |work=The New York Times |date=February 27, 1967}}</ref> Construction work began on the North Tower in {{Nowrap|August 1968}}; construction on the South Tower was underway by {{Nowrap|January 1969}}.<ref name="pbstimeline">{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/newyork/timeline/index.html |title=Timeline: World Trade Center chronology |publisher=PBS – American Experience |accessdate=May 15, 2007}}</ref> The original [[Downtown Hudson Tubes|Hudson Tubes]], carrying PATH trains into Hudson Terminal, remained in service as elevated tunnels during the construction process until 1971 when a new [[World Trade Center (PATH station)|PATH station]] opened.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Carroll, Maurice |title=A Section of the Hudson Tubes is Turned into Elevated Tunnel |date=December 30, 1968 |work=The New York Times}}</ref>

The [[topping out]] ceremony of 1&nbsp;WTC (North Tower) took place on {{Nowrap|December 23}}, 1970, while 2&nbsp;WTC's ceremony (South Tower) occurred later on {{Nowrap|July 19}}, 1971.<ref name="pbstimeline" /> The first tenants moved into the North Tower in {{Nowrap|December 1970}}; the South Tower accepted tenants in {{Nowrap|January 1972}}.<ref>NIST NCSTAR 1-1, p. xxxvi</ref> When the World Trade Center twin towers were completed, the total costs to the Port Authority had reached $900&nbsp;million.<ref name="Cudahy">Cudahy (2002), p. 58</ref> The ribbon cutting ceremony was on {{Nowrap|April 4}}, 1973.<ref>Gillespie (1999), p. 134</ref>

====Criticism====
[[File:WTC Building Arrangement and Site Plan.svg|thumb|right|225px|The WTC site building arrangement]]

Plans to build the World Trade Center were controversial. The site for the World Trade Center was the location of [[Radio Row#New York City|Radio Row]], home to hundreds of commercial and industrial tenants, property owners, small businesses, and approximately 100 residents, many of whom fiercely resisted forced relocation.<ref>Gillespie (1999), pp. 42–44</ref> A group of small businesses affected filed an [[injunction]] challenging the Port Authority's power of [[eminent domain]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Injunction Asked on Trade Center |date=June 27, 1962 |work=The New York Times |author=Clark, Alfred E.}}</ref> The case made its way through the court system to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|United States Supreme Court]]; the Court refused to accept the case.<ref name="nyt-1963nov13">{{Cite news|title=High Court Plea is Lost by Foes of Trade Center |author=Arnold, Martin |work=The New York Times |date=November 13, 1963}}</ref>

Private real estate developers and members of the Real Estate Board of New York, led by Empire State Building owner Lawrence A. Wien, expressed concerns about this much "subsidized" office space going on the open market, competing with the private sector when there was already a glut of vacancies.<ref>Gillespie (1999), pp. 49–50</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=New Fight Begun on Trade Center |author=Knowles, Clayton |date=February 14, 1964 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> The World Trade Center itself was not rented out completely until after 1979 and then only due to the fact that the complex's subsidy by the Port Authority made rents charged for its office space relatively cheaper than that of comparable office space in other buildings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2012/09/original-world-trade-centers-rocky-real-estate-history/3240/ |title=The World Trade Center's Rocky Real Estate History |author=Eric Jaffe |date=September 12, 2012 |work=The Atlantic Cities |publisher=[[Atlantic Media Company]] |accessdate=September 11, 2012}}</ref> Others questioned whether the Port Authority should have taken on a project described by some as a "mistaken social priority".<ref>{{Cite news|title=Kheel Urges Port Authority to Sell Trade Center |date=November 12, 1969 |work=The New York Times}}</ref>

The World Trade Center design brought criticism of its aesthetics from the [[American Institute of Architects]] and other groups.<ref name="nyt-1966may29" /><ref>{{Cite news|title=Marring City's Skyline |author=Steese, Edward |date=March 10, 1964 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> [[Lewis Mumford]], author of ''[[The City in History]]'' and other works on [[urban planning]], criticized the project and described it and other new skyscrapers as "just glass-and-metal filing cabinets".<ref>{{Cite news|title=Mumford Finds City Strangled By Excess of Cars and People |author=Whitman, Alden |work=The New York Times |date=March 22, 1967}}</ref> The Twin Towers were described as looking similar to "the boxes that the [[Empire State Building]] and the [[Chrysler Building]] came in".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1985/02/27/nyregion/about-new-york-39-years-of-observing-the-observers.html |title=About New York: 39 years observing the observers |last1=Geist |first1=William |last2= |first2= |date=February 27, 1985 |website=nytimes.com |publisher=New York Times |accessdate=September 23, 2014}}</ref> The twin towers' narrow office windows, only {{convert|18|in|cm}} wide and framed by pillars that restricted views on each side to narrow slots, were disliked by many.<ref name="pekala" /> Activist and sociologist [[Jane Jacobs]] also criticized plans for the WTC's construction, arguing that the waterfront should be kept open for New Yorkers to enjoy.<ref>Alex Sparburg Alexiou (2006), ''Jane Jacobs: Urban Visionary'', New Brunswick: Rutgers; ISBN 978-0-8135-3792-4; p. 78.</ref>

The trade center's "[[city block#Superblock|superblock]]", replacing a more traditional, dense neighborhood, was regarded by some critics as an inhospitable environment that disrupted the complicated traffic network typical of Manhattan. For example, in his book ''The Pentagon of Power'', Lewis Mumford denounced the center as an "example of the purposeless giantism and technological exhibitionism that are now eviscerating the living tissue of every great city".<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Pentagon of Power |author=Mumford, Lewis |year=1970 |publisher=Harcourt Brace Jovanovich |page=342 |isbn=0-15-163974-4}}</ref>

For many years, the immense Austin J. Tobin Plaza was often beset by brisk winds at ground level owing to the [[venturi effect]] between the two towers.<ref>{{Cite news|title=At New Trade Center, Seeking Lively (but Secure) Streets |work=The New York Times |url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/07/nyregion/07blocks.html?fta=y |date=December 7, 2006 |author=Dunlap, David W}}</ref> In fact, some gusts were so high that pedestrian travel had to be aided by ropes.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Girding Against Return of the Windy City in Manhattan |work=The New York Times |url = http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/25/nyregion/25blocks.html |date=March 25, 2004 |author=Dunlap, David W}}</ref> In 1999, the outdoor plaza reopened after undergoing $12&nbsp;million renovations, which involved replacing [[marble]] pavers with gray and pink [[granite]] stones, adding new benches, planters, new restaurants, food kiosks and outdoor dining areas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.panynj.gov/pr/71-99.html |title=World Trade Center Plaza Reopens with Summer-long Performing Arts Festival |publisher=[[Port Authority of New York and New Jersey]] |date=June 9, 1999}}</ref>

===Complex===

====North and South Towers====
[[File:World Trade Center lobby, 08-19-2000.png|thumb|left|225px|Lobby of Tower 1, looking south along the east side of the building, August 19, 2000.]]
{{Main|One World Trade Center|Two World Trade Center}}

One World Trade Center and Two World Trade Center, commonly the Twin Towers, the idea of which was brought up by [[Minoru Yamasaki]], were designed as [[Tube (structure)|framed tube structures]], which provided tenants with open floor plans, uninterrupted by columns or walls.<ref>{{cite book |author=National Construction Safety Team |url=http://wtc.nist.gov/NISTNCSTAR1CollapseofTowers.pdf |title=Final Report on the Collapse of the World Trade Center Towers |publisher=NIST |format =PDF |date=September 2005 |chapter=Chapter 1 |pages=5–6}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last = Taylor | first = R. E. |date=December 1966 | title = Computers and the Design of the World Trade Center | journal = [[American Society of Civil Engineers|ASCE]], Structural Division | volume = 92 | issue = ST–6 | pages = 75–91}}</ref> They were the main buildings of the World Trade Center.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/newyork/timeline/index.html |title=Timeline: World Trade Center chronology |publisher=PBS – American Experience |accessdate=May 15, 2007}}</ref> The North Tower (One World Trade Center), the tallest building in the world at {{convert|1368|ft|m}} by the time of its completion, began construction in 1966 with the South Tower (2 World Trade Center);<ref>w.skyscraper.org/TALLEST_TOWERS/t_wtc.htm</ref> extensive use of prefabricated components helped to speed up the construction process, and the first tenants moved into the North Tower in December 1970, while it was still under construction.<ref>{{cite book |title=Design, Construction, and Maintenance of Structural and Life Safety Systems (NCSTAR 1-1) |publisher=National Institute of Standards and Technology |author=Lew, H.S., Richard W. Bukowski, Nicholas J. Carino |date=September 2005 |page=xxxvi}}</ref><ref>Darton, Eric (1999) ''Divided We Stand: A Biography of New York's World Trade Center'', Chapter 6, Basic Books.</ref> When completed in 1973, the South Tower, Two World Trade Center (the South Tower) became the second tallest building in the world at {{Convert|1362|ft|m}}; the South Tower's rooftop observation deck was {{convert|1362|ft|m|abbr=on}} high and its indoor observation deck was {{convert|1310|ft|m|abbr=on}} high.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Mcdowell |first=Edwin |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9802EED7133CF932A25757C0A961958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all |title=At Trade Center Deck, Views Are Lofty, as Are the Prices |work=The New York Times |date=April 11, 1997 |accessdate=September 12, 2009}}</ref> Both towers stood over {{convert|1350|ft|m}} high, and occupied about {{convert|1|acre|m2}} of the total {{convert|16|acre|m2}} of [[World Trade Center site|the site]]'s land. During a press conference in 1973, Yamasaki was asked, "Why two 110-story buildings? Why not one 220-story building?" His response was: "I didn't want to lose the human scale."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.enr.com/new/A0816.asp |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20020611065443/http://www.enr.com/new/A0816.asp |archivedate=June 11, 2002 |title=1973: World Trade Center Is Dynamic Duo of Height |publisher=Engineering News-Record |date=August 16, 1999}}</ref>

When completed in 1972, 1&nbsp;World Trade Center became the tallest building in the world for two years, surpassing the [[Empire State Building]] after a 40-year reign. The North Tower stood {{convert|1368|ft|m}} tall and featured a telecommunications antenna or mast that was added at the top of the roof in 1978 and stood {{convert|360|ft|m}} tall. With the {{convert|360|ft|m|adj=on}}-tall antenna/mast, the highest point of the North Tower reached {{convert|1728|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name="mcdowell1997">{{Cite news|last=Mcdowell |first=Edwin |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9802EED7133CF932A25757C0A961958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all |title=At Trade Center Deck, Views Are Lofty, as Are the Prices |work=The New York Times |date=April 11, 1997 |accessdate=September 12, 2009}}</ref> The World Trade Center towers held the height record only briefly, as Chicago's [[Sears Tower]], finished in {{Nowrap|May 1973}}, reached {{convert|1450|ft}} at the rooftop.<ref>{{cite web| title=Willis Tower Building Information | url=http://www.willistower.com/propertyprofile.html | accessdate=December 1, 2008 }}</ref> Throughout their existence, the WTC towers had [[List of buildings with 100 floors or more|more floors]] (at 110) than any other building.<ref name="mcdowell1997"/> This number was not surpassed until the advent of the [[Burj Khalifa]], which opened in 2010.<ref name="burjdubai">{{cite news|url=http://gulfnews.com/business/property/uae/official-opening-of-iconic-burj-dubai-announced-1.523471|title=Official Opening of Iconic Burj Dubai Announced|publisher=Gulfnews|date=November 4, 2009|accessdate=November 4, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8439618.stm|title=World's tallest building opens in Dubai |date=January 4, 2010|publisher=BBC News |accessdate=January 4, 2010}}</ref>

====Top of the World observation deck====
[[File:Two World Trade Center Observation Deck.jpg|thumb|right|225px|Two World Trade Center's observation deck attracted enormous numbers of visitors.<ref>[http://anthonywrobins.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/WorldTradeCenter_SamplePages.pdf Trade Center]</ref> The [[Midtown Manhattan]] skyline can be seen in the distance.]]

Although most of the space in the World Trade Center complex was off-limits to the public, the South Tower featured an indoor and outdoor public observation area called Top of the World Trade Center Observatories on its 107th and 110th floors. Visitors would pass through security checks added after the 1993 World Trade Center bombing,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E1DE1E3EF937A15751C0A961958260 |title=Metal Detectors, Common at Other City Landmarks, Are Not Used |author=Onishi, Norimitsu |date=February 24, 1997 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=November 21, 2008}}</ref> then were whisked to the 107th floor indoor observatory at a height of {{convert|1310|ft|m}}. The columns on each face of the building were narrowed on this level to allow 28&nbsp;inches of glass between them. The Port Authority renovated the observatory in 1995, then leased it to Ogden Entertainment to operate. Attractions added to the observation deck included a simulated helicopter ride around the city. The 107th floor food court was designed with a subway car theme and featured [[Sbarro]] and [[Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs]].<ref name="mcdowell">{{Cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9802EED7133CF932A25757C0A961958260 |title=At Trade Center Deck, Views Are Lofty, as Are the Prices |author=McDowell, Edwin |date=April 11, 1997 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=November 21, 2008}}</ref><ref name="darton-p152">Darton (1999), p. 152</ref> Weather permitting, visitors could take two short escalator rides up from the 107th floor viewing area to an outdoor viewing platform on the 110th floor at a height of {{convert|1377|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Hudson River Guidebook |author=Adams, Arthur G. |year=1996 |page=87 |publisher=Fordham University Press |isbn=0-8232-1679-9}}</ref> On a clear day, visitors could see up to {{convert|50|mi|km}}.<ref name="mcdowell" /> An anti-suicide fence was placed on the roof itself, with the viewing platform set back and elevated above it, requiring only an ordinary railing and leaving the view unobstructed, unlike the observation deck of the Empire State Building.<ref name="darton-p152" />

====Windows on the World restaurant====
{{Main|Windows on the World}}
The North Tower had a famous restaurant on its 106th and 107th floors, which opened in {{Nowrap|April 1976}}. [[Windows on the World]] was developed by [[Joe Baum]] at a cost of more than $17&nbsp;million.<ref name="zraly">{{Cite book|title=Windows on the World Complete Wine Course |author=Zraly, Kevin |publisher=Sterling Publishing Company |year=2006 |page=260 |isbn=1-4027-2639-2}}</ref> Aside from the main restaurant, two offshoots were located at the top of the North Tower: "Hors d'Oeuvrerie" (offered a [[Cuisine of Denmark#Det kolde bord|Danish smorgasbord]] during the day and sushi in the evening) and "Cellar in the Sky" (a small wine bar).<ref name="grimes">{{Cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E0D9153BF93AA2575AC0A9679C8B63&sec=travel&spon=&pagewanted=all |title=Windows That Rose So Close To the Sun |date=September 19, 2001 |work=The New York Times |author=Grimes, William}}</ref> Windows on the World also had a wine school program run by [[Kevin Zraly]]. Windows on the World was closed following the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.<ref name="zraly" /> Upon reopening in 1996, Hors d'Oeuvrerie and Cellar in the Sky were replaced with the "Greatest Bar on Earth" and "Wild Blue".<ref name="grimes" /> In 2000, its last full year of operation, Windows on the World reported revenues of $37&nbsp;million, making it the highest-grossing restaurant in the United States.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D07E2DA103AF937A35755C0A9649C8B63 |title=Windows on the World Workers Say Their Boss Didn't Do Enough |author=Greenhouse, Steven |date=June 4, 2002 |work=The New York Times}}</ref>
The Skydive Restaurant, opened in 1976 on the 44th floor of the North Tower, was also operated by Windows on the World restaurant, but served only lunch.

====Other buildings====

[[File:WTC-looking north.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The World Trade Center from the then newly completed [[West Side Highway]] in {{Nowrap|July 2001}}.]]

Five smaller buildings stood around the {{convert|16|acre|m2}} block. One was the 22-floor hotel, which opened in 1981 as the Vista Hotel, and in 1995 became the [[Marriott World Trade Center]] (3&nbsp;WTC) at the southwest corner of the site. Three low-rise buildings (4&nbsp;WTC, 5&nbsp;WTC, and 6&nbsp;WTC) in the same hollow tube design as the towers also stood around the plaza. [[6&nbsp;World Trade Center]], at the northwest corner, housed the [[U.S. Customs and Border Protection|United States Customs Service]] and the [[Commodities exchange|U.S. Commodities Exchange]]. [[5&nbsp;World Trade Center]] was located at the northeast corner above the [[World Trade Center (PATH station)|PATH station]] and [[4 World Trade Center (1975-2001)|4&nbsp;World Trade Center]] was at the southeast corner. In 1987, a 47-floor office building called 7&nbsp;World Trade Center was built north of the block. Beneath the World Trade Center complex was an [[The Mall at the World Trade Center|underground shopping mall]], which in turn had connections to various mass transit facilities including the [[New York City Subway]] system and the Port Authority's own [[Port Authority Trans-Hudson|PATH]] trains connecting Manhattan to [[New Jersey]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.labelscar.com/new-york/mall-at-world-trade-center|title=The Mall at the World Trade Center; New York, New York - Labelscar|work=Labelscar: The Retail History Blog|accessdate=October 4, 2014}}</ref>

One of the world's largest gold depositories was stored underneath the World Trade Center, owned by a group of commercial banks. The 1993 bombing detonated close to the vault.<ref>[http://nymag.com/news/9-11/10th-anniversary/gold/ Gold, Recovery of The Towers’ buried treasure], NY Mag, {{Nowrap|August 27}}, 2011</ref> Seven weeks after the {{Nowrap|September 11}} attacks, $230&nbsp;million in precious metals was removed from basement vaults of 4&nbsp;WTC, which included 3,800 100-Troy-ounce 24 carat gold bars and 30,000 1,000-ounce silver bars.<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/money/2001/nov/17wtc.htm Rediff.com. Reuters, {{Nowrap|November 17}}, 2001: ''Buried WTC gold returns to futures trade'']. Retrieved {{Nowrap|December 1}}, 2008.</ref>

=== Existence ===
[[File:Twin Towers from Empire State Building.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Twin Towers at night seen from the [[Empire State Building]] in May 2001.]]
On a typical weekday 50,000 people worked in the towers<ref>Darton (1999), p. 204</ref> with another 200,000 passing through as visitors.<ref>Darton (1999), p. 8</ref> The complex was so large that it had its own zip code: [[10048 (ZIP code)|10048]].<ref>{{Cite news|title='Not Deliverable';Mail still says 'One World Trade Center' |publisher=Newsday (New York) |date=February 4, 2003 |author=Olshan, Jeremy}}</ref> The towers offered expansive views from the observation deck atop the South Tower and the ''Windows on the World'' restaurant on top of the North Tower. The Twin Towers became known worldwide, appearing in numerous movies and television shows as well as on postcards and other merchandise, and became seen as a New York icon, in the same league as the Empire State Building, [[Chrysler Building]] and the [[Statue of Liberty]].<ref>Gillespie (1999), p. 5</ref>

French high wire acrobatic performer [[Philippe Petit]] walked between the towers on a tightrope in 1974, as shown in the documentary film ''[[Man on Wire]]''.<ref name="glanz"/>{{rp|page=219}} Petit walked between the towers eight times on a steel cable that was laid out using a bow and arrow.<ref>http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2008/07/18/he-had-new-york-at-his-feet.html</ref>

Brooklyn toymaker [[George Willig]] scaled the exterior of the south tower in 1977.<ref>Gillespie (1999), p. 149</ref> In 1983, on [[Memorial Day]], high-rise firefighting and rescue advocate [[Dan Goodwin]] successfully climbed the outside of the WTC's North Tower. His stunt was meant to call attention to the inability to rescue people potentially trapped in the upper floors of skyscrapers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngnews/bibliography.html#newyorkcity |title=Skyscrapers. – Goodwin, Dan "Spider Dan" World Trade Center climb (1983), p 169|publisher=National Geographic magazine|date=February 1989|accessdate=January 30, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Skyscraper Defense">{{cite web|url=http://www.skyscraperdefense.com/building_climbs.html|title=Skyscraper Defense|accessdate=July 4, 2011}}</ref>

The [[Classical World Chess Championship 1995|1995 PCA world chess championship]] was played on the 107th floor of the South Tower.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE3DA1230F93AA2575AC0A963958260 |author=Byrne, Robert |title=Kasparov Gets Pressure, but No Victory |work=The New York Times |accessdate=November 21, 2008 | date=September 19, 1995}}</ref>

====February 13, 1975 fire====
On February 13, 1975, a [[three-alarm fire]] broke out on the 11th floor of the North Tower. Fire spread through the tower to the 9th and 14th floors by igniting the insulation of telephone cables in a utility shaft that ran vertically between floors. Areas at the furthest extent of the fire were extinguished almost immediately and the original fire was put out in a few hours. Most of the damage was concentrated on the 11th floor, fueled by cabinets filled with paper, alcohol-based fluid for office machines, and other office equipment. [[Fireproofing]] protected the steel and there was no structural damage to the tower. In addition to damage caused by the fire on the 9th - 14th floors, water from the extinguishing of the fires damaged a few floors below. At that time, the World Trade Center had no [[fire sprinkler system]]s.<ref name="nyt 19750214">{{Cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1975/02/14/nyregion/14WTC.html |title=Trade Center Hit by 6-Floor Fire |work=The New York Times |date=February 14, 1975 |accessdate=September 11, 2008}}</ref>

====February 26, 1993 bombing====
{{Main|1993 World Trade Center bombing}}
[[File:WTC 1993 ATF Commons.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Underground bombing aftermath]]
The first Islamist terrorist attack on the World Trade Center occurred on February 26, 1993, at 12:17&nbsp;p.m. A [[Ryder]] truck filled with {{convert|1500|lb}} of explosives, planted by [[Ramzi Yousef]], detonated in the underground garage of the North Tower.<ref name="reeve p10">Reeve (1999), p. 10</ref> The blast opened a 100&nbsp;foot (30&nbsp;m) hole through five sublevels with the greatest damage occurring on levels B1 and B2 and significant structural damage on level B3.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Design, Construction, and Maintenance of Structural and Life Safety Systems (NCSTAR 1-1) |publisher=National Institute of Standards and Technology |pages=xlv |author=Lew, H.S., Richard W. Bukowski, Nicholas J. Carino |date=September 2005}}</ref> Six people were killed and 50,000 other workers and visitors were left gasping for air within the 110 story towers. Many people inside the North Tower were forced to walk down darkened stairwells that contained no emergency lighting, some taking two hours or more to reach safety.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/111113 |title=A Shaken City's Towering Inferno |author=Mathews, Tom |date=March 8, 1993 |work=Newsweek |accessdate=October 26, 2008}}</ref><ref name="barbanel">{{Cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE5DC103DF934A15751C0A965958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all |title=Tougher Code May Not Have Helped |author=Barbanel, Josh |date=February 27, 1993 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=November 20, 2008}}</ref>

Yousef fled to Pakistan after the bombing but was arrested in [[Islamabad]] in {{Nowrap|February 1995}}, and was extradited back to the United States to face trial.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE0DE1E3DF93AA35751C0A963958260 |title=Fugitive in Trade Center Blast Is Caught and Returned to U.S. |author=Johnston, David |date=February 9, 1995 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=November 20, 2008}}</ref> Sheikh [[Omar Abdel Rahman]] was convicted in 1996 for involvement in the bombing and other plots.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0DE4DF1E39F93BA25752C0A960958260 |title=Sheik Sentenced to Life in Prison in Bombing Plot |date=January 18, 1996 |author=Fried, Joseph P. |work=The New York Times |accessdate=November 20, 2008}}</ref> Yousef and [[Eyad Ismoil]] were convicted in {{Nowrap|November 1997}} for their carrying out the bombing.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.cnn.com/1997-11-12/us/9711_12_world.trade.center_1_yousef-and-ismoil-bombing-plot-worst-terrorist-attack?_s=PM:US |title=Jury convicts 2 in Trade Center blast |publisher=CNN |date=November 12, 1997 |accessdate=November 20, 2008}}</ref> Four others had been convicted in {{Nowrap|May 1994}} for their involvement in the 1993 bombing.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19940525&slug=1912247 |title=In Sentencing Bombers, Judge Takes Hard Line |work=Seattle Times / AP |date=May 25, 1994 |author=Hays, Tom and Larry Neumeister |accessdate=November 20, 2008}}</ref> According to a presiding judge, the conspirators' chief aim at the time of the attack was to destabilize the north tower and send it crashing into the south tower, toppling both landmarks.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9708/05/wtc.trial/index.html |title=Prosecutor: Yousef aimed to topple Trade Center towers |date=August 5, 1997 |publisher=CnN |accessdate=November 20, 2008}}</ref>

Following the bombing, floors that were blown out needed to be repaired to restore the structural support they provided to columns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interfire.org/res_file/pdf/Tr-076.pdf |format =PDF |title=The World Trade Center Complex |author=Port Authority Risk Management Staff |publisher=United States Fire Administration |accessdate=May 15, 2007}}</ref> The slurry wall was in peril following the bombing and loss of the floor slabs that provided lateral support against pressure from Hudson River water on the other side. The refrigeration plant on sublevel B5, which provided air conditioning to the entire World Trade Center complex, was heavily damaged.<ref name="ennala">{{Cite journal|doi=10.1061/(ASCE)0887-3828(1994)8:4(229)|author=Ramabhushanam, Ennala and Marjorie Lynch |title=Structural Assessment of Bomb Damage for World Trade Center |journal=Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities |volume=8 |pages=229–242 | issue=4|year=1994}}</ref> After the bombing, the Port Authority installed [[photoluminescent]] markings in the stairwells.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.fpemag.com/archives/enewsletter.asp?i=16 |title=Escape from New York – The Use of Photoluminescent Pathway-marking Systems in High-Rise |author=Amy, Jr., James D. |publisher=Society of Fire Protection Engineer |journal=Emerging trends |date = December 2006|volume=Issue 8 |accessdate=November 20, 2008}}</ref> The [[fire alarm system]] for the entire complex needed to be replaced because critical wiring and signaling in the original system was destroyed.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://wtc.nist.gov/pubs/NISTNCSTAR1-4.pdf |format=PDF |title=Active Fire Protection Systems (NCSTAR 1–4) |publisher=National Institute of Standards and Technology |page=44 |author=Evans, David D., Richard D. Peacock, Erica D. Kuligowski, W. Stuart Dols, William L. Grosshandler |date=September 2005}}</ref> As a memorial to the victims of the bombing of the tower, a [[reflecting pool]] was installed with the names of those who had been killed in the blast.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9405E2D81631F935A15751C0A9649C8B63 |title=Their Monument Now Destroyed, 1993 Victims Are Remembered |author=Dwyer, Jim |work=The New York Times |date=February 26, 2002 |accessdate=November 20, 2008}}</ref> However, the memorial was destroyed following the {{Nowrap|September 11}} attacks. Names of the victims of the 1993 bombing are included in the [[National September 11 Memorial & Museum]].

====January 14, 1998 robbery====
{{Main|1998 Bank of America robbery}}
In January 1998, Mafia member [[Ralph Guarino]], who had gained maintenance access to the World Trade Center, arranged a three-man crew for a heist that netted over $2&nbsp;million from a Brinks delivery to the eleventh floor of the World Trade Center.<ref name="mafia 2007">{{Cite book|title=Bringing Down the Mob: The War Against the American Mafia |author=Reppetto, Thomas |year=2007 |publisher=Macmillan |page=279 |isbn=0-8050-8659-5 |url=http://books.google.com/?id=E-AFhs0RrKIC&pg=RA1-PA279 }}</ref>

====Lease====
In 1998, the Port Authority approved plans to privatize the World Trade Center.<ref>{{Cite news |title=PA to ease WTC tax load, rent would be cut to offset hike by city |newspaper=New York Daily News |date=February 6, 2001 |author=Herman, Eric}}</ref> In 2001, the Port Authority sought to lease the World Trade Center to a private entity. Bids for the lease came from [[Vornado Realty Trust]], a joint bid between [[Brookfield Properties]] Corporation and [[Boston Properties]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9900E4DF163EF932A05752C0A9679C8B63 |title=Bidding for Twin Towers |work=The New York Times |date=January 31, 2001 |author=Bagli, Charles V. |accessdate=November 20, 2008}}</ref> and a joint bid by [[Silverstein Properties]] and [[The Westfield Group]].<ref name="cuozzo">{{Cite news|title=Larry Lusts for Twin Towers; Silverstein has an Eye on WTC's; Untapped Retail Potential |newspaper=New York Post |date=January 30, 2001 |author=[[Steve Cuozzo|Cuozzo, Steve]]}}</ref> By privatizing the World Trade Center, it would be added to the city's tax rolls<ref name="cuozzo" /> and provide funds for other Port Authority projects.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Port Authority Gets Final Bids on WTC |newspaper=New York Daily News |date=January 31, 2001 |author=Herman, Eric}}</ref> On {{Nowrap|February 15}}, 2001, the Port Authority announced that Vornado Realty Trust had won the lease for the World Trade Center, paying $3.25&nbsp;billion for the 99-year lease.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Brookfield Loses Lease Bid |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=February 23, 2001}}</ref> [[Vornado Realty Trust|Vornado]] outbid Silverstein by $600&nbsp;million though Silverstein upped his offer to $3.22&nbsp;billion. However, Vornado insisted on last minute changes to the deal, including a shorter 39-year lease, which the Port Authority considered nonnegotiable.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A03E5DB113DF933A15750C0A9679C8B63&sec=&pagewanted=1a |title=As Trade Center Talks Stumble, No. 2 Bidder Gets Another Chance |author=Bagli, Charles V. |work=The New York Times |date=March 20, 2001 |accessdate=November 20, 2008}}</ref> Vornado later withdrew and Silverstein's bid for the lease to the World Trade Center was accepted on {{Nowrap|April 26}}, 2001,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D01E3DA1339F934A15757C0A9679C8B63&sec=&pagewanted=1 |title=Deal Is Signed To Take Over Trade Center |author=Bagli, Charles V. |work=The New York Times |date=April 27, 2001 |accessdate=November 20, 2008}}</ref> and closed on {{Nowrap|July 24}}, 2001.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B06E0D91F3AF936A15754C0A9679C8B63&sec=&spon= |title=Leasing of Trade Center May Help Transit Projects, Pataki Says |work=The New York Times |date=July 25, 2001 |author=Smothers, Ronald |accessdate=November 20, 2008}}</ref>

===Destruction===
{{Main|Collapse of the World Trade Center}}
{{See also|September 11 attacks|American Airlines Flight 11|United Airlines Flight 175}}

[[File:UA Flight 175 hits WTC south tower 9-11 edit.jpeg|thumb|right|250px|The scene just after United Airlines Flight 175 hits the South Tower; a fireball rises high.]]
[[File:National Park Service 9-11 Statue of Liberty and WTC fire.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The World Trade Center on fire with the [[Statue of Liberty]] in the foreground]]

On September 11, 2001, [[Islamic terrorism|Islamist terrorists]] hijacked [[American Airlines Flight 11]] and crashed it into the northern façade of the North Tower at 8:46:40&nbsp;a.m., the aircraft striking between the 93rd and 99th floors. Seventeen minutes later, at 9:03:11&nbsp;a.m., a second team of terrorists crashed the similarly hijacked [[United Airlines Flight 175]] into the southern facade of the South Tower, striking it between the 77th and 85th floors.<ref name="911commission">{{cite web|url=http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/index.htm |title=9/11 Commission Report |publisher=The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States}}</ref> The damage caused to the North Tower by Flight&nbsp;11 destroyed any means of escape from above the impact zone, trapping 1,344&nbsp;people.<ref name="102Mins">{{Cite news |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5bTftBx4s |archivedate=October 10, 2008 |last=Dwyer |first=Jim |author2=Lipton, Eric et al. |title=102 Minutes: Last Words at the Trade Center; Fighting to Live as the Towers Die |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F00E6DC153BF935A15756C0A9649C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=4 |date=May 26, 2002 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=May 23, 2008}}</ref> Flight 175 had a much more off-centered impact compared to Flight 11, and a single stairwell was left intact; however, only a few people managed to pass through it successfully before the tower collapsed. Although the South Tower was struck lower than the North Tower, thus affecting more floors, a smaller number, fewer than 700, were killed instantly or trapped.<ref name="NYTFatal">{{Cite news |last=Lipton |first=Eric |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/22/nyregion/study-maps-the-location-of-deaths-in-the-twin-towers.html |title=Study Maps the Location of Deaths in the Twin Towers |date=July 22, 2004 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=April 22, 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

At 9:59&nbsp;a.m., the South Tower [[collapse of the World Trade Center|collapsed]] after burning for approximately 56 minutes. The fire caused steel structural elements, already weakened from the plane impact, to fail. The North Tower collapsed at 10:28&nbsp;a.m., after burning for approximately 102&nbsp;minutes.<ref name="nist-ncstar1">NIST NCSTAR 1-1 (2005), p. 34; pp. 45–46</ref> At 5:20&nbsp;p.m.<ref name="ch5" /> on {{Nowrap|September 11}}, 2001, [[7 World Trade Center]] started to collapse with the crumble of the east penthouse, and it collapsed completely at 5:21&nbsp;p.m.<ref name="ch5">{{cite web|url=http://www.fema.gov/pdf/library/fema403_ch5.pdf |title=FEMA 403 -World Trade Center Building Performance Study, Chapter. 5, section 5.5.4 |format=PDF |accessdate=January 30, 2011}}</ref> owing to uncontrolled fires causing structural failure.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wtc.nist.gov/media/NIST_NCSTAR_1A_for_public_comment.pdf |title=Final Report on the Collapse of World Trade Center Building 7 – Draft for Public Comment |publisher=NIST |pages=xxxii |date=August 2008 }}</ref>

The [[3 World Trade Center]], a Marriott hotel, was destroyed during the collapse of the two towers. The three remaining buildings in the WTC plaza were extensively damaged by debris and later were demolished.<ref name="wtcstudy">{{cite web |url=http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/mat/wtcstudy.shtm |title=World Trade Center Building Performance Study |date=May 2002 |publisher=[[Federal Emergency Management Agency|FEMA]] |accessdate=June 9, 2011}}</ref> The [[Deutsche Bank Building]] across [[Liberty Street (Manhattan)|Liberty Street]] from the World Trade Center complex was later condemned owing to the uninhabitable toxic conditions inside; it was deconstructed, with work completed in early 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fema.gov/pdf/library/fema403_ch6.pdf |title=World Trade Center Building Performance Study – Bankers Trust Building |date=May 2002 |publisher=FEMA |accessdate=July 12, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=The Deutsche Bank Building at 130&nbsp;Liberty Street | publisher=Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center |url=http://www.renewnyc.com/plan_des_dev/130Liberty/default.asp |accessdate=July 12, 2007}}</ref> The [[Borough of Manhattan Community College]]'s Fiterman Hall at 30 [[West Broadway (Manhattan)|West Broadway]] was also condemned owing to extensive damage in the attacks and is slated for [[deconstruction (building)|deconstruction]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Fiterman Hall – Project Updates |publisher=Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center |url=http://www.lowermanhattan.info/construction/project_updates/fiterman_hall_39764.aspx |accessdate=November 19, 2008}}</ref>

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, media reports suggested that tens of thousands might have been killed in the attacks, as over 50,000 people could be inside the towers. Ultimately, 2,753 death certificates (excluding those for hijackers) were filed relating to the 9/11 attacks in New York, including one filed for Felicia Dunn-Jones, who was added to the official death toll in {{Nowrap|May 2007}}; Dunn-Jones died five months later from a lung condition linked to exposure to dust during the collapse of the World Trade Center.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/24/nyregion/24dust.html |title=For the First Time, New York Links a Death to 9/11 Dust |author=DePalma, Anthony |work=The New York Times |date=May 24, 2007}}</ref> Three other victims were then added to the official death toll by the city medical examiner's office: [[Sneha Anne Philip|Dr. Sneha Anne Philip]], who was last seen the day before the attacks; Leon Heyward, a man who developed lymphoma and subsequently died in 2008 as a result of dust ingestion during the events following the attacks to the Twin Towers;<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/10/national/main4250100.shtml |title=Official 9/11 Death Toll Climbs By One |work=CBS News | agency=Associated Press |date=July 10, 2008 |accessdate=August 29, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/12/nyregion/12groundzero.html |title=9/11's Litany of Loss, Joined by Another Name |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 11, 2009 |accessdate=August 29, 2010 | first=Lisa W. | last=Foderaro}}</ref> and Jerry Borg, who died in December 2010 of [[pulmonary sarcoidosis]] determined in June 2011 to be the result of dust from the attacks.<ref name=Borg/> [[Cantor Fitzgerald|Cantor Fitzgerald L.P.]], an investment bank on the 101st–105th floors of One World Trade Center, lost 658 employees, considerably more than any other employer,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5282060.stm |title=Cantor rebuilds after 9/11 losses |work=BBC News | location = London |date=September 4, 2006 |accessdate=May 20, 2008}}</ref> while [[Marsh & McLennan Companies]], located immediately below Cantor Fitzgerald on floors 93–101 (the location of Flight 11's impact), lost 295 employees, and 175 employees of [[Aon Corporation]] were killed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.investmentnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070911/REG/70911011 |title=Industry honors fallen on 9/11 anniversary |work=InvestmentNews |author=Siegel, Aaron |date=September 11, 2007 |accessdate=May 20, 2008}}</ref> In addition, 343 of the dead were [[New York City Fire Department|New York City firefighters]], 84 were Port Authority employees, of whom 37 were members of the [[Port Authority Police Department]], and another 23 were [[New York City Police Department]] officers.<ref>{{Cite news |first1=Denise | last1 = Grady |first2 =Andrew C. | last2 = Revkin |title=Lung Ailments May Force 500 Firefighters Off Job |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C05E1DC1631F933A2575AC0A9649C8B63 |date=September 10, 2002 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=May 23, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Post-9/11 report recommends police, fire response changes |url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002-08-19-nypd-nyfd-report_x.htm |date=August 19, 2002 |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=USA Today | location = Washington DC |accessdate=May 23, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Police back on day-to-day beat after 9/11 nightmare |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/07/20/wtc.police/index.html |date=July 21, 2002 |publisher=CNN |accessdate=May 23, 2008}}</ref> Ten years after the attacks, only 1,629 victims have been identified.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/08/24/2011-08-24_id_remains_of_wtc_worker_10_yrs_later.html |title=Remains of WTC worker Ernest James, 40, ID'd ten years after 9/11 |last=Lemre |first=Jonathan |work=New York Daily News |date=August 24, 2011 |accessdate=August 25, 2011}}</ref> Of all the people who were still in the towers when they collapsed, only 20 were pulled out alive.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://m.rockymountainnews.com/news/2006/aug/04/terror-in-close-up/ |title=Terror in close-up |author=Denerstein, Robert | location = Denver, CO |date=August 4, 2006 |newspaper=Rocky Mountain News |accessdate=November 19, 2008}}</ref>

==New buildings==
[[File:LowerManhattanSept2013.png|thumb|left|300px|The nearly-complete One and Four World Trade Center as seen from [[New Jersey]]. Two and Three World Trade Center are still in the early stages of construction.]]
{{Main|One World Trade Center#New building|World Trade Center site}}

After years of delay and controversy, reconstruction at the [[World Trade Center site]] is now underway. The new complex includes [[One World Trade Center]] (formerly known as the Freedom Tower), [[7 World Trade Center]], three other high-rise office buildings, a museum and memorial, and a transportation hub similar in size to [[Grand Central Terminal]]. The One World Trade Center was completed on August 30, 2012, and the final component of its spire installed on May 10, 2013. The [[Four World Trade Center]] is on track for completion and occupancy by 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lowermanhattan.info/construction/project_updates/freedom_tower_26204.aspx |title=Lower Manhattan : 1 World Trade Center |publisher=Lowermanhattan.info |accessdate=December 11, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lowermanhattan.info/construction/project_updates/world_trade_center_tower_76774.aspx |title=Lower Manhattan : 4 World Trade Center (150 Greenwich Street) |publisher=Lowermanhattan.info |date=September 8, 2006 |accessdate=December 11, 2011}}</ref> The [[National September 11 Memorial & Museum|9/11 memorial]] is complete, and the [[National September 11 Memorial & Museum|museum]] opened on May 21, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.911memorial.org |title=National September 11 Memorial & Museum &#124; World Trade Center Memorial |publisher=911memorial.org |date=December 7, 2011 |accessdate=December 11, 2011}}</ref> [[Three World Trade Center]] and the [[World Trade Center (PATH station)|Transportation Hub]] are also making progress, and are set to be finished by around late 2017<ref>{{cite news|last=Rich|first=Schapiro|title=Blocking 3 World Trade Center deal a bad idea|url=http://nypost.com/2014/03/17/blocking-3-world-trade-center-deal-a-bad-idea|accessdate=June 9, 2014|newspaper=New York Post|date=March 17, 2014}}</ref> and late 2015,<ref>{{cite news |title=Trade Center Transit Hub’s Cost Now Over $3.4 Billion| first=Michael M. |last=Grynbaum |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/25/nyregion/25ground-zero.html |date=February 24, 2011 |accessdate=February 25, 2011 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> respectively. [[Two World Trade Center]]'s full construction was placed on hold in the early 2010s, until tenants are found.<ref>"NY agency OKs tax-free debt for World Trade Center". Gralla, Joan. ''Reuters''. Retrieved December 11, 2009.</ref>

=== Cleanup ===
{{New World Trade Center}}
[[File:WTC Building Arrangement in preliminary site plan.svg|thumb|250px|right|Preliminary site plans for the World Trade Center's reconstruction.]]

The process of cleanup and recovery continued 24&nbsp;hours a day over a period of eight months. Debris was transported from the World Trade Center site to [[Fresh Kills Landfill]] on [[Staten Island]], where it was further sifted.<ref>{{cite web|title=Items from World Trade Center Recovery Operation, Fresh Kills Landfill|url=http://statenisland.pastperfect-online.com/00039cgi/mweb.exe?request=keyword;keyword=fresh%20kills%20recovery;dtypewanted=;dtype=d|work=Online Collections Database|publisher=Staten Island Historical Society}}</ref> On {{Nowrap|May 30}}, 2002, a ceremony was held to officially mark the end of the cleanup efforts.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/05/30/rec.wtc.cleanup/ |title=Ceremony closes 'Ground Zero' cleanup |date=May 30, 2002 |publisher=CNN |accessdate=September 11, 2008}}</ref> In 2002, ground was broken on construction of a new 7 WTC building located just to the north of the main World Trade Center site. Since it was not part of the site master plan, Larry Silverstein was able to proceed without delay on the rebuilding of 7&nbsp;World Trade Center, which was completed and officially opened in {{Nowrap|May 2006}}; this had been considered a priority since restoring Consolidated Edison Co.'s electrical substation in the building's lower floors was necessary to meet power demands of Lower Manhattan.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Developer's Pace at 7&nbsp;World Trade Center Upsets Some |work=The New York Times |date=January 31, 2002 |author=Bagli, Charles V. |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01E4DD1F3AF932A05752C0A9649C8B63 |accessdate=February 17, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lowermanhattan.info/news/7_world_trade_center_50451.aspx |title=7&nbsp;World Trade Center Opens with Musical Fanfare |publisher=Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) |date=May 22, 2006 |accessdate=July 27, 2007}}</ref><ref name="ar-June2006">{{Cite news|title=Major Step at Ground Zero: 7&nbsp;World Trade Center Opening |publisher=Architectural Record |date=May 17, 2006 |url=http://www.archrecord.construction.com/news/wtc/archives/060517opening.asp |accessdate=February 17, 2008}}</ref> While 7 World Trade Center was not part of the master plan for the Twin Towers site, Silverstein and Con Edison recognized that the rebuilding of 7 World Trade Center would have to be consistent with the master plan which was expected to re-open the street grid which had been blocked by the original World Trade Center super-block. As a result, the design for the new 7 World Trade Center allowed for the re-opening of Greenwich Street, which had been blocked by the original 7 World Trade Center.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/July_11/NYCWTCDesign.html|title=Experts Discuss Planning, Designing and Rebuilding World Trade Center|publisher=Cornell Chronicle|date=July 27, 2011}}</ref> A temporary [[World Trade Center (PATH station)|PATH station]] at the World Trade Center opened in {{Nowrap|November 2003}}; it will be replaced by a permanent station designed by [[Santiago Calatrava]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.panynj.gov/drp/pdfdocs/env/feis/VolumeI/07_Urban%20Design.pdf |work=Permanent WTC Path Terminal Final Environmental Impact Statement and Section 4(f) Evaluation |title=Urban Design and Visual Resources (Chapter 7) |format=PDF |publisher=Port Authority of New York and New Jersey |date = May 2005|accessdate=November 19, 2008 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080306041907/http://www.panynj.gov/drp/pdfdocs/env/feis/VolumeI/07_Urban+Design.pdf |archivedate = March 6, 2008}}</ref>

With the main World Trade Center site, numerous stakeholders were involved including Silverstein and the Port Authority, which in turn meant that [[George Pataki]], the then-[[Governor of New York]], had some authority. In addition, the victims' families, people in the surrounding neighborhoods, Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]], and others wanted input. Governor Pataki established the [[Lower Manhattan Development Corporation]] (LMDC) in {{Nowrap|November 2001}} as an official commission to oversee the rebuilding process.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DEFD81639F930A35752C1A9679C8B63 |author=Pérez-Peña, Richard |title=State Plans Rebuilding Agency, Perhaps Led by Giuliani |work=The New York Times |date=November 3, 2001 |accessdate=November 19, 2008}}</ref> The LMDC held a competition to solicit possible designs for the site. The [[Memory Foundations]] design by [[Daniel Libeskind]] was chosen as the master plan for the World Trade Center site.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.renewnyc.com/plan_des_dev/wtc_site/new_design_plans/selected_design.asp |author=Lower Manhattan Development Corporation |title=Selected Design for the WTC Site as of February&nbsp;2003 |accessdate=November 19, 2008}}</ref> The plan included the {{convert|1776|ft}} [[1 World Trade Center|Freedom Tower]] (now known as ''One World Trade Center'') as well as a memorial and a number of other office towers. Out of the [[World Trade Center Site Memorial Competition]], a design by [[Michael Arad]] and Peter Walker titled ''Reflecting Absence'' was selected in {{Nowrap|January 2004}}.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/15/nyregion/nyregionspecial3/15memorial.htm&pagewanted=all |title=Unveiling of Memorial Reveals a Wealth of New Details |author=Collins, Glenn and David W. Dunlap |work=The New York Times |date=January 15, 2004 |accessdate=November 19, 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

===Planning===
Governor Pataki established the [[Lower Manhattan Development Corporation]] (LMDC) in November 2001, as an official commission to oversee the rebuilding process.<ref>{{Cite news
| last=Pérez-Peña
| first=Richard
| title=A NATION CHALLENGED: DOWNTOWN; State Plans Rebuilding Agency, Perhaps Led by Giuliani
| newspaper=[[The New York Times]]
| date=November 3, 2001
| url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DEFD81639F930A35752C1A9679C8B63
| accessdate=July 31, 2010}}</ref> The LMDC coordinates [[Federal government of the United States|federal]] assistance in the rebuilding process, and works with the [[Port Authority of New York and New Jersey|Port Authority]], Larry Silverstein, and [[Studio Daniel Libeskind]], the master plan architect for the site's redesign. The corporation also handles communication with the local community, businesses, the city of New York, and relatives of victims of the September 11 attacks.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Corporation to Rebuild Ground Zero |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/04/opinion/a-corporation-to-rebuild-ground-zero.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 4, 2001 |accessdate=July 31, 2010}}</ref> A 16-member board of directors, half appointed by the governor and half by the mayor of New York, governs the LMDC.<ref>{{cite press release
| title = Governor and Mayor Name Lower Manhattan Redevelopment Corporation
| publisher = www.RenewNYC.org
| date = November 29, 2001
| url = http://www.renewnyc.com/displaynews.aspx?newsid=2b0bfde6-61b6-48f9-a6ca-70475846c95b
| accessdate = June 16, 2008}}</ref> The LMDC had questionable legal status regarding the restoration of the World Trade Center site, because the Port Authority owns most of the property and Larry Silverstein leased the World Trade Center's office space in July 2001. But the LMDC, in an April 2002 articulation of its principles for action, asserted its role in revitalizing lower Manhattan.<ref>{{cite press release
| title = Lower Manhattan Development Corporation Announces Principles for Development and Blueprint for Renewal for World Trade Center Site
| publisher = www.RenewNYC.org
| date = April 9, 2002
| url = http://www.renewnyc.com/displaynews.aspx?newsid=112d53af-0d20-44ec-89d7-23f397b5a569
| accessdate = June 16, 2008}}</ref>

In the months following the attacks, [[architect]]s and [[urban planning]] experts held meetings and forums to discuss ideas for rebuilding the site.<ref>{{cite news |title=Up From The Ashes |publisher=Newsweek |date=November 12, 2001 |author=McGuigan, Cathleen}}</ref> In January 2002, New York City [[art dealer]] [[Max Protetch]] solicited 50 concepts and [[Rendering (computer graphics)|renderings]] from artists and architects, which were put on exhibit in his [[Chelsea, Manhattan|Chelsea]] [[art gallery]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Everyone Weighs In With Rebuilding Ideas |first=Edward |last=Wyatt |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/12/nyregion/ground-zero-the-proposals-everyone-weighs-in-with-rebuilding-ideas.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 11, 2002 |accessdate=July 31, 2010}}</ref>

In April 2002, the LMDC sent out requests for proposals to redesign the World Trade Center site to 24 Manhattan architecture firms, but then soon withdrew them. The following month, the LMDC selected [[Beyer Blinder Belle]] as planner for the redesign of the World Trade Center site.<ref>{{cite news |title=An Appraisal; Marginal Role for Architecture at Ground Zero |first=Herbert |last=Muschamp |authorlink=Herbert Muschamp |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9404EEDB1E38F930A15756C0A9649C8B63 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 23, 2002 |accessdate=July 31, 2010}}</ref> On July 16, 2002, Beyer Blinder Belle unveiled six concepts for redesigning the World Trade Center site.<ref>{{cite press release
| title = Port Authority and Lower Manhattan Developent [''sic''] Corporation Unveil Six Concepts Plans for World Trade Center Site, Adjacent Areas and Related Transportation
| publisher = www.RenewNYC.org
| date = July 16, 2002
| url = http://www.renewnyc.com/displaynews.aspx?newsid=b3aa6fb4-ebb6-48e3-ba62-c92bce75a647
| accessdate = June 16, 2008}}</ref> All six designs were voted "poor" by the roughly 5,000 New Yorkers that submitted feedback, so the LDMC announced a new, international, open-design study.<ref>{{cite press release
| title = Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and New York New Visions Announce Panel to Help Select Teams to Participate in Design Study of World Trade Center Site and Surrounding Areas
| publisher = www.RenewNYC.org
| date = September 17, 2002
| url = http://www.renewnyc.com/displaynews.aspx?newsid=633a746a-8f04-40ea-85aa-4f58639a2d20
| accessdate = June 16, 2008}}</ref>

In an August 2002 press release, the LMDC announced a design study for the World Trade Center site.<ref>{{cite press release
| title = Lower Manhattan Development Corporation Announces Design Study for World Trade Center Site and Surrounding Areas
| publisher = www.RenewNYC.org
| date = August 14, 2002
| url = http://www.renewnyc.com/displaynews.aspx?newsid=da800006-c35b-4f1c-a9ec-ff53cfe45ae2
| accessdate = August 7, 2008}}</ref> The following month, the LMDC, along with New York New Visions – a coalition of 21 architecture, engineering, planning, landscape architecture and design organizations – announced seven semifinalists. The following seven architecture firms were then invited to compete to be the master plan architect for the World Trade Center:
*[[Foster and Partners]] ([[Norman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank|Norman Foster]])
*[[Studio Daniel Libeskind]] ([[Daniel Libeskind]])
*Meier Eisenman Gwathmey Holl ([[Peter Eisenman]], [[Richard Meier]], [[Charles Gwathmey]] and [[Steven Holl]]), sometimes known as "The Dream Team"<ref>{{cite news |title=Turning a Competition Into a Public Campaign; Finalist for Ground Zero Design Pull Out the Stops |first=Julie |last=Iovine |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE6DD173CF935A15751C0A9659C8B63 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 26, 2003 |accessdate=July 31, 2010}}</ref>
*[[Skidmore, Owings & Merrill]]
*[[THINK Team]] ([[Shigeru Ban]], [[Frederic Schwartz]], [[Ken Smith (architect)|Ken Smith]], [[Rafael Vinoly]])
*United Architects
Peterson Littenberg, a small New York architecture firm, had been enlisted by the LMDC earlier that summer as a consultant, and was invited to participate as the seventh semifinalist.<ref>{{cite press release | title = Lower Manhattan Development Corporation Announces Six Teams of Architects and Planners to Participate in Design Study of World Trade Center Site | publisher = www.RenewNYC.org | date = September 26, 2002 | url = http://www.renewnyc.com/displaynews.aspx?newsid=655798f4-b8ee-4583-bf27-b3b9a9c29f1f | accessdate = June 16, 2008}}</ref>

The seven semifinalists presented their entries to the public on December 18, 2002, at the [[Winter Garden Atrium|Winter Garden]] of the [[World Financial Center]]. In the following weeks, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill withdrew its entry from the competition.<ref>{{cite news |title=Beauty Contest: Two Firms Vie At W.T.C. Site |first=Tom |last=McGeveran |url=http://www.observer.com/node/47085 |newspaper=[[The New York Observer]] |date=February 9, 2003 |accessdate=July 31, 2010}}</ref>

Days before the announcement of the two finalists in February 2003, Larry Silverstein wrote to LMDC Chair [[John C. Whitehead|John Whitehead]] to express his disapproval of all of the semifinalists' designs. As the Twin Towers' insurance money recipient, Silverstein claimed that he had the sole right to decide what would be built. He announced that he had already picked Skidmore, Owings & Merrill as his master planner for the site.<ref name=breakingground>{{cite book | last = Libeskind | first = Daniel | title = Breaking Ground | publisher = [[Riverhead Books]] | location = New York | year = 2004 | pages = 164, 166, 181, 183 | isbn = 1-57322-292-5 }}</ref> On February 1, 2003, the LMDC selected two finalists, the THINK Team and Studio Daniel Libeskind, and planned on picking a single winner by the end of the month. Rafael Viñoly of the THINK Team and Studio Daniel Libeskind presented their designs to the LMDC, which selected the THINK design. Earlier the same day, however, [[Roland Betts]], a member of the LMDC, had called a meeting and the corporation had agreed to vote for the THINK design before hearing the final presentations. Governor Pataki, who had originally commissioned the LMDC, intervened and overruled the LMDC's decision.<ref name=breakingground /> On February 27, 2003, Studio Daniel Libeskind officially won the competition to be the master planner for the World Trade Center redesign.

Libeskind's original proposal, which is titled [[Memory Foundations]], underwent extensive revisions during collaboration with Larry Silverstein, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, whom Silverstein hired.<ref>http://www.renewnyc.com/plan_des_dev/wtc_site/new_design_plans/Sept_2003_refined_design.asp</ref> Though Libeskind designed the site, the individual buildings have been designed by different architects. While not all of Liebeskind's ideas were incorporated into the final design, his design and the public support it garnered did solidify the principle that the original footprints of the Twin Towers should be turned into a memorial and not be used for commercial purposes. As a result, Liebeskind's lawyers at the New York firm of Wachtell Lipton embarked on the multi-year negotiation process to frame a master plan for the rebuilding.<ref>http://www.wtc.com/news/Silversteins-Army</ref> The first step in this process, completed in 2003, was the "swap" in which Silverstein gave up his rights to the footprints of the Twin Towers so that they could become a memorial, and in exchange received the right to build five new office towers around the memorial.<ref>http://www.americanlawyer-digital.com/americanlawyer/tal200709/?pg=5</ref> The "swap" and the ensuing negotiations, which lasted for many years, have been referred to as the most complex real estate transaction in human history because of the complexity of the issues involved, the many stakeholders, and the difficulty of reaching consensus.<ref>{{cite news|first=Scott|last=Raab|title=Construction of World Trade Center|publisher=Esquire|date=May 24, 2007}}</ref>

===Rebuilding===
[[File:WTC Site View 2011-12-03.jpg|thumb|right|250px|alt=Large construction side with cranes and two recessed, square areas|Construction of the 9/11 Memorial complex in December 2010]]

On March 13, 2006, workers arrived at the World Trade Center site to remove remaining debris and start surveying work. This marked the official start of construction of the [[National September&nbsp;11 Memorial & Museum]], though not without controversy and concerns from some family members.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=1719737 |title=Construction on Ground Zero Memorial Ignites Protests |author=Katersky, Aaron |date=March 13, 2006 |publisher=ABC News |accessdate=November 19, 2008}}</ref> In {{Nowrap|April 2006}}, the Port Authority and Larry Silverstein reached an agreement in which Silverstein ceded rights to develop the Freedom Tower and Tower Five in exchange for financing with [[Liberty Bonds]] for Towers Two, Three, and Four.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/28/nyregion/28rebuild.html |title=Freedom Tower Construction Starts After the Beginning |author=Dunlap, David W. |date=April 28, 2006 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=November 19, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.rpa.org/spotlight/issues/spotlightvol5_06.html |title=At the Heart of Ground Zero Renegotiations, a 1,776-Foot Stumbling Block |author=Todorovich, Petra |journal=Spotlight on the Region |publisher=Regional Plan Association |date=March 24, 2006 |volume=5 |accessdate=November 19, 2008 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080605052142/http://www.rpa.org/spotlight/issues/spotlightvol5_06.html |archivedate = June 5, 2008 | issue=6}}</ref> On {{Nowrap|April 27}}, 2006, a ground-breaking ceremony was held for the Freedom Tower.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/28/AR2006042800601.html |title=Construction Begins at Ground Zero |author=Westfeldt, Amy |work=Washington Post / AP |date=April 28, 2006 |accessdate=November 19, 2008}}</ref>

In May 2006, architects [[Richard Rogers]] and [[Fumihiko Maki]] were announced as the architects for Towers Three and Four, respectively.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/03/arts/design/03towe.html |title=Richard Rogers to Design Tower at Ground Zero |author=Pogrebin, Robin |date=May 3, 2006 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=November 19, 2008}}</ref> The final designs for Towers Two, Three and Four were unveiled on {{Nowrap|September 7}}, 2006. Tower Two, or [[200 Greenwich Street]], will have a roof height of {{convert|1254|ft}} and a {{convert|96|ft}} tripod spire for a total of {{convert|1350|ft}}. Tower Three, or [[175 Greenwich Street]] will have a roof height of 1,155&nbsp;feet (352&nbsp;m) and an antenna height reaching {{convert|1255|ft}}. Tower Four, or [[150&nbsp;Greenwich Street]], will have an overall height of {{convert|946|ft}}.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/07/nyregion/08towerscnd.html |title=Designs Unveiled for Freedom Tower’s Neighbors |work=The New York Times |author=Dunlap, David W. |date=September 7, 2006 |accessdate=November 19, 2008}}</ref> On {{Nowrap|June 22}}, 2007, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that [[JP Morgan Chase]] will build Tower 5, a 42-story building on Site 5 occupied by the Deutsche Bank Building,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/14/nyregion/14rebuild.html |title=Chase Bank Set to Build Tower by Ground Zero |author=Bagli, Charles V. |date=June 14, 2007 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=November 19, 2008}}</ref> and [[Kohn Pedersen Fox]] was selected as the architect for the building.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://archrecord.construction.com/news/daily/archives/070730wtc.asp |title=Kohn Responds to WTC5 Criticisms |publisher=Architectural Record |date=July 30, 2007 |author=Appelbaum, Alec |accessdate=November 19, 2008}}</ref> Four renowned architects, including Spanish architect [[Santiago Calatrava]], who designed the transit hub, One WTC designer [[David Childs]] of [[Skidmore, Owings and Merrill]], and the famed British architect Norman Foster of [[Foster and Partners]] designed Tower Two and masterminded the iconic diamond design, will greatly enhance the street-level atmosphere of the rebuilt site. The projects will be complete between early 2013 to mid-2015 respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wtc.com/news/world-trade-center-rebuilding-may-finish-by-2014-officials-say |title=World Trade Center Rebuilding May Finish by 2014, Officials Say &#124;&#124; News &#124;&#124; World Trade Center |last=Goldman |first=Henry |date=September 7, 2010 |work=WTC.com |accessdate=September 12, 2011}}</ref>

Publisher [[Condé Nast]] agreed to move its headquarters to One World Trade Center in 2010, and with this shift, many more tenants were expected to move to the building.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/04/nyregion/04conde.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=conde%20nast&st=cse | work=The New York Times | first=Charles V. | last=Bagli | title=Condé Nast Signs Deal to Move to Ground Zero Tower | date=August 3, 2010}}</ref> {{As of|August 2011}}, One World Trade Center was at 80 stories with glass up to the 54th floor, Tower Four was up around 38 stories with glass up to the 15th floor, and the former [[Deutsche Bank Building]] had been completely dismantled, and the Port Authority was working on their [[Vehicle Security Center]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wtc.com/news/deutsche-bank-demolition-finally-reaches-street-level |title=Deutsche Bank Demolition Finally Reaches Street Level &#124;&#124; News &#124;&#124; World Trade Center |last=Shapiro |first=Julie |date=February 8, 2011 |work=WTC.com |accessdate=September 12, 2011}}</ref> The [[World Trade Center Transportation Hub]]'s PATH hall is nearly complete. The [[National September 11 Memorial & Museum|memorial]] officially opened to relatives of the deceased on September 11, 2011, and to the general public on September 12. World Trade Center Tower Three's foundations are becoming visible, and will be completed in mid-2014 if Silverstein Properties can meet requirements set by the Port Authority, as they very likely will.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://in.reuters.com/article/2010/08/26/us-worldtradecenter-silverstein-idUSTRE67P4MS20100826 |agency=Reuters | title=World Trade Center deal may hasten rebuilding | date=August 26, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wtc.com/about/office-tower-3/3-world-trade-center-schedule |title=3 World Trade Center &#124;&#124; About the WTC &#124;&#124; World Trade Center |work=WTC.com |accessdate=September 12, 2011}}</ref> By December 2011, Tower Two's foundations were finished and assembly of the frame was started.<ref>{{cite web|title=Two World Trade Center on Emporis|url=http://www.emporis.com/building/two-world-trade-center-new-york-city-ny-usa2|accessdate=December 30, 2011}}</ref> Because numerous American and Chinese companies were "very interested" in leasing space at the WTC, Two World Trade Center was likely to be finished earlier than expected.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wtc.com/news/everybody-go-downtown! |title=Everybody Go Downtown! &#124;&#124; News &#124;&#124; World Trade Center |last=Rubinstein |first=Dana |date=October 20, 2010 |work=WTC.com |accessdate=September 12, 2011}}</ref>

A report in September 2013 revealed that, at the time of the report, the World Trade Center Association (WTCA) continues to negotiate with the One World Trade Center in regard to the title "World Trade Center", as the WTCA purchased the rights to the name in 1986. The WTCA is seeking free office space in the tower worth US$500,000 in exchange for the use of "World Trade Center" on the One World Trade Center tower and associated souvenirs.<ref>{{cite news|title=The puzzling non-profit behind the "World Trade Center" name makes a surprising amount of money|url=http://qz.com/122449/the-puzzling-non-profit-behind-the-world-trade-center-name-makes-a-surprising-amount-of-money/|accessdate=September 14, 2013|newspaper=Quartz|date=September 13, 2013|author=Simone Foxman}}</ref>

In early December 2013, Australian retail corporation [[Westfield Group|Westfield]] announced that it will invest US$800 million for complete control of the retail space at the rebuilt center. Westfield, Australia's largest shopping mall operator, will purchase the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s 50 percent stake in the retail part of the World Trade Center site, increasing its total investment to more than US$1.4 billion.<ref>{{cite web|title=Westfield to Buy World Trade Center Retail Stake|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-04/westfield-to-buy-world-trade-center-retail-stake.html|work=Bloomberg Personal Finance|publisher=Bloomberg L.P|accessdate=December 15, 2013|author=Iain McDonald and Nichola Saminather|date=December 5, 2013}}</ref>

In April 2014, with the opening of the [[National September 11 Memorial & Museum#Museum|9/11 Museum]], the first fencing was removed since the opening of 7 World Trade Center in 2006. At the same time, the [[National September 11 Memorial & Museum#Memorial|9/11 Memorial]] discontinued the requirement for tickets in order to enter the memorial, not only providing pedestrian access to the future towers, but also a path through the site to the Memorial Plaza and surrounding streets.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dunlap|first=David W.|title=Passes Are No Longer Needed at 9/11 Memorial|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/17/nyregion/passes-no-longer-needed-at-sept-11-memorial.html |accessdate=May 22, 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 15, 2014}}</ref> All construction fencing is expected to be removed with the opening of the final tower sometime in 2015–2018.<ref>{{cite news|last=Murphy|first=William|title=Fencing at WTC coming down, adding accessibility|url=http://www.newsday.com/911-anniversary/fencing-at-wtc-coming-down-adding-accessibility-1.6020583|accessdate=September 22, 2013|newspaper=Newsday|date=September 5, 2013}}</ref>

===2014 logo===
[[File:World trade center 2014 logo detail.png|150px|frameless|right]]
The World Trade Center's new logo, revealed in August 2014, was designed by the firm [[Landor Associates]] and shaped like a "W". All the black bars, the empty spaces, and the "W" itself symbolizes something, giving the logo at least six meanings:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-08-15/the-world-trade-centers-new-logo-has-at-least-six-meanings|title=Six Meanings Behind the World Trade Center’s New Logo|author=Belinda Lanks|work=Bloomberg Businessweek|date=August 15, 2014|accessdate=August 24, 2014}}</ref>

*Each of the five bars in the logo represents the five towers that will be the World Trade Center when it is complete.<ref name=Wilson-logo/><ref name=Dunlap-Logo/>
*The top half of the logo features bars cut off at a 17.76-degree angle, evoking One World Trade Center's 1,776-foot height.<ref name=Wilson-logo/><ref name=Dunlap-Logo/>
*There are two white columns at the top symbolizing the [[Tribute in Light]] memorial.<ref name=Wilson-logo/><ref name=Dunlap-Logo/>
*The three black bars at the top also symbolize the Twin Towers' [[trident]]-shaped columns.<ref name=Wilson-logo/><ref name=Dunlap-Logo/>
*The two black bars at the bottom also stand for the twin pools of the [[National September 11 Memorial & Museum|9/11 Memorial]].<ref name=Wilson-logo/><ref name=Dunlap-Logo/>
*The logo, as a whole, is in the shape of a "W", which stands for "World Trade Center" and "[[Westfield World Trade Center]]".<ref name=Wilson-logo>{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Mark|title=The World Trade Center Has A New, Very Confusing Logo|url=http://www.fastcodesign.com/3034384/the-world-trade-center-has-a-new-very-confusing-logo|accessdate=August 14, 2014|publisher=Fast Company|date=August 14, 2014}}</ref><ref name=Dunlap-Logo/>

Landor Associates was awarded a $3.57 million contract in 2013 to design the logo. Douglas Riccardi, the principal in the design firm Memo, stated, "Its strength is its ability to be seen in many ways. You could never get more meaning in five little bars. The problem is that people may not bother to find out what the meanings are."<ref name=Dunlap-Logo>{{cite news|last1=Dunlap|first1=David|title=World Trade Center Logo Captures Site’s Destruction and Rebirth|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/14/nyregion/world-trade-center-logo-captures-sites-destruction-and-rebirth.html?_r=0|accessdate=August 14, 2014|publisher=New York Times|date=August 13, 2014}}</ref>

==={{anchor|Controversy and criticism}} Early controversy and criticism===

There was much debate regarding the future of [[World Trade Center site|Ground Zero]] following the destruction of the World Trade Center. Disagreement and controversy regarding who owned the property and what would be built there hindered construction at the site for several years. Many wanted the Twin Towers to be rebuilt, but stronger and taller. This movement was led by an informal organization called the ''Twin Towers Alliance''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.twintowersalliance.com/|title=The Twin Towers Alliance|publisher=|accessdate=October 4, 2014}}</ref> Others did not want anything built there at all or wanted the entire site to become a memorial. Finally, a master plan was agreed upon, which would feature a memorial and museum where the original Twin Towers stood and six new skyscrapers surrounding it.<ref>{{cite web|last=Handwerker |first=Haim |url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/925885.html |title=The politics of remembering Ground Zero – Haaretz – Israel News |work=Haaretz |date=November 20, 2007 }}</ref>

The social center of the old World Trade Center included a restaurant on the 107th floor, called [[Windows on the World]], and its Greatest Bar in the World; these were tourist attractions in their own right, and a social gathering spot for people who worked in the towers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ny.eater.com/archives/2013/09/wotw.php|title=Windows on the World, New York's Sky-High Restaurant - Eater NY|publisher=|accessdate=October 4, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/02/world-trade-center-observatory-views-photos_n_3001052.html | work=Huffington Post | title=PHOTOS: The Stunning Views Atop One World Trade Center | date=April 2, 2013}}</ref> This restaurant also housed one of the most prestigious wine schools in the United States, called "Windows on the World Wine School", run by wine personality [[Kevin Zraly]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.esquire.com/blogs/food-for-men/windows-on-the-world-september-11|title=Windows on the World September 11 - A 9/11 Story About Wine and Wisdom - Esquire|work=Esquire|accessdate=October 4, 2014}}</ref> Despite numerous assurances that these local landmarks and global attractions would be rebuilt,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20010917/SUB/109170715#|title=Owner vows to reopen Windows On The World|date=September 17, 2001|work=Crain's New York Business|accessdate=October 4, 2014}}</ref> the Port Authority scrapped plans to rebuild these WTC attractions, which has outraged some observers.<ref>{{cite news|journal=Gothamist|date=March 8, 2011|title=WTC Scraps Windows on the World Plan|url=http://gothamist.com/2011/03/08/wtc_scraps_windows_on_the_world_pla.php}}</ref>

An episode of [[CBS]]'s ''60 Minutes'' in 2010 focused on the lack of progress at Ground Zero, particularly on the lack of completion dates for a majority of the buildings, the main tower, One World Trade Center's having undergone three different designs, and the delays and monetary expense involved. Investor [[Larry Silverstein]] said the Port Authority's estimated completion date for the entire site was 2037, and billions of dollars had already been spent on the project, even though Ground Zero "is still a hole in the ground". During an interview for the episode, Larry Silverstein said: "I am the most frustrated person in the world.&hellip;I'm seventy-eight years of age; I want to see this thing done in my lifetime".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/18/60minutes/main6220282.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody|title=Developer: Ground Zero a National Disgrace - 60 Minutes: Eight Years and Billions of Dollars Later, Part of 9/11 Site is Still Just a Big Hole|publisher=CBS News|date=February 18, 2010|page=1}}</ref>

[[One World Trade Center]] itself was met with criticism early in its planning and construction stages.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/05/18/wtc.trump/ |publisher=CNN | title=Trump pushes own Ground Zero plan | date=May 19, 2005}}</ref> The original design, which was asymmetrical, significantly shorter, and called for an off-center spire, was met with much disapproval, causing a new one to be devised. A key feature of the final design, the fortified, windowless base, was also denounced as looking dreary and unwelcoming.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/12/world-trade-center-update_n_860992.html "Prismatic glass façade for WTC tower scrapped"]. ''Huffington Post''. May 12, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2011.</ref> To alleviate this problem, the designers decided to clad it with prismatic glass panels. Since the failure of that plan, it is now unclear what the base will be covered with. The name change from ''Freedom Tower'' to ''One World Trade Center'' was met with some criticism.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,511278,00.html|title=Freedom Tower Name Change Slammed as Unpatriotic|date=March 28, 2009 |work=Fox News.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The then-[[Governor of New York]], [[George Pataki]], stated in 2003 that "[t]he Freedom Tower isn't going to be One World Trade Center, it's going to be the Freedom Tower."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/14660/ |title=Freedom Tower Renaming Draws Criticism |date=April 2, 2009 |first=Charlotte |last=Cuthbertson |publisher=The Epoch Times |accessdate=October 31, 2010}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[One World Trade Center]] and its [[Construction of One World Trade Center|construction]]
* [[Philippe Petit#World Trade Center walk|The Philippe Petit High Wire Walk Between the Towers]]
* [[Project Rebirth]]
* [[The Sphere]]
* [[World Trade Center in popular culture]]
{{Portal bar|Architecture|New York City|September 11 attacks|United States}}

==References==
===Explanatory notes===
{{reflist|group=note}}

===Citations===
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Further reading==

* {{Cite book|author=Darton, Eric |title=Divided We Stand: A Biography of New York's World Trade Center |publisher=Basic Books |year=1999 |isbn=0-465-01727-4}}
* {{Cite book|author=Fanella, David A., Arnaldo T. Derecho, S.K. Ghosh |url=http://wtc.nist.gov/pubs/NISTNCSTAR1-1A.pdf |title=Design and Construction of Structural Systems (NCSTAR 1-1A) |publisher=National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) |series=Final Report on the Collapse of the World Trade Center Towers |date = September 2005|format=PDF}}
* {{Cite book|author=Gillespie, Angus K. |year=1999 |title=Twin Towers: The Life of New York City's World Trade Center |publisher=Rutgers University Press |isbn=0-8135-2742-2}}
* {{Cite book|author=Glanz, James and Eric Lipton |title=City in the Sky |publisher=Times Books |year=2003 |isbn=0-8050-7428-7}}
* Greenspan, Elizabeth (2013). ''Battle for Ground Zero: Inside the Political Struggle to Rebuild the World Trade Center.'' New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
* {{Cite book|author=Lew, H.S., Richard W. Bukowski, Nicholas J. Carino |url=http://wtc.nist.gov/pubs/NISTNCSTAR1-1.pdf |title=Design, Construction, and Maintenance of Structural and Life Safety Systems (NCSTAR 1-1) |series=Final Reports of the Federal Building and Fire Investigation of the World Trade Center Disaster |publisher=National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) |format=PDF |date=September 2005}}
* {{Cite book|author=Reeve, Simon |title=The New Jackals: Ramzi Yousef, Osama bin Laden and the Future of Terrorism |publisher=Northeastern University Press |year=1999 |isbn=1-55553-509-7}}
* {{Cite book|author=Ruchelman, Leonard I. |title=The World Trade Center: Politics and Policies of Skyscraper Development |publisher=Syracuse University Press |year=1977 |isbn=0-8156-2180-9}}
* {{Cite book|author=National Construction Safety Team |url=http://wtc.nist.gov/NCSTAR1/PDF/NCSTAR%201-6.pdf |format=PDF | title=Federal Building and Fire Safety Investigation of the World Trade Center Disaster (NCSTAR 1–6) |series=Structural Fire Response and Probable Collapse Sequence of the World Trade Center Towers |publisher=National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) |date=September 2005}}
* {{cite web|publisher=Federal Emergency Management Agency |date=May 2002 |title=World Trade Center Building Performance Study |url=http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/mat/wtcstudy.shtm |accessdate=June 9, 2011}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|World Trade Center (New York City)}}
* [http://www.wtc.com/ World Trade Center] – Silverstein Properties
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20010809130651/http://www.panynj.gov/wtc/wtcmain.HTM World Trade Center] – Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
* [http://www.panynj.gov/wtcprogress/index.html World Trade Center Progress] – Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
* {{Dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/New_York/Localities/N/New_York_City/Manhattan/Arts_and_Entertainment/Architecture/World_Trade_Center/|World Trade Center}}
* [http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/33502/building-the-twin-towers-a-tribute Building the Twin Towers: A Tribute] – slideshow by ''[[Life (magazine)|Life]]'' magazine
* [http://www.pbs.org/wnet/newyork/index.html New York: A Documentary film] features the construction and destruction of the World Trade Center in the seventh and final episode of the series directed by [[Ric Burns]].
* [http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675023511_World-Trade-Center_steel-workers_tower-under-construction_John-McCeever Historic video with scenes of World Trade Center under construction in 1970]

{{S-start}}
{{S-ach|rec}}
{{S-bef|rows=3|before=[[Empire State Building]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[List of tallest buildings in the world|Tallest building in the world]]|years=1972–1974}}
{{S-aft|rows=3|after=[[Willis Tower]]}}
{{S-break}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[List of tallest buildings in the United States|Tallest building in the United States]]|years=1972–1974}}
{{S-break}}
{{S-ttl|title=Building with the most floors|years=1972–2001}}
{{S-break}}
{{S-bef|rows=|before=[[City National Plaza]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=Tallest twin towers in the world|years=1972–1998}}
{{S-aft|rows=|after=[[Petronas Towers]]}}
{{S-end}}
{{navboxes|list=
{{Manhattan}}
{{World Trade Center}}
{{September 11 attacks}}
{{PANYNJ navbox}}
{{Buildings in New York City timeline}}
{{Supertall skyscrapers|former}}
{{Minoru Yamasaki}}
}}
[[Category:World Trade Center| ]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures destroyed in the September 11 attacks]]
[[Category:Collapsed buildings in the United States]]
[[Category:Destroyed landmarks in New York]]
[[Category:Former towers]]
[[Category:Financial District, Manhattan]]
[[Category:Former buildings and structures in New York City]]
[[Category:Former skyscrapers]]
[[Category:Former world's tallest buildings]]
[[Category:History of New York City]]
[[Category:Office buildings in Manhattan]]
[[Category:Port Authority of New York and New Jersey]]
[[Category:Skyscrapers in Manhattan]]
[[Category:Skyscrapers over 350 meters]]
[[Category:Twin towers]]
[[Category:World Trade Centers|New York]]
[[Category:Landmarks in Manhattan]]

Latest revision as of 11:49, 16 August 2015

This is the old page history that used to be at the title World Trade Center. Its accompanying talk page is still located at Talk:World Trade Center and a fuller explanation of how this came to be can be found there. The history here has been preserved for attribution purposes, do not delete it. Jenks24 (talk) 11:48, 16 August 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:World_Trade_Center/old&oldid=676349157"