Freedom Tower

It was pleasing to see that New York City is currently constructing a new World Trade Center, on a site which otherwise would continue to exist as a white elephant. The first design the city was looking at building was an absolute disaster, actually I do remember there were several designs that were all competing to be selected as the new World Trade Center. None of them were worthy to be built on such hallowed ground.

New Yorkers decided in no uncertain terms that these designs were to go. Eventually the Freedom Tower was decided upon, a 108 floor tower that only has 82 floors for office space, yet had a roof height identical to that of 1 WTC. I will admit that the look of the building is growing on me and I find it clever how the building twists as it ascends. The base of the building, however, needs to be redesigned. The glass tower can look quite majestic, but the concrete base is doing it no favours.

If an identical tower were built adjacent to the Freedom Tower then I would have no qualms about the design at all, since the lack of a twin tower doesn’t quite sit well with me. One popular design that was ultimately ignored suggested rebuilding the towers almost exactly as they were, only this time the towers would be a dark-grey colour and contain 111 floors each. It would have been magnificent, and in an age where tapering towers are king, it would have been held in high regard. It is rare for skyscrapers of that height to contain the same amount of office space on the top floor as there is on the first.

Of course no design will be universally accepted, yet in lieu of a twin tower, why couldn’t there be more usable floors. The Chicago Spire will reign supreme in Chicago with 150 floors, and until recently the Crown Las Vegas was going to contain 142 floors, until the FAA showed up and ruined the party. Only joking, they’re just doing their job.

It does vex me that developers are cautious about building tall in New York ever since 9/11. What about all that determined American spirit that was to ensure that ‘the terrorists don’t win?’ While I am pleased that the building’s roof isn’t shorter than its predecessor, I just don’t understand why the floor count couldn’t be matched. I have no doubt there are reasons for these decisions, reasons we may not all agree with. Nevertheless, it is a valiant effort, and hopefully when it’s built I’ll learn to love it.