Freedom Tower to rise from ashes at 1,776 feet

[DS1]

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The Freedom Tower, proposed to restore Lower Manhattan's skyline, will be the world's tallest building, according to the architects, who unveiled the revised model Friday.

The tower, designed to be a centerpiece of the rebuilding plan for the World Trade Center site, will rise 1,776 feet -- a nod to the year the United States declared its independence. The height stays as originally proposed a year ago by architect Daniel Libeskind, since designated the site's master planner.

The new building design, unveiled at Federal Hall, the site of President George Washington's first inaugural, includes 70 floors topped by a column of energy-generating wind turbines. The tower is encased from top to bottom in a steel cabled netting that designers likened to cables on a suspension bridge like the Brooklyn Bridge.

A broadcast antenna brings the structure's total height above 2,000 feet. The building includes 2.6 million square feet of commercial space.

(freedom tower :puke: )

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Northeast/12/19/wtc.plan/index.html

[DS1]

1. Let's not make this political though...

"George Pataki, who wants to break ground on the building before the Republican National Convention next August."

[Beetwasher]

2. Great, another gigantic bullseye...

How intelligent...

[Freddie Stubbs]

You took the words right out of my mouth

Who would want to work in that building?

[bedtimeforbonzo]

35. I don't see

how they could protect it from another jetliner attack.

[mot78]

37. I'm sick of this "it's a target" mantra

Everything in NYC is some kind of target. Be it subways, stadiums, or skyscrapers. Hopefully passengers on planes in the future will be smart like those on United Flight 93.

For more info, click on here:

http://forums.wirednewyork.com

[kysrsoze]

45. There are plenty of other tall buildings in NY and the rest of the U.S.

I'm glad they decided to build a very huge tower. What are we going to do - never build another skyscraper in NY again? I think it's a good way of showing that the last attacks are not going to deter us from going about a normal life. To be honest - most of the other designs I saw sucked anyway. This one looks pretty classy.

I would think Al Queda would have moved on from this sort of tactic to something more psychologically devastating, like multiple soft targets or a dirty bomb, etc.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

3. yeah

I don't really dig on the whole "Freedom Tower" title. They should of called it, oh, i don't know - The World Trade Center. That would have been a spit in the eye of terrorists.

[DS1]

4. or more accurately

"You might be able to see your job from here on a clear day plaza"

[newyorican]

8. "New" World Trade Center

But it will be called "The Tower" within NYC. Personally I miss the Twins. They always let you know where you where from mid-town on down.

[ronnykmarshall]

10. I like that idea better.

And I agree, I miss the Twins as well. I still say they should have rebuilt the twin towers but on opposite sides from where the old ones stood.

Freedom Tower?? :puke:


More Rethug propaganda.

[leftynyc]

18. I used to call them my compass

when I'd come out an unfamiliar subway stop, just find the towers and that way was South.

[arwalden]

5. MUST It Be Called "Freedom Tower"?? Good Grief!!

Freedom? Again???

Freedom fries.
Freedom toast.
Freedom bread.

It soundss so hackneyed and over-used and nose-thumbing. How about something ELSE that's just as all-American and just as symbolic and meaningful?

Liberty Tower?

-- Allen

[Cocoa]

16. it's a terrible name

"Freedom" is a huge mistake. NYC will be stuck with a reminder of this awful period.

[Poiuyt]

22. They could call it "Hero Tower!"

The word "hero" has become the most overused cliche around. I think we all know the the readers of DU are the true heros in this country!

[Voltaire99]

38. McFreedom Tower!

Future home of the McEconomy!

[kysrsoze]

46. How about Cheney Plaza?

Seems fitting....

[Imalittleteapot]

61. Freedom? From what? How about Trifecta Tower.

Nice ring.

[Bucky]

71. Let's call it the Nine Tower. Hmm, now where did I put my 11 tower?

[Elidor]

6. Jingo Plaza

They hate us for our abuse of irony

[Nevernose]

21. That was pretty clever (n/t)

[Vogon_Glory]

58. Jingo Tower. I Like That

I like the idea of calling the new spire Jingo Tower. Freedom is in danger as long as the incumbent and his fellow Republicans try to cut more holes in the Constitution.

By the way, George, why is Osama bin Laden still at large and why did it take you until September 11th, 2001 to notice that al Quaeda was a threat?

[Suziq]

7. I Work Across the Street . . . . .

from the World Trade Center site. I never in my life have seen such an ugly building as the one they are proposing.

The area is full of very old, historical buildings. The design of the new building does not fit in.

:hippie:

[TheBlob]

29. Know your history

That is EXACTLY what thousands of people and groups opposing the construction of the original towers said VERBATIM decades ago (not that I agreed with them).


"I never in my life have seen such an ugly building as the one they are proposing. The area is full of very old, historical buildings. The design of the new building does not fit in."

[Voltaire99]

41. WTC Towers were among the ugliest ever built; this may be worse

The towers were an architectural banality: a soulless double-fingered groping of the sky by the corporate mind.

Miss em? Not for a minute.

Is the proposed replacement any better? It's slightly more interesting because, unlike the WTC blandness, it proceeds from an idea and uses form to express that idea. Its prevailing idea is contained in its permanent hole; call it the "never-forget hole."

The idea -- endlessly renewed nationalism, endless preservation of vengeance -- is a lousy one. Essentially militarizing a public space for capitalism, this is a right wing building, being built for right wing purposes, with the goal of shaping public obedience. Ultimately it mocks the very name it bears.

[matt53]

54. I didn't know buildings could be right wing

That's pretty funny. And a little melodramatic. Maybe run your critique of the design by Daniel Libeskind...

As far as I'm concerned, and I've been to lectures about the design and concept behind it (I'm an architect), its a beautiful building, design, and concept. I don't remember any mention of "shaping public obedience" or "preservation of vengeance".

The only fear I have is that the lease owner has ultimate control over the project last I heard, and he could decide to make it a big brown box if he wanted to.

[AngryAmish]

79. This is going to be the mother of all public architecture fights

Everybody has an opinion about architecture. The modern v. post-modern v. classical v. anything you can think of. I live in Chicago and we got a great tall building in the John Handcock. For the Sears Tower - all I can say it is tall.
I do have my own ill-informed opinion about the design, but I am not expressing it yet.

[matt53]

55. A matter of taste

Can't please everyone.

Would you rather they made it faux old? Its the 21st century and its the most watched construction site in the world. Would you really expect them to build some bland building that gets swallowed up by the skyline, and effectively cowers into itself? This has to be a monument to the future. When you really think about it, there's no other choice.

[ronnykmarshall]

9. Why not just call it.....

"The Replacement Of The Buildings That Were Attacked That Saved George W. Bush's Sorry Ass"

[arwalden]

12. I Need Some "FREEDOM" Acronyms

Feeding
Republican
Executives
Everywhere
Delivering
Our
Money

[AngryAmish]

80. heh

[jpgray]

11. "Freedom Tower"? Worst name EVER.

The Twin Towers were not some ditzy "artistic" crap, but good solid design. This new tower looks like shite.

[jmcgowanjm]

19. good solid design?-Thinking person's slip? n/t

[Spentastic]

13. Why not

The Tower of Infinite justice?

[arwalden]

14. The Over-Use Of "Freedom"...

... reminds me of a high-school pep squad.

-- Allen

(Vote FLICK)

[Demonaut]

20. I agree

Call it something else, every time I hear freedom something I see schrubs face.

[Paulie]

15. Who is going to work in it?

The Sears Tower here in Chicago is becoming vacant, companies moving out left and right because the costs of the units went up because of insurance costs. The owners of the building defaulted, it's now owned by Met Life! Security at the building is worse than an airport, so having clients run the gauntlet to see you doesnt wash.

They should have left all that space as a memorial only.

[peterh]

17. I suspect it will be various government agencies

that will pay top dollar in rent to ensure that those involved will have a tidy cashflow and what better way to set the market for rent…
:eyes:

[mot78]

36. Only the first 70 stories will be occupied because of that

The upper floors will be filled with broadcast equipment and windmills to help power the building.

BTW, as a NYer, I know for a fact that most people want the skyline restored, but I can understand the economics, which will level will eventually. About a year ago, I read an article in NY Newsday that said tall buildings in NYC were getting filled up again. There was a similar article in the NY Times just over a year ago too only pertaining to the Empire State Building.

I actually like the design of the tower, but I don't like the spire's coupling with the roof. However, nothing can truely replace the Twin Towers for me.

[et in Arcadia ego...]

23. Why not have two...

They could be called the 'FreeDumb and FreeDumber' Towers. :crazy:

[Dogmudgeon]

24. Let's call it the FRENCH TOWER!

With the additional height above sea level that the Manhattan bedrock gives the tower, it ought to reach the 1789 feet to symbolize the French Revolution.

Anyway, whaddaya got against a little Freedom?

--bkl
They Live. We Sleep.

[0rganism]

25. That was my first thought, too

Will it have a cafeteria that serves Freedom Fries?

[joshcryer]

26. Weird thing about that design.

If attacked in the same vain as the Twin Towers (that is, a complete internal destructuring; it could happen, lots of small explosives placed properly throughout the building, etc; I'm sure they'd take measures against another airplane hitting it, doesn't mean it'd be immune to any attacks ever), it would unwravel rather than fall straight down. That could prove far more deadly than the Twin Tower collapse.

[Cannikin]

28. But...if we dont drop the ball again (Mr Bush) we can prevent

the attack in the first place, then ALL buildings would be safe.
It seems the power of the US intel system had really been overblown, and the bubble was burst on 9/11. Its ashame we were
attacked in a way that had actually been spoofed on the 'Family Guy'
cartoon long before it happened. Ever see the one where the guards are distracted by a dancing baby or something while Osama slips right past security?
I, for one, am glad that the US still has the testes to again build the worlds tallest building, and show the world that we will not let fear control our lives, Dispite the constant reminders from the administration that we should still be afraid, and there could be a terrorist in your back yard.
Here's a question: Why even bother putting 'green' on the terror alert system since we will obviously never attain it while Bush is in office increasing the hatred many countries already have of the US (I mean, my God, I cant even go to BRITAIN anymore without being criticized!.

Whew...I feel better now that I got all of that out! Hehe
Merry Christmas, winter solstice, Hann...Chan...how do you spell it?

[Algorem]

27. Target corporate headquarters,top 20 floors?

[skippysmom]

30. At least it't not..

"George W. Bush Tower"

(at least not yet)

[RaRa]

31. Bleh!

I guess there is one reason to not want the shrub suddenly drop dead before he's out of office - can you imagine how many places and schools would get renamed after it, er I mean him?

[skippysmom]

32. it will come...

* will be the next Reagan when it comes to naming shit after him.

I mean, Reagan fired the air traffic controllers...and then they name National Airport after him??? Please.

[chasqui]

47. RONALD REAGAN INTERNATIONAL

[Braden]

33. ugly

it looks like broken glass.



the name is lame. How long before its the Pepsident Freedom Tower?

[TankLV]

34. I think it's quite elegant and beautiful. Great decision.

If I lived or worked for a company there, I'd want to have my company be in this beautiful landmark building.

Cudos and congrats to the selection committee.

Simply beautiful.

"freedom tower" my ass - horrible name.

"World Trade Center"

Period.

Stick this in the eyes of all potential terrorists, including terrorist #1 - bushco.

[psychopomp]

39. 2nd that

That pic changed my mind. It looks great.

[regnaD kciN]

69. It looks good until...

...you consider that the space above floor 70 is going to be filled with wind turbines. Look at it again, imagining the top third packed to the gills with behemoth versions of the fan on your computer's power supply, all spinning wildly.

:puke:

[Braden]

53. cool, I simply choose to disagree

I dont think a palace of commerce should rise on the ground where thousands of unidentified dead were never found. perhaps its skewing my vision of the design.

[0007]

40. Thanks DS1

[DS1]

42. umm, you're welcome?

:smoke:

[PROUDNWLIBERAL]

Stack the Naming Committee---Clinton Tower

I think we need to stack the naming committee and name it the Clinton Tower---this would smack the repuks right in the guts!!!

[WillyT]

43. They Ought To At Least Spell It Right, "FreeDumb Towers" !!!

In honor of how they've successfully used this attack on us to manipulate our fears and curtail our very freedoms.

Why NOT build an overblown ugly monument to our fears, stupidity, apathy, greed, vengeance, etc...

:shrug::puke:

[matt53]

52. Yeah, freedom is dumb, huh

although I agree its appeal is being soured by the overuse ala "freedom fries"

[tom_paine]

44. Shouldn't the Freedom Tower be built in the Free World?

Imperial Amerika, rapidly transforming into a Third World Oligarchy/Dictatorship, isn't the right place to erect this structure.

But of course, the Empire, with it's cultural roots believing that it could NEVER prostrate itsdelf before a King, has a heavy investment in the self-delusion of Liberty (which still sort of exists, though the flame is being snuffed at the top levels and will eventually "trickle down" to our level).

This trend will become more grotesquely Orwellian as the Busheviks continue to drain Amerika of the last bits of traces of the Old American Republic. By 2050, Orwell's vision will likely have come to pass, though not EXACTLY as he envisioned...the details will be different but the prophesy will remain.

[Sterling]

49. The name is ironic

considering that the freedom it represents is at the costs of the freedom of billions of people in the third world.

Kinda like the freedom the Confederate States fought for was the Freedom to own slaves.

[TheWebHead]

48. today show video link

New York Gov. George Pataki, architects Daniel Libeskind and David Childs join Katie Couric to give a first look at the planned Freedom Tower for the World Trade Center site.

http://g.msn.com/0VD0/10/00?m=tdy_couric_tower_031219&csid=Msnbc

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

50. Meier

It's too bad that Meier's design never got off the ground. It's the most psychotic thing i've ever seen:

http://www.richardmeier.com/PROJECTS/WTC.html

Be sure to check out all three pictures. No, it isn't necessarily "beautiful" in any reasonable sense, but... jesus, it would be something to see.

[karlschneider]

51. I think that's a very cool design...and would be a lot safer too.

;-)

[matt53]

57. I don't know what he was smoking.

That building definitely competes with the original's ugliness. Meier must have just thrown that one out there. He's capable of better.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

59. i disagree

The original was passively ugly. This one is just... I don't know what it is. Not Normal - that's what it is. It looks like something out of futuristic anime.

[regnaD kciN]

70. Had they built that design...

...the big question would have been: which is the Secret Square?

;-)

[matt53]

56. Talk about a group of pessimists

This building design is gorgeous. In my opinion its the perfect fit, and a great solution. I'm just not sure about this David Childs guy.

"But Childs succeeded in including a lattice structure filled with energy-generating windmills at the top of the building and suspension cables resembling the Brooklyn Bridge. Childs was appointed lead architect of the project by leaseholder Larry Silverstein."

I think that guy could be capable of ruining the whole thing with his interjections. It sounds like Libeskind isn't too happy having to compromise with the guy on the design. Next thing he'll try to add crown molding and gargoyles to it.

Anyway, you go ahead and try to design the new world trade center and tell me how that goes.

[NickB79]

60. I do like the wind turbine idea

Any idea just how self-sufficient the building will be? I'd imagine that 1000 ft up, there's gotta be a hell of a lot of wind all day long.

[tritsofme]

62. How come the flag isnt worked in their somehow?

Maybe theyll put it at the top of the point, just so everybody remember to be patriotic.

[TheDonkey]

63. It's a gorgeous structure

The name is a bit stale but ok I guess. I wish a more elegant and noble title was picked.

[Emperor_Norton_II]

64. Enh, it's New York

No matter how elegant or noble the name, it'll be slanged out of common use by the time they lay the cornerstone.

[TheDonkey]

67. thats good news

because freedom tower is just tacky.

who came up w/ that name??

[aeon flux]

65. The name is un-elegant

Like something only a simpleton like Bush could come up with.

[regnaD kciN]

66. I wonder what happened...

...to the original design plan for the floors above 70 to be a glassed-in hanging botanical garden. It sounded like the nicest feature of the tower. Now that the design was chosen, that's been replaced by "a column of energy-generating wind turbines"...? Not quite the same thing, I'd say.

:grr:

[TheDonkey]

68. that would have been extremely beautiful

pity that wasn't added. I never heard of that design.

[ConcernedCanuk]

72. Just a Canuk's rambling thoughts -

. . First of all, I agree with the DUers that suggest it should be a park/memorial for those souls lost at the previous WTCs. Besides NYC could USE a wee bit more "free" space (oops, no pun on the free word) with gardens and trees and walkways, no?

BUT

- Korporate Murikkka will have it's way and build some monstrosity to "prove" something to the world. I fear that construction of anything such as planned will be beleagered by complications. Lotta "souls" hanging around there.

- as for a name (this is just my Canuk humour, such as it is) - why not call them what they will be ? "The Korprate Kolumn" or "Trifecta Tower" ?

On a financial note, who is paying for this building? Is insurance going to rebuild it, taxpayers, millionaire donations ? and, how long will it have to be rented out to recoup the cost ? Somehow I think I will be long dead before the building could possibly "pay for itself"

As I said at the beginning,

Just a Canuk's Rambling Thoughts

[Aidoneus]

73. That almost made me choke on my Victory Gin

Plusgood that, brother.

[Skidmore]

74. It'll serve as a gigantic flip off to the rest of the world...

or maybe a thumb as in thumbing our noses.

[Algorem]

75. The Naner Building

[Algorem]

78. Sitonthisandrotate Tower

[everdene]

76. Should Dept. of Homeland Security be housed on top floor?

[latebloomer]

81. inspired!

That should definitely keep them motivated!

[bushedout]

77. I like it.

In decades it will be as famous as the Statue of Liberty.