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One World Trade Center facts for kids

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One World Trade Center
One World Trade Center cropped2.jpg
Alternative names
  • 1 WTC
  • Freedom Tower (pre-2009)
Record height
Tallest in North America since 2013
Preceded by Willis Tower
General information
Status Complete
Type
  • Office
  • Observation
  • Communication
Architectural style Contemporary modern
Location 285 Fulton Street
Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
Coordinates 40°42′46.8″N 74°0′48.6″W / 40.713000°N 74.013500°W / 40.713000; -74.013500
Construction started April 27, 2006
Topped-out May 10, 2013
Opened November 3, 2014
May 29, 2015 (One World Observatory)
Cost US$3.9 billiona 
Height
Architectural 1,776 ft (541.3 m)
Tip 1,792 ft (546.2 m)
Roof 1,368 ft (417.0 m)
Top floor 1,268 ft (386.5 m)
Observatory 1,254 ft (382.2 m)
Technical details
Floor count 94 (+5 below ground floors)
Floor area 3,501,274 sq ft (325,279 m2)
Lifts/elevators 73, made by ThyssenKrupp.
Design and construction
Architect
Developer Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Structural engineer WSP Cantor Seinuk
Other designers Hill International, The Louis Berger Group
Main contractor Tishman Construction
a. April 2012 estimate.
b. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

One World Trade Center, also known as One WTC or Freedom Tower, is a very tall building in Lower Manhattan, New York City. It is the main building of the new World Trade Center complex.

This building is 1,776 feet (541 m) (about 541 meters) tall. This makes it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Since 2013, it has been the tallest building in the United States. It officially opened in late 2014. The building is mostly used for offices. There is also an observatory near the top where people can see amazing views of the city. David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill designed this impressive skyscraper.

The new One World Trade Center stands where the original World Trade Center buildings once stood. Those buildings were sadly destroyed in a tragic event on September 11, 2001. The new building was built on the spot where one of the original buildings, 6 World Trade Center, used to be.

Building a Landmark

Construction for One World Trade Center began in 2006. On April 30, 2012, it became the tallest building in New York City. It passed the height of the famous Empire State Building.

On May 10, 2013, the very last part of the building's antenna was put into place. This made the building's total height 1,776 feet (541 meters). This specific height was chosen on purpose. It refers to the year 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Name and Design

On March 26, 2009, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) announced the building's official name. It would be known as "One World Trade Center." Before this, many people called it the "Freedom Tower."

The building has 94 main stories. However, the top floor is numbered 104. This is a common way to number floors in very tall buildings.

The New World Trade Center Complex

One World Trade Center is part of a larger plan to rebuild the area. The new World Trade Center complex will have five tall office buildings in total.

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum was also built nearby. It is located just south of One World Trade Center. This is the exact spot where the original Twin Towers stood. The construction of these new buildings helps to remember and rebuild after the destruction of the original World Trade Center complex.

Images for kids

  • World Trade Center, New York City - aerial view (March 2001)

    An aerial view of the original World Trade Center and New York City in March 2001.

  • NewYorkSkyline April2001

    The New York City skyline in 2001.

  • WTC-1970-under-construction

    The first One World Trade Center being built in May 1970.

  • September 17 2001

    The remains of some World Trade Center buildings on September 17, 2001.

  • Freedomtower oct2006

    The start of construction for the new One World Trade Center in October 2006.

  • One WTC From W Hotel 7-28-10

    One World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial under construction in July 2010.

  • 911 memorial - panoramio (1)

    The One WTC tower being built in September 2011.

  • Spire at the top of One World Trade Center - 21 April 2013

    Construction of One World Trade Center in April 2013, with the spire being added.

  • One World Trade Center Building

    One World Trade Center in March 2022.

  • New York and Jersey City Skyline Panorama Crop - One World Trade Center

    One World Trade Center seen from Liberty Island.

  • One WTC NY1

    One World Trade Center from West Street.

  • 1WorldTradeCenterEntrance

    The entrance to the One World Trade Center tower.

  • One World Observatory - SkyPortal

    Inside the One World Observatory.

  • Lower Manhattan from Jersey City November 2014 panorama 3 cropped

    One World Trade Center seen from Exchange Place, Jersey City, New Jersey.

  • New York (33224081040)

    The One WTC in March 2017.

  • Top of One World Trade Center Financial District New York (NY) April 2016 (27509488345)

    The spire atop One World Trade Center.

  • Tallest buildings 2022

    A height comparison of the tallest buildings in the world, including One World Trade Center.

  • Sunset in New York City at 1 WTC

    One World Trade Center at sunset, with the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in the background.

  • Festakt zur Neueröffnung des Militärhistorischen Museums der Bundeswehr - Daniel Libeskind

    Daniel Libeskind, who helped plan the World Trade Center's redevelopment.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: One World Trade Center para niños

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