Freedom Tower foundations laid
Wednesday, 20 Dec 2006 08:52
Freedom tower will replace the twin towers destroyed in 2001
The first steel column for the replacement for the twin towers, Freedom Tower, has been laid in New York.
Three columns were laid at Ground Zero which began to form the perimeter of the structure. 'Freedom Tower' and the American flag were emblazoned across the first column with signatures of Virginian steelworkers and politicians on the second.
The third column was covered with signatures of New Yorkers and relatives of the September 11th victims, including pictures of some of the firefighters killed when the two towers collapsed in 2001.
Freedom Tower will be 1,776-feet tall and if the spire and antenna height are included, the skyscraper will qualify as the tallest office building in the world.
Speaking at the column-laying ceremony, New York governor George Pataki said: "Today the steel rises, the Freedom Tower rises from the ashes of September 11th, and the people of New York and the people of America can be proud."
The tower will include 2.6 million square feet of office space, an observation deck and restaurants. Situated in Manhattan's financial district, the structure will also provide access to the world financial centre.
Construction of Freedom Tower has been continually thwarted by design disagreements and even the founding stone of the building had to be moved when it was discovered it was too close to traffic.