In an emotional and technically challenging effort, the American-flag-draped spire that will sit atop New York’s One World Trade Center was lifted up the side of the building. One World Trade Center was built near the site of the original World Trade Center buildings that were destroyed by terrorists on September 11, 2001.
The spire, an antenna tower for the area, helps make the building the tallest in the United States at 1,776 feet. Hardened steelworkers in brown hard hats waited on the 104th floor for the crane operator to lift the spire so that it could be fitted onto its collar on top of the building. On the ground, construction workers, New Yorkers and the press watched the spire move slowly up the side of the building. The spire was built in Montreal and shipped 1,500-miles by barge.
There were smiles and tears of joy on the faces of the hard-hatted and safety-vested workers as the lift was made. The building broke ground in 2006 and is expected to open later this year.
The general contractor for the building is Tishman Construction, an AECOM company. Skidmore, Owings and Merrill designed building. The Port of New York Authority developed the building; one of a complex on the site.
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