One World Trade Center, 2013, New York, NY

September 11, 2001 will forever be a tragic event to ever happen in New York City. But it changed our nation for the better. We have new security in placed and new building construction development. By examining the collapse step-by-step, experts are learning how buildings fail, and discovering ways we can build stronger structures. Like most buildings, the Twin Towers had redundant design, which means that when one system fails, another carries the load. They needed to design a building more secure, so this event can be less damaging if were to happen again.

The new One World Trade Center building itself is 1,362 feet, the height of the original WTC South Tower. The building and the observation deck is 1,368 feet, the height of the original WTC North Tower. The whole building altogether is 1,776 feet, the year the Declaration of Independence was signed. The base is 200 feet square, the same as the original twin towers. The building is 104 stories high. With gigantic triangles in each façade to create a circular wind motion.

In fall 2001, The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) formed to plan the reconstruction of the World Trade Center site. By August 2002, the LMDC invites architects from around the world to submit ideas for the World Trade Center site. On February 2003, Architect Daniel Libeskind's "Memory Foundations" is selected as the new design plan for the World Trade Center site. On May 4, 2005, New York Governor George Pataki announces that Freedom Tower will be redesigned due to security concerns. By April 27, 2006, the construction begins on Freedom Tower. On March 26, 2009, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announce that the skyscraper will no longer be referred to as Freedom Tower. It will be called by its legal name and address, One World Trade Center. On May 10, 2013, construction workers bolt the last pieces of a 408-foot spire into place, bringing the building to a height of 1,776 feet. On May 29, 2015, The One World Observatory opens the three upper floors of the tower. The Observatory is a 360 degree view of New York and New Jersey from about 1,250 feet up in the air.

The One World Trade Center is a remembrance of a tragedy, but also that we can come together as a nation to pick up the pieces. The reconstruction of the One World Trade Center reminds us of strength and our hope.

Source: Dupré, Judith. One World Trade Center: Biography of the Building. New York: Little, Brown, 2016. Print. "One World Trade Center Fast Facts." CNN. Cable News Network, 4 Aug. 2016. Web. 02 Oct. 2016.