New York has seen 15 long years since 9/11. The ground beneath the Twin Towers that was torn wide with tragedy has now been built up, with One World Trade Center’s gleaming pinnacle and the white winged fingertips of the Oculus structure symbolizing hopes of peace and prosperity for the city and its people.
The new site of the World Trade Center, begun in 2002 and still in the process of construction, is a hive of activity on an ambitious scale. Like the city in which it resides, the site is a cradle of multiplicity and mixed experiences. The memorial plaza is a space for calm reflection, filled with 400 trees. Somber footprints from the original Twin Towers are filled with waterfalls, surrounded by plaques listing the 3,000 names of people killed in the 1993 and 2001 attacks on the Twin Towers. The impressive 9/11 Memorial Museum uses multimedia exhibits and objects from the attacks to pay tribute to the memories of those tragically lost. Within a few steps of this quiet, commemorative space is a renewed buzz of activity — the spirit of commerce reforged through the vibrant structures of One, 4 and 7 World Trade Center, as well as a one-of-a-kind transportation hub.
The ambitious redevelopment of the site continues to this day. The ongoing construction of the World Trade Center is a joint effort between property developer Larry Silverstein, the federal government and the Port Authority. Studio Daniel Libeskind created the master plan for the architecture of the new site design, though the buildings themselves were designed by several architects — a varied array of buildings and space that captures the drama of life in the metropolis.
The project is a vast undertaking which includes the memorial, the majestic One World Trade Center tower, the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, and five other mixed-use skyscrapers. Formerly known as the ‘Freedom’ Tower, One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the U.S. — it stands at 1,776 feet, a direct reference to signing of the Declaration of Independence. The observation deck allows for a triumphant view of the city, looking out over the waters around Manhattan. The tower is a testament to the beauty of stately skyscraper design, with a new twist on appearance.
The Transportation Hub is a bold statement of New York moving forward, on a scale only a city like NYC could pull off. Going beyond the original design by Libeskind, the hub was expanded to a larger scale, in order to compete with Grand Central and Penn Station. The Oculus structure is an otherworldly design amidst the glass towers of Manhattan, and sits atop the transport hub, which links the easy access of trains and subways to the underground concourses between the buildings of the World Trade Center. Santiago Calatrava, the Spanish architect that designed the Oculus, said the remarkable structure looked like a bird being released from a child’s hand; whatever it resembles, it has a captivating effect upon the landscape of the World Trade Center.
A wide array of shopping is also on offer at the World Trade Center: the spacious shopping complex within the Oculus and street level retail in 3 and 4 World Trade Center cater to a wide range of shopping interests. Over half a million square feet of shopping leaves plenty of room for companies like Michael Kors, Turnbull & Asser, Hugo Boss and John Varvatos to show off their latest wares. Tech fans will also have either a Microsoft or an Apple store to choose from.
The best accommodation isn’t far either: with the opening of the brand new Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown, visitors to the World Trade Center can find luxurious, technology-friendly rooms just a block away. The pedigree of the other Four Seasons Hotel in New York has been common knowledge for years, and this new addition to the Four Season family looks likely to follow suit in every way — plus the convenience of being so close to downtown sights like the WTC, the High Line and Wall Street.
After 15 years of healing, New York has done a great deal of growing as well. The cathartic spaces and vibrant structures of the World Trade Center show a city moving forward with self-determined grace.
