Well it’s been said that simplicity equates to notoriety in a structure, and just like its predecessor, I think that’ll hold true for the successor.

In a few of the previous pictures, I noticed tarps saying island on them. Anybody know what they mean or what they're for?

^^^That is the company doing the spray on fireproofing. When they are fireproofing a section of the building they put the tarp up.

Here's a view from Jersey City taken tonight.

https://www.me.com/ro/petebellamy/Ga...12949694000002

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5043/...0f28d0e8_b.jpg

I was originally a critic of the new 1 WTC - it didn't seem ballsy enough, and from early renderings had seemed like weak tea compared to what it was replacing. That opinion is completely gone. Every floor of cladding that gets added increases my view of its ultimate grandeur. The last few pics have cemented my conversion to a worshiper of what I would now love to call the Freedom Tower - a designation I thought ludicrous in the past.

Sometimes, the greatest works of humanity are the result of rebuilding after a catastrophe. The Parthenon as we know it today was built on top of the ruins of the original temple torn down by the armies of Xerxes - and I think of this when I begin to realize just how awesome the new 1 WTC is going to be. My only fear is that its awe may suppress future projects from aspiring to compete with it - hopefully it will do the opposite, and prove inspirational. :D

A lot of people feel that way, or will fill that way soon. This is the "year of the Freedom Tower", the year when that publicly mandated goal of restoring the skyline with an "iconic" element is realized. It's been a decade coming, but this is it. :tup:

I thought 2011 was the year of the rabbit. ;)
It will be nice to see 1WTC start peaking above 7WTC soon. (Or is it peeking? Seems that both work in this case.)

As The Freedom Tower (wtc ) Rises Above The Rest Of The Pack , I'm Sure Abc, Nbc, Cbs, Espn Will Show It To The Country Like They Always Do By Showing Off The City Whatever Game Is Played In There City.. Example During A Lakers Game They Always Show Off The Hollywood Sign, Malibu, Etc... Alot Of Yankees Games They Show The Gorge Washington Bridge , And Nyskyline, And With Freedom Rising The Country Will See It As The Broadcastors Will Zoom In On Freedom Tower

Now that the blue cage on top has been lifted it looks like they just put vertical steel above floor 54 where the nodes are.

They did not add any new vertical steel today, however the perimeter columns they installed last week are 3 floors high instead of the usual 2. Maybe Zen or someone else who knows can explain why.

I LOVE THIS ONE!

the whole complex is going to look jaw dropping in the sunset, and sunrise.

amazing work!

I only see two floors worth in the photos, but if they are doing three maybe they're transitioning to lighter columns, letting them put up 40 footers (plus the tie-ins).
It would make the math easier than having to figure 26 2/3' a jump. Maybe that's why they did it.

Cool. Could you do one with the Statue of Liberty in front? She and the skyline of Manhattan one of the most recognizable and iconic views of New York. World Class. We'll be seeing that soon next year,maybe by the end of this one.

I don't think that last set of columns was 3 floors high, at least not the perimeter columns.

If my calculations are correct there are still columns that would be too heavy for one crane to lift if they were 40 feet.

There is alot more to consider than just the gravity and wind loads on a column. One also has to consider the natural frequency. (Seismic loads.) The columns don't get significantly lighter for another 4 floors or so.

NYGuy's post on the last page, Post #11923, Photos 16 and 22 clearly show perimeter columns with only two floors worth of moment connections.

The diagonal columns, and the ones next to them, are shorter than the rest (because of the upcoming "nodes").

^^I think the higher columns they are referring to are these ones on the West corner. They haven't even waited for the decking of the floors below to raise them.

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/8697/1wtc11411.jpg
(From Discovery webcam today found in a post at SSC by spectre000 found here: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...1#post70659591 )

^ Hadn't seen that pic, but it proves my point that the diagonals (and the columns next to them) WERE shorter.

Look at NYGuy's last pics. There were no connections for the second floor on the diagonals (or the columns next to them), so they needed to add more steel in order to build the floors.

It totally does. However like its predecessors, I think materials will be considered a point of contention.

Credits to STR, because he's awesome like that.
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/534/n025.jpg

STR,

You have amazing renders. How about a render of WTC Tower 5, although it has not been confirmed yet. That would be a great addition to your models. :)

Keep up the good work. We are not far from completion of the WTC project. Your renders fast forward us to the completion of this vast complex. :cool: