NEW YORK | One World Trade Center | 1,776' Pinnacle / 1,373' Roof | 108 FLOORS

[BTinSF]

By the standards (and building codes) of earthquake country, that framework looks extraordinarily delicate, fragile even for a building of this height.

[meh_cd]

Originally Posted by BTinSF

By the standards (and building codes) of earthquake country, that framework looks extraordinarily delicate, fragile even for a building of this height.

It's been said before, but I'll say it again. The core steel is going to be encased in concrete.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by 2-TOWERS

really looking good.. NYGUY should get the key to the city for his knowledge of everything going on not only with this project ,but all over the city

Not hardly. There's a lot that we don't know about, but we try... The WTC redevelopment is a focus for so many reasons.

[NYguy]

Update (March 30) from morrongiello

[uaarkson]

holy shit, when did they raise the south core forms?

[CHAPINM1]

Originally Posted by uaarkson

holy shit, when did they raise the south core forms?

I know! My thoughts exactly!!!

[2-TOWERS]

Originally Posted by meh_cd

It's been said before, but I'll say it again. The core steel is going to be encased in concrete.

wait to you see the size of the outer steel... remember the originaL WTC core was steel and then covered with 3 sheets of sheetrock.. if you look closely the steel is thick and wont be as thick as the exterior columns but keep in mind that the core will be encased in high density concrete and not sheetrock...

[NYguy]

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?se...ors&id=6731727

Chinese to make Freedom Tower glass?

March 31, 2009

A Chinese firm will manufacture one of the most important security-sensitive parts of the tower at One World Trade Center. Eyewitness News has learned that several American companies lost out in a bid to make the blast-resistant glass for the building's base. Instead, the safety-critical panels will be made in China.

It's not just a matter of jobs going overseas while America struggles through a near-depression. There's the issue of safety. One American firm has perfected the making of blast-resistant glass.They were the front-runners in the bid to make it for the Freedom Tower, but in a surprise to many in the construction industry, the Port Authority chose a Chinese firm to make the terrorism-resistant glass.

The first 20 stories of the Freedom Tower will have specially designed blast-resistant glass panels. It's a critical part of security for a building that will instantly become an American symbol and therefore a target.

US Glass Magazine is reporting that a U.S. firm, DCM Solera, the lowest bidder, will use a sub-contractor to procure the glass from a Chinese manufacturer.

"This building has to not only meet but exceed every possible safety and security standard out there," fire safety expert Glenn Corbett said.
Corbett says the Port Authority is making a big mistake.

"This is the number one terrorist target in the country," he said. "Why are we setting our standards so low for the minimum possible bid on this?"

The Port Authority released the following statement: "As a public agency, we select contractors...through a competitive bidding process to ensure the best price and quality since the tower is being financed with public money.This contract was awarded last August to an American company, which subbed out the glass fabrication work to a Chinese firm. We've inspected the firm's manufacturing in China and they're confident that the glass they will fabricate will meet or exceed safety code standards."

PPG Industries of Pittsburgh designed and developed the type of glass to be used in the tower, they worked for months with the Port Authority only to lose out to the low bidder.

"Its astounding to us that they would take a project with this level of development work, we all invested in prior to it's completion, it's specifications and with this level of visibility the Freedom Tower and bid it offshore," PPG senior vice president Vicky Holt said.

New York's senior senator is calling on the Port Authority to rescind the glass contract.

"I think that we have seen product after product from China be unreliable, and in this instance, we need the most reliable," Senator Chuck Schumer said.

The Port Authority says it will continue to send representatives to China to monitor the quality of the glass.

[CoolCzech]

For once, I actually agree with Schumer. We're spending trillions we don't have to "stimulate" the economy, and the PA decides to spend public funds buying glass for the Freedom Tower, of all things, from China?

[37TimPPG]

Originally Posted by CoolCzech

For once, I actually agree with Schumer. We're spending trillions we don't have to "stimulate" the economy, and the PA decides to spend public funds buying glass for the Freedom Tower, of all things, from China?

I also agree with Schumer. Why the hell would the PA give the bid to a Chinese firm? PPG of Pittsburgh makes a superior quality product that is world class. What about all that Chinese manufactured drywall that rotted in Florida?

Let's hope Schumer can throw his weight around and make the Port Authority see the error of its ways?

[itszjay]

I think even if it made in china, it would still need to have America quality glass. Is an open-market, maybe they are adding in Chinese company and try to get a lower bidding price.

[uaarkson]

I swear they've poured the north core at least twice this year, and it doesn't seem to have gotten any higher

[alexjon]

TERRORISM-RESISTANT GLASS, dun dun dun.

Will it protect our freedom with american flags and crying eagles?

[IMADreamer]

Nice, the Freedom tower, now made in China. Man is this country screwed up.

[Indescribable]

IMA, that should be no surprise.

[CoolCzech]

Originally Posted by alexjon

TERRORISM-RESISTANT GLASS, dun dun dun.

Will it protect our freedom with american flags and crying eagles?

Tsk, tsk... it's MAN-MADE CATASTROPHE-RESISTANT GLASS now, don't you know?!

[NYguy]

I agree that it would have been better for the glass to come from home, but it's not the first element of the Freedom Tower to come from overseas. Some of the steel had to be shipped also, so it's not a first.



http://www.usgnn.com/newsFreedomTower20090401.htm

Freedom Tower Follow Up: Senator Schumer and Safety Group Calls for Change

April 1, 2009

There has been much industry response to the investigative report published yesterday from USGlass magazine regarding the glass for One World Trade Center being manufactured in China after U.S. companies provided much of the development work. The local New York Affiliate, ABC-7, highlighted the story last night based on the USGlass article. In that report New York Senator Charles Schumer called for a rescinding of the glass contract.

Also in response to that article, the Skyscraper Safety Campaign (SSC) held a press conference this morning in New York City regarding this issue.

"It is a well-known fact that numerous Chinese products have inconsistent and questionable quality standards …," said Glenn Corbett of John Jay College in New York City, chief technical advisor to the Skyscraper Safety Campaign.

"In addition to grave safety concerns, the use of Chinese glass in the Freedom Tower is a slap in the face to every hardworking American worker who has lost his or her job in this time of economic crisis," he added. "President Obama has called for jobs to remain in this country so that U.S. citizens can remain gainfully employed."

Corbett also is concerned about the fact that the Freedom Tower is an extremely sensitive building in terms of security.

"The type and quality of glass is one of the most important considerations when designing a terrorism-resistant building," he said. "Glass shards have killed and maimed many people in previous terrorist blasts around the world. It is critical that the design and fabrication of the Freedom Tower glazing meet the highest possible quality standards. Does all of the glass for the Freedom Tower meet the standards of organizations such as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the Department of Defense?"

The SSC called for the following immediate actions in the press conference:

-For the New York and New Jersey Congressional delegation to initiate a federal probe into the legality of the glass contract with China and to explore the relationship between the contract and the signing of the Freedom Tower lease with Beijing Vantone Co.

-For the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) to explain why no American glass company received this contract, and to answer the question why American union workers have been overlooked.

-For the PANYNJ to immediately void the Chinese glass contract and use U.S. products instead.

-For the PANYNJ to show the public exactly which standards were used to design the glass.

[Wheelingman04]

Glass from the Communists.

[QuarterMileSidewalk]

To clarify: The glass in question is only for the base of the tower, right?

If yes, what about the glass for the rest of the tower? Has the supplier for that been decided on yet?

How does the quality of the glass covering all the new supertalls being built throughout China compare to American standards, anyway?

[statler]

Originally Posted by meh_cd

It's been said before, but I'll say it again. The core steel is going to be encased in concrete.

So rather than being super-thin beams, they actually act as super-thick rebar. Is that correct?