NEW YORK | One World Trade Center | 1,787' Pinnacle / 1,373' Roof | 108 FLOORS

[djvandrake]

But with construction and material costs escalating almost by the hour, it's unclear whether the job can be completed over five years within budget with out employing "value engineering" to cheapen the materials and detailing.

Crap. Let's hope it doesn't come to that. I would really hope the PA would have secured some long term purchases already for materials, but then again if they operate like most government agencies, we're screwed.

[RockMont]

Originally Posted by djvandrake

Crap. Let's hope it doesn't come to that. I would really hope the PA would have secured some long term purchases already for materials, but then again if they operate like most government agencies, we're screwed.

This project needs to be treated with special priority, regardless of cost overruns.

[Nowhereman1280]

Originally Posted by CoolCzech

Perhaps the FT is not a masterpiece, but I can think of only one true supertall that is - the ESB. The FT doesn't deserve to be so casually, nay, contemptuously, dismissed.

You aren't thinking very hard then...

I agree Freedom Tower isn't a masterpiece, but doesn't deserve this random BS people keeping harping about. But, not to get too off topic, I would hardly say that ESB is a "masterpiece" its boring, ill proportioned, and plain compared to its contemporaries such as Chrysler (which is like 6.5e^24 times better) and is only average along with Trump and 70 Pine/American Intl.

[Daquan13]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

You aren't thinking very hard then...

I agree Freedom Tower isn't a masterpiece, but doesn't deserve this random BS people keeping harping about. But, not to get too off topic, I would hardly say that ESB is a "masterpiece" its boring, ill proportioned, and plain compared to its contemporaries such as Chrysler (which is like 6.5e^24 times better) and is only average along with Trump and 70 Pine/American Intl.

The Empire State Building also has one another thing going for itself though. No other building can say this. And that is, as you all know, it held the title of the WTB for over 40 years.

Buildings built since its debut still have yet to wear that crown. Oh, we DO have one WTB, but the ESB is from the old school. It has stood the test of time, as did the shorter Chrysler and Woolworth Bldgs.. Even today, it remains timeless.

And sadly, it has even outlasted its 1st competitor, the Twins. But at least it will be 2nd to the Freedom Tower as it was with the Twins.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

I would hardly say that ESB is
a "masterpiece" its boring, ill proportioned, and plain compared to its
contemporaries such as Chrysler (which is like 6.5e^24 times better) and is
only average along with Trump and 70 Pine/American Intl.

The Empire State Building is the masterpiece as far as skyscrapers go.
It's what all tallest aspire to be. It's the one skyscraper with the name that
conjurs up images of a magnificent spire to the skies worldwide. Ill
proportioned? The ESB's proportions are what make it what it is. Look at all
the tallest the followed it. The Sears Tower? We like it, but hardly
noteworthy. The Twin Towers? Thankfully there were two, or the Port
Authority would have been run out of town. The Petronas? Next. T101?
Not even close. In fact, the Burj Dubai owes a lot to the Empire State
(which follows a form of earlier New York skyscrapers). Sure, the
Chrysler may have a better looking spire. But the ESB is legendary.


Substitute any other tower in these photos, and it still can't be beat.

[NYguy]

I'm starting to like the final spire design. It's a little bulky in the middle, but that
would just add greater impact. Not bad as far as spire designs go. Could have been
a lot worse (remember Libeskind's asymetrical spire).

[CGII]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

You aren't thinking very hard then...

I agree Freedom Tower isn't a masterpiece, but doesn't deserve this random BS people keeping harping about. But, not to get too off topic, I would hardly say that ESB is a "masterpiece" its boring, ill proportioned, and plain compared to its contemporaries such as Chrysler (which is like 6.5e^24 times better) and is only average along with Trump and 70 Pine/American Intl.

First, the Chrysler was built before the ESB, making the ESB the contemporary.

Second, as individual buildings, I still love the Chrysler more than any on Earth, but nobody, nobody can deny the unmistakeable and unstoppably powerful presence the ESB holds over New York. The ESB is the best possible design imaginable for its location, I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Dr. Taco]

^^ so, not that i care extremely much, but, even though it serves as an antenna, since they made it look like art, it still gets to add 400ft to the building height?

[liat91]

Originally Posted by NYguy

I'm starting to like the final spire design. It's a little bulky in the middle, but that
would just add greater impact. Not bad as far as spire designs go. Could have been
a lot worse (remember Libeskind's asymetrical spire).

Now if you could walk up that thing(stairs or whatever) I would feel alot better about it being counted towards the buildings overall height.

[pattali]

A lot of activity on the site and really a pain to take some photos ...

[Alliance]

Woah...so the tiny bubbles have replaced the pleated sheet on the crown of WTC1?

[aaron38]

Yeah I don't know if that's any better, the base of the crown still feels clunky.

Is there anything in the crown, does it serve a function? It just looks like it's too flat against the roof for anyone on the ground to be able to see it, and I'm not sure what the point is exactly.

[Dr. Taco]

^ the "bubbles" look like an amazing array of parabolic antennae to me...

[CoolCzech]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

You aren't thinking very hard then...

I agree Freedom Tower isn't a masterpiece, but doesn't deserve this random BS people keeping harping about. But, not to get too off topic, I would hardly say that ESB is a "masterpiece" its boring, ill proportioned, and plain compared to its contemporaries such as Chrysler (which is like 6.5e^24 times better) and is only average along with Trump and 70 Pine/American Intl.

Well, I suppose everyone has an opinion... but I find the proportions of the ESB, to echo one noted architectural critic, "sublime." In fact, I'd say it's PERFECTLY proportioned, in an almost ancient Greek sort of way.

[CoolCzech]

Originally Posted by NYguy

Image from the New York Post article...

This rendering makes the spire look almost like a giant spiral, a mini-Chicago Spire...

[CoolCzech]

Originally Posted by jstush04

^^ so, not that i care extremely much, but, even though it serves as an antenna, since they made it look like art, it still gets to add 400ft to the building height?

I would think so... even before anyone thought of antennas for the FT, Libeskind decreed that it would have a decorative & symbolic spire...

[CoolCzech]

Originally Posted by aaron38

Yeah I don't know if that's any better, the base of the crown still feels clunky.

Is there anything in the crown, does it serve a function? It just looks like it's too flat against the roof for anyone on the ground to be able to see it, and I'm not sure what the point is exactly.

See my previous post.

[CoolCzech]

Originally Posted by liat91

Now if you could walk up that thing(stairs or whatever) I would feel alot better about it being counted towards the buildings overall height.

I would bet money that there will be some sort of way inside the mast to climb up to service the antennas. Maybe a circular staircase, like the ESB has in it's upper "floors", perhaps?

[jayden]

*Sighs* Some people will never be satisfied with this tower....

[Urban Sky]

Originally Posted by jayden

*Sighs* Some people will never be satisfied with this tower....

when i think back to the original design and cringe, i find myself being okay with anything that is going on today.