World Trade Center (1973–2001)
former skyscraper complex in Manhattan, New York (1968-2001) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The original World Trade Center (WTC) was a complex of buildings in Lower Manhattan, New York, New York, United States which was destroyed in the September 11, 2001 attacks; a new complex is mostly complete and is built on the site of the old one.
World Trade Center | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Record height | |||||||||||||||||||||
Tallest in the world from 1971 to 1973[I] | |||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Empire State Building | ||||||||||||||||||||
Surpassed by | Willis Tower | ||||||||||||||||||||
General information | |||||||||||||||||||||
Status | Destroyed | ||||||||||||||||||||
Location | Lower Manhattan, New York City | ||||||||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 40°42′42″N 74°00′45″W | ||||||||||||||||||||
Groundbreaking | August 5, 1966; 57 years ago (August 5, 1966) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Construction started |
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Completed |
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Opening | April 4, 1973; 51 years ago (April 4, 1973) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Destroyed | September 11, 2001; 22 years ago (September 11, 2001) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Owner | Port Authority of New York and New Jersey | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Design and construction | |||||||||||||||||||||
Architect |
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Developer | Port Authority of New York and New Jersey | ||||||||||||||||||||
Engineer | Worthington, Skilling, Helle & Jackson,[2] Leslie E. Robertson Associates | ||||||||||||||||||||
Main contractor | Tishman Realty & Construction Company | ||||||||||||||||||||
References | |||||||||||||||||||||
I. ^ World Trade Center at Emporis [3] |
The biggest buildings in the original World Trade Center were the Twin Towers. The North Tower was the tallest building in the world when it was built. Taller ones were built later. The Twin Towers had 110 stories, and, at the time of its destruction, were the two tallest in New York. They and 7 World Trade Center were destroyed in the September 11, 2001 attacks and other buildings were damaged beyond repair.
The original World Trade Center was designed by Minoru Yamasaki in the early 1960s using a tube-frame structural design for the twin 110-story towers. In gaining approval for the project, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey agreed to take over the Hudson & Manhattan Railroad which became the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH).
Groundbreaking for the World Trade Center took place on August 5, 1966. The North Tower, officially World Trade Center 1 was completed in December 1970 and the South Tower, officially World Trade Center 2 was finished in July 1971. Construction of the World Trade Center involved excavating a large amount of material that was then used in making Battery Park City on the west side of Lower Manhattan.