The new design of the 'Freedom Tower' at Ground Zero has been unveiled to the public. The building had to be redesigned after the New York City Police Department voiced security concerns over the previously approved design.
The revised plans will not change many of the symbolic aspects of the building. It will still be 1,776 feet high to symbolize the year of America's birth and to give New York City back the title of tallest building in the world. The newer design also makes the tower more slender and has it occupying a smaller footprint on the area where the previous towers stood.
The security concerns primarily dealt with the previous design's proximity from West Street, a busy thoroughfare which the NYPD felt would make the new towers vulnerable to a truck bomb. Now, the towers will be an average of 90 feet away from West Street instead of the 25 foot distance the previous design featured.
'This new design reflects a soaring tribute to freedom and a bedrock commitment to safety and security,' New York Governor George Pataki said.
Pataki will be present at a 10 AM news conference on Wednesday to officially unveil the new design to the public. Also in attendance will be New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, developer Larry Silverstein and architect David Childs.
Construction on the building's foundation is now scheduled for early 2006, the steel frame is expected to be complete in 2009, and the building should be ready for occupancy in 2010, according to the present plans. Thus far, nobody has expressed interest in office space in the new tower except for the governor and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
A September 11 memorial is also scheduled to be constructed on the site. The tentative date for completion of the memorial is September 2009.
