One World Trade Center crowned the tallest building in US

[Bosonic]

Source: NBC

An expert panel of architects has announced that One World Trade Center — the marquee skyscraper that has spent more than a decade in development and construction amid great political debate — has claimed the mantle of tallest building in the country, staving off a challenge from Chicago's Willis (formerly Sears) Tower.

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, the official arbiters of all things architectural, said Tuesday that the 409-foot antenna atop 1 WTC counts toward the building's full height.

The decision settles a flurry of debate over whether the spire was integral to the structure's design. The organization does not count "antennae, signage, (or) flag poles" toward buildings' officials heights.

Without the needle, the building stands at a 1,368 feet — rivaling but not eclipsing Willis Tower's 1,451 feet.

Read more: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/12/21421315-one-world-trade-center-crowned-the-tallest-building-in-us?lite

[pangaia]

1. Without Cialis......... it wouldn't have the needle.

Penis envy.

[iamthebandfanman]

2. yeah, like

they were going to decide otherwise..
and be hated by tons of folks..

even if the decision would have been technically justified.

would have been nice if designers hadn't been so timid about its height..
I kinda agree with that 'banksy' fellow on his assessment of the new tower...



I understand the need for a memorial and ways to recognize all those who lost their lives that day.. and I wouldnt want those aspects changed (personally I think the waterfalls/reflecting pools were a great idea)... but im sorry.. WTC 1 DOES look like a tall awkward teen trying to not be noticed.

I guess ultimately though, its up for new Yorkers and the families of those who died to decide for themselves how they perceive it... so why would my opinion (or a glorified graffiti 'artists' for that matter) really matter?

[Moonwalk]

6. I disagree with Banksy's opinion, and think he's missing the whole point...

I recently saw a documentary on the building. And you know what? If you push this awkward teen, if you punch him, if you try to slam a plane in him...he's not coming down. An act of terrorism isn't even going to scratch his windows. Isn't that what matters? Isn't that the most important message?

I mean, I get it, everyone thinks the "fuck you!" message should be in how the building looks, and you presume that you could have gotten both: glorious outside as well as amazing inside. But as said, with all the bickering over the thing, you probably weren't going to get some sort of Gehry-esque swirl of artistic steel. The aesthetic was always going to either fall flat because it wasn't beautiful enough, or be rejected because it was too much.

So the builders focused putting the magic inside rather than trying to putting it on the outside (which is not to say that they went ugly; it's a nice enough looking building). Which means you see Clark Kent, but what you've really got is Superman. That is where this building says "fuck you!" It will not come down. It will not trap anyone inside. It will not allow what happened with the Towers to happen again. This building may not, on the outside, say "never again" but on the inside, in its construction and planning, that's all it says.

It does this, and steps back from trying to outshine those lost buildings. Which, I think, is only right and respectful. Better to quietly be the tallest building and do what it was meant to do (it is an office building and has to be that), and let people remember what happened not from it, but from the memorials. The pools are simply amazing—perhaps the best and most jaw-dropping memorials we could have, far more apt, artistic and powerful than another building. And the museum is (will be?) a powerful testament as well. I don't think we need this building to do more than just be rebuilt, on the site, and rebuilt in a way that will withstand anything. Isn't that what matters?

IMHO, this isn't an awkward teenager. It's a quiet, respectful son who stands at his father's grave, working hard to make sure that what happened to his father is remembered, and doesn't happen again.

[AtheistCrusader]

10. Um, theoretically it can come down.

It is rated to withstand 1200c for 3h only. Beyond that, is anyone's guess whether partial or total collapse.

It is, however, MUCH more robust than the original towers, with a much keener eye toward fire resistance (concrete even) and human evacuation.

[Moonwalk]

16. Odd thing to say. Did I give you the impression that I believe the tower's invulnerable? I mean...

very little in this universe, no matter how big or strongly constructed is proof against destruction (theoretically). Planets, stars, galaxies. This, I think, is a given and need not be said.

However, if you feel I was unclear, I'll reiterate with more precision: I don't believe this tower is magically invulnerable to any and all possibility of destruction, and what I said was not intended to be taken that way. My point was that if, heaven forfend, this tower gets hit by a plane or a bomb goes off inside or whatever, there are measures in place get people out of it and rescue crews in, rather than leaving them trapped. Thus, not only will it withstand more damage, but it is also constructed to help people escape if damage or destruction occurs.

And THAT is the message that this building has on its inside which, IMHO, is far more important than the message on its outside could ever be.

Does that clear things up?

[AtheistCrusader]

17. I didn't understand your first paragraph when I responded.

I understand now. I didn't catch the metaphor.

[Xithras]

13. Banksy went a little far, but I agree with his basic point.

It's not an ugly building, but it's utterly uninspired and boring. It's just an ordinary office tower, and would be equally at home in any large city around the world...where it would promptly blend into the skyline along with all the other tall & plain buildings that provide "background" to the interesting ones. It's a building that, quite frankly, is more reminiscent of the boring skyline in downtown Los Angeles.

There is nothing unique or inspired about it. There's nothing about the design that evokes America, or even New York. There is no creativity or interest. It's the white shirt and tie of the skyscraper world...professional, but inelegant and forgettable.

Then again, maybe that was the intent. The original WTC towers weren't exactly attractive either, standing as tall boring boxes against the New York skyline. Perhaps WTC 1 was intended to remind us of its plain-jane forebears.

Still, it seems like a missed opportunity, when compared against some of the other new skyscrapers being built around the world today. All of these are either under construction today, recently finished, or will be breaking ground in the next year or so:







It's just so plain...

[Gidney N Cloyd]

3. "The organization does not count antennae, signage, (or) flag poles." Except when they do.

[surrealAmerican]

7. Yup.

It would be too embarrassing, I guess, to admit that the new building is shorter.

[PeoViejo]

8. Big Men with short buildings?

It begs a metaphor.

[paulkienitz]

12. spires are bogus

I'm sure it's a splendid and mighty building, but no way would I count it the tallest of anything.

I do have to disagree with Banksy when he says that the new building is "more mediocre" than the old.

[rug]

14. How bout them Cubs.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

15. ............................. mets

[pokerfan]

18. I have no dog in this fight

It seems a little bogus to me. So all Chicago needs to do is put a larger tower on top of the Willis/Sears and they can be #1 (in the US) again? I like the idea of using highest occupied floor but I suppose that rule could be gamed as well by installing a tiny apartment at the top of the pole that only Robbie Knievel could love.

[earthside]

4. Hurray, us.

..........

[Dopers_Greed]

5. Put on your tinfoil hats

One World Trade Center

This is going to be Obama's new palace where he runs the NWO and commands his FEMA Scouts to silence ordinary American conservatives.

[AtheistCrusader]

11. That's what tower 1 was called before. One World Trade.

Tower two was addressed Two World Trade.

Didn't really mean much when a plane hit it. Still came tumbling down.

[Berlum]

9. O Babylon