World Trade Center Site 25 Years After 9/11: The Buildings Reshaping Lower Manhattan
A quarter-century has passed since the September 11, 2001 attacks, and most of the new constructions at the World Trade Center have been finalized, with the exception of 5 WTC, which remains on hold. The original site, which was devastated during the attacks, featured One and Two World Trade Center. The first new building, 7 World Trade, was completed in 2006 and designed by David Childs. The National 9/11 Memorial was inaugurated in 2011, followed by an underground museum in 2014. Four World Trade was finished in 2013, designed by Fumihiko Maki. One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, opened in 2014. The Oculus debuted in 2016, Three World Trade in 2018, St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in 2022, and the Perelman Performing Arts Center in 2023. Plans for Two World Trade Center are set for 2031.
Key facts
- The original World Trade Center complex, completed in 1973, comprised seven skyscrapers including One and Two World Trade Center, then the world's tallest buildings, all destroyed on 11 September 2001
- 7 World Trade by David Childs/SOM was completed in 2006 at 745 feet (227 metres), rebuilt first because it fell outside Port Authority jurisdiction
- The National 9/11 Memorial by Michael Arad/Handel Architects and Peter Walker opened in 2011, with an underground museum by Davis Brody Bond and Snøhetta completed in 2014
- Four World Trade by Fumihiko Maki, completed in 2013, was the first skyscraper finished under the Studio Libeskind masterplan and rises 978 feet (298 metres)
- One World Trade Center by SOM opened in 2014 as the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere and the most expensive ever built, reaching 1,776 feet (541 metres)
- Santiago Calatrava designed both the 2016 World Trade Center Transportation Hub (the Oculus) and the 2022 St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
- Three World Trade by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners opened in 2018 at 1,079 feet (329 metres), and the Perelman Performing Arts Center by Rex opened in 2023
- Two World Trade Center by Foster + Partners is planned for 2031 at 1,226 feet (373 metres), with groundbreaking in July 2026; 5 WTC remains on hold
- Daniel Libeskind told Dezeen in 2021 that everything changed in architecture after 9/11 and people were no longer willing to do it as before
Entities
Artists
- Daniel Libeskind
- David Childs
- Michael Arad
- Peter Walker
- Fumihiko Maki
- Richard Rogers
- Santiago Calatrava
- Frank Gehry
Institutions
- Studio Libeskind
- SOM
- Handel Architects
- Davis Brody Bond
- Snøhetta
- Pei Cobb Freed and Partners
- Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
- Rex
- Foster + Partners
- BIG
- Port Authority
- Dezeen
- American Express
Locations
- World Trade Center
- Lower Manhattan
- New York City
- United States
- Greenwich Street
- One World Trade Center
- Two World Trade Center
- Three World Trade
- Four World Trade
- 7 World Trade
- 5 WTC
- Fiterman Hall
- National 9/11 Memorial
- Perelman Performing Arts Center
- St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
- Oculus
Sources
- Dezeen —