From the Empire State building to the Statue of Liberty, the New York City skyline is full of tall structures. And they are about to get another one — the tallest of them all, in fact.
One World Trade Center, built over what was once known as Ground Zero, will reach 1,271 feet after workers instill the first column on the 100th floor Monday afternoon. At that height, the new tower will be the tallest building in the city, according to New York Daily News.
The estimated final height of the building, being referred to as Freedom Tower, is 1,776 feet and will be completed in late 2013 or early 2014 after eight years of construction.
“It’s wonderful,” Mayor Bloomberg said Sunday, “It’s taken a long time. This is probably the most complex construction site in any place ever. I think what we’ve shown is that democracy works.”
He added that it will be a couple of years after completion before people and businesses move in.
“The most important thing is that they get the building up safely,” Bloomberg said, “We don’t need any more lives lost. So far, their safety record has been exemplary.”
It is expected to have 104 rooms with 71 offices and three million square feet of space.