New York’s WTC the tallest US skyscraper
Print Edition
The new World Trade Center tower in New York knocked Chicago’s Willis Tower off its pedestal as the tallest building in the United States when an international panel of architects announced yesterday that the needle atop the skyscraper can be counted when measuring the structure’s height.
The Height Committee of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat said the needle is not an antenna but a spire, and thus is a permanent part of the building.
The needle, measuring 124 meters tall, was more than enough to confirm Chicago is the Second City when it comes to tall buildings.
With the needle, 1 World Trade Center is 1,776 feet tall (541.3 meters tall), a height meant symbolize America’s founding year. Without it, the building would have been only 417 meters tall — well short of the 442-meter Willis Tower.
At stake was more than just bragging rights in two cities that feast on superlatives and the tourist dollars that might follow: 1 World Trade Center stands as a monument to those killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The building’s 417 meter height without the needle also holds symbolism; it is the height of the original World Trade Center.
The 30 Height Committee members are industry professionals from all over the world and is widely recognized as the final arbiter of official building heights around the world. They conferred behind closed doors last week in Chicago, where the world’s first skyscraper appeared in 1884.
The new World Trade Center tower remains under construction and is expected to open next year.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
