The architects presented a building that will replace the WTC building

Washington - The Freedom Tower, which is set to replace the World Trade Center (WTC) buildings in New York that were destroyed in the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, will be a glass structure reflecting the sky topped with an antenna. This was announced today by architects during the presentation of the tower's design to journalists.
    The building is to become a symbol of New York's revival after the attacks of 2001, which claimed more than 2700 lives. The replacement of the famous "twins" was accompanied by nearly five years of haggling over construction plans, security, insurance, and control of the 6.5-hectare site at Ground Zero.
    The tower, standing 1776 feet (541 meters) tall, is meant to symbolize the year of the United States' independence and has been significantly revised from the original design by Daniel Libeskind. The reason for this was the complexity of Libeskind's project and the building's vulnerability in the face of a potential attack.
    The new design, unveiled today by architect David Childs, utilizes highly modern laminated safety glass that, for example, is expected to crumble to the ground in small beads in the event of a bomb explosion in a car, rather than shatter into flying sharp fragments. Counter-terrorism experts from the New York police and other city and state officials assisted in the designs.
    The tower will be surrounded by several staircases leading to the entrance, which will serve both as public space and as a kind of security buffer zone. To protect against explosives packed into cars, the tower will also be shielded by blocks reaching the thighs of an adult person, which will be placed around the perimeter of the tower and are intended to resemble gravestones, according to the architect.
    The building will be topped with an antenna that will be used by radio and television. Its design was shaped by sculptor Kenneth Snelson, who became famous for the needle-like Needle Tower installed in New York's Bryant Park in 1968. Due to the antenna, the structure will rise to a height of 541 meters, considerably higher than the WTC "twins," which reached 408 meters. The building will also feature a rotating beacon that will change colors and emit light beams into the night sky.
    "We tried to make it look like a monolith," said architect Kenneth Lewis about the design of the tower, characterized by a vertical three-sided ribbing motif, including the antenna. "It reflects the sky and the changing light throughout the day," he added. The clarity of the glass is expected to be ensured by the removal of iron, which colors glass in other buildings green, Lewis pointed out.
    Construction of the building, which is to have 69 floors for offices, an observation deck, and space for a restaurant, began in April and is expected to be completed by 2010. The opening is planned for 2011.