New York: Construction is already underway at Ground Zero for all buildings

New York - The construction of the Freedom Tower, the new New York landmark rising at the site of the terrorist-destroyed World Trade Center (WTC), will reach the level of the surrounding streets in the coming months. In recent days, construction work has also begun on three other buildings at the site known as Ground Zero, which was left after the attacks by hijacked planes on September 11, 2001.
After six and a half years of demolition work, architectural design creation, and construction preparations, work is now practically underway on all projects at the 6.5-hectare expansive pit nearly 25 meters deep, city officials and representatives of developer Larry Silverstein's firm, which is building three skyscrapers at the WTC site, announced to reporters.
The steel framework of the underground levels of the Freedom Tower is now less than three meters below street level. However, by the end of the year, pedestrians will see the ground floor of the future building, while foundations for the memorial to the victims of the attack, three office buildings, and an above-ground subway station vestibule will be constructed at the bottom of the pit.
The Freedom Tower, designed by architect David Childs, will, at 541 meters, surpass the collapsed WTC skyscrapers by 124 meters and is expected to reach the roof level by the end of 2010. At that time, the rough constructions of two other buildings, which will stand at heights of 350 and 297 meters, are also expected to be completed. The area with the memorial for the 2,749 victims of the terrorist attack will be finished right at the site where the WTC towers once stood. The construction plan anticipates that by the end of 2010, the memorial park will be ready for the planting of more than 400 trees.
The second tallest building on the WTC site will reach its peak at 387 meters by the end of 2011. A year later, the entire site of the former tragedy is expected to be completely finished, with buildings ready for tenants, primarily financial and legal firms, as well as business and production companies.
Over the next five years, more than 10,000 workers will be involved in the construction of the skyscrapers, subway vestibule, and memorial. The next four high-rise buildings, two of which will be taller than the current New York landmark, the Empire State Building, will be constructed from 141,000 tons of steel and 453,000 cubic meters of concrete, according to the designers.
By the end of 2012, the construction of the fifth skyscraper on the site of the demolished Deutsche Bank building, which stood a city block away from the WTC, is also expected to be completed. The only building that has been completed near the tragedy site has been serving tenants for a year and a half.
The redevelopment of the site affected by the terrorist attacks has been accompanied by speculation and disputes about its future form and financing, which has reflected in multiple delays in the construction timeline. The delays were also caused by negotiations with insurance companies and detailed searches for the remains of the victims. Plans had to be changed several times, including due to protests from the survivors and increased security demands.
Larry Silverstein, who leases the land under the three future skyscrapers on the eastern side of the WTC site from the city, admits that "everything did not go as smoothly and quickly as many - including me - hoped." However, according to him, New Yorkers, partly skeptical due to the delays and missed deadlines, should now be witnessing real progress. Over the next five years, a vibrant urban complex will emerge at the WTC site, which will provide a boost for further economic development in Lower Manhattan, claims Silverstein.