One World Trade Center (1WTC) finally tops out

Almost twelve years after the devastating events on 9/11/01, the final two sections of the spire were placed atop the gleaming skyscraper at Ground Zero this morning. The official height is now a symbolic 1,776 feet.

With the cladding on the building nearing completion, it is easy to imagine what it will look like when finished. I personally believe NYC blew their opportunity to reclaim the skyline in an awesome way. This is too short, it took far too long to construct, and they allowed fear, politics, and greed to turn what could have been an amazing piece of architecture into a mediocre skyscraper.

Photos from the World Trade Center’s Observation Deck on 9/9/2001

During my visit to New York City in the fall of 2001, I had the privilege of visiting the top of the South Tower of the World Trade Center. The observation deck encompassed both an indoor and outdoor viewing area. I have included photos from both vantage points, as well as a photo of the original globe that rested at the foot of the towers and a model of the southern tip of Manhattan that was displayed on the observation deck.

I took the following photos with a 35mm camera on 9/9/01 – two days before the towers came down. You can read more about my experience here.