Ground zero will have the tallest building in the world

[cycloneye]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Northeast/02 ... index.html

It will be 1776 feet tall (That number is the same as the year the independence of the US) but I hope that when it is finished it is not an atraction to terrorists again.It will pass those maylasians twin towers which have 1472 feet tall.

[sunny shine]

I also heard that even though the buildings will be the tallest in the world, only half of the building will be occupied. I also believe that people in the building should be issued parachutes. I read somewhere (can't remember exactly) that someone was working on this type parachute for people in high rise buildings.

[mf_dolphin]

Why would only half of the building be occupied? Doesn't make much sense!? I'm glad they're going to build it bigger and taller. I kow that it will be looked at as a target but it sends a very important message to the rest of the world...

[chadtm80]

Yes Marshall.. Your right it sends a very important message. I would of been very very upset if we did not build the bigger and taller

[Amanzi]

I agree whole heartedly..... Bigger and taller will send those cowards a message!

It does seem strange to have only half the building occupied.

I think it would be very odd to go to your first day at work and get issued your new desk and parachute!

[Derek Ortt]

Lets me get this straight, they are going to build those tall buildings right on the coast again? Glad to know they are ignorant of the hurricane threat. Nice cat 3 would do substantial damage to those buildings.

Don't say that it won't happen, while unlikely, Andrew was also unlikely. IT WILL HAPPEN AND THESE BUILDINGS ONE DAY WILL BE WIPED OUT BY A LANDFALLING MAJOR HURRICANE.

[mf_dolphin]

It highly unlikely that a hurricane strong enough to topple a building like the WTC will happen. The sea temps just wouldn't support a storm that strong. A cat 5 making landfall in lower Manhatten would be probably the most unlikely weather event in recorded history. There's probably a higher likelyhood that a meteor will hit in the Atlanic and generate a tidal wave.

Andrew was far from being an unlikely event. Florida has been spared in the last 30 or so years but our time is running out.

[sunny shine]

I know that sounds strange that only half the building will be occupied. Reality is reality I guess. I am sure ALOT of companies will be hesitant to even occupy any part of the building. Remember after Sept. 11th... all those companies not renewing or breaking their lease in the Empire State Building.

I do not know how I would react either if I were to report to work and issued a parachute.

No one would ever have thought ANYTHING could topple WTC. After Sept. 11th, I feel anything is possible. And yes, that means a CAT 5 Hurricane as well. Even if that did happen, and WTC was still intact, I believe all the building would do is sway back and forth and lose some windows. JMO.

[VanceWxMan]

thats great news I think that the reason that the upper half of the tower will not be occupied is because its more of a symbolism design than a design that will supprot peeps throughout the building. I cant wit until its finished... wonder how long it will take?

Aaron

[Derek Ortt]

Due to the shape of the coastline, even a category 3 storm would be unbelievable destructive. A moderate cat 2 making landfall there would be just as bad as Andrew. If a 4 manages to survive all the way to NYC, parts of the city would be under more than 30 feet of water. It is the Apalache Bay, but magnified.

As for Andrew, quite rare for a cat 5 to make landfall in the USA. There has only been 3 in US history. And as for Sfla, majors are not all that common. Has any stopped to think that prehaps S Fla is not the number 1 place for major hurricane landfalls in the USA? 2 since Donna. The 50's were prehaps just an abnormally active period. Now, S fla has more systems passing within a 500 mile radius than any other point, that is for sure.

[vbhoutex]

is because the upper half of the structure is all tower, not occupiable space. It is front page in the Houston Chronicle today. I will check it out.

[cycloneye]

Yes Aaron it is a symbolic design the whole thing and it will have a memorial and plenty of open space and a park so it wont be like the twin towers when they were there.

[isobar]

WTC has had more terrorist attacks than hurricanes. Heck, some Nor'easters rival hurricanes. But if a cat 3 ever goes thru NY, all structures would sustain heavy damage no matter how tall they are.

Extremely rare, yes, but look at the 1938 New England hurricane (aka Long Island Express). At 500 mi wide and having once been a cat 5, it maintained cat 3 strength after making landfall 100 mi E of NYC all the way up to the CT/MA border, due to 60 mph forward speed. Track was due N instead of expected NE. Widespread damage and power outtage in NYC, and they were on the weak side!

Rare, but not impossible.

[vbhoutex]

is because the upper half of the structure is all tower, not occupiable space. It is front page in the Houston Chronicle today. I will check it out.

The article says there are 70 floors of offices and the attached tower has "Gardens of the World" at different levels to visit. There will also be other office towers around the site and the footprint of the origianl WTC will be kept as a memorial.

[mf_dolphin]

Sounds like a neat place. Any word when actual construction and estimated completion dates are?