World Trade Center

The New Yorker ones with criticism and protests accompanied the building of the towers. Then they fell in love with the large city in the metropolis. The two slim towers from steel, aluminum and glass, rose up 412 meters into the sky, and the antenna point touched by-pulling clouds. During the building of the World Trade Center before almost 30 years, many were New Yorker ones of the opinion, the twin blocks disturb the silhouette at the Hudson River. After protests, criticisms, right examinations and years long construction period however New York accepted the Twin Towers. Pragmatic recognizing changed itself later even into affectionate affection, finally shaped those silver of resplendent towers the silhouette of the town with millions of inhabitants. Thus the Twins became the symbol New Yorks, became symbol for the economic power of the United States. The World Trade Center towered above since 1931 the highest building Manhattans, which was considered to Empire State Building, over 31 meters, and as the highest building of the world. However it had to deliver this title two years later to the Sears Tower in Chicago, which towered above the World Trade Center for his part by 31 meters. Later both buildings were overtrumped by the Petronas Tower in Kuala Lumpur. The World Trade Center had the borders its to break through, which was considered 40 years long as technically possible. A new era of building began, said the architects, stress analyst and civil engineers.

The American-Japanese architect Minoru Yamasaki had created a "vertical city". "it becomes the first building 21. Century, a house for the peace", promised Yamasaki. Its building, he said, is the visitors "luck and security to bring". the first excavators rolled 1966. More than 21 meters deeply dug it the pit for the foundation into the slate soil of Manhattan. Floor around floor grew the multistoried building, only one stone throw far away from the place, where Dutch settlers had begun more than 300 years ago with the settlement of the peninsula. Because of the enormous height of the building the work had to go from the inside outward. The workers built first the elevator pits, where they would then install the cranes, which pulled the stealing vines weighing tons up, in order to develop the external walls. "A grandiose marriage of beauty and usefulness", praised New Yorks governor Nelson Rockefeller. The inauguration from altogether 7 houses existing building complex was 1973. The north tower was already finished 1970. The antenna on its roof transmitted the signal from ten supraregional TV stations.
The towers of the WTC were often scene of artistic feats and served frequently as film scenery: The two gigants hardly stood, stretched the acrobat Philippe Petit a rope of a roof on the other hand and balanced over the abyss. Few years later George willing with itself-tinkered hook the external wall of the south tower climbed highly. The architect of the WTC, Yamasaki, died 1986; also 1993 he did not have to experience the first terror-attack on its World trade center. He believed steadfastly, "a world trade center is an indication of the world peace".

Numbers:

Overall height: 412 Meter,
110 Floors,
76.000 Quadratmeter covered surface,
1,2 Millionen Quadratmeter offices, shops and restaurants,
4.800 Kilometer of cables,
43.600 Windowmechanics,
180.000 Tons steel,
50.000 Employees worked here,
up to 200.000 Humans (inclusive masses of tourists) pushed themselves each day into the twin of towers, e.g. on the prospect platform,
ten tracks escalators in Concourse Level,
97 Person- and 6 freight elevators in each tower,
Express elevators for 55 persons (58 seconds into the 110 floor),
6 Basements,
3 Subway railway stations

1960: Banker David Rockefeller dreams about the economic stimulation Manhattans.
1966: Architect Minoru Yamasaki carries out the idea of the billionaire and plans the project.
1970-1977: In seven years the complex from 7 buildings was established.
Costs: 1,1 Mrd. Dollar
Mai 2001: for more than 3 billion Dollar leases the New Yorker port authority for 99 years the WTC at Larry A. Silverstein and Westfield America.