Tuesday, July 22, 2008

7 World Trade Center


7 World Trade Center
The new 7 World Trade Center (view from southeast)

7 World Trade Center is a building in New York City located across from the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan. The name 7 World Trade Center has referred to two buildings: the original structure, developed in 1984, and the current structure. The original building was destroyed on September 11, 2001 and replaced with the new 7 World Trade Center, which opened in 2006. Both buildings were developed by Larry Silverstein who holds a ground lease for the site from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The original 7 World Trade Center was 47 stories tall, clad in red exterior masonry, and occupied a trapezoid-shaped footprint. An elevated walkway connected the building to the World Trade Center plaza. The building was situated above a Con Edison power substation which imposed unique structural design constraints. When the building opened in 1987, Silverstein had difficulties attracting tenants. In 1988, the Salomon Brothers signed a long-term lease, and became the main tenants of the building. On September 11, 2001, the building was heavily damaged by debris when the adjacent twin towers collapsed. Its structural integrity was further compromised by fires which burned throughout the afternoon. The original 7 World Trade Center collapsed at 5:20 p.m. on September 11 due to the combined effect of structural and fire damage.

The new 7 World Trade Center construction began in 2002 and was completed in 2006. It is 52 stories tall and situated above a power substation. Built on a smaller footprint than the original to allow Greenwich Street to be restored from TriBeCa through the World Trade Center site and south to Battery Park, the new building is bounded by Greenwich, Vesey, Washington, and Barclay streets. A small park across Greenwich street occupies space that was part of the original building's footprint. The current 7 World Trade Center's design placed emphasis on safety, with a reinforced concrete core, wider stairways, and thicker fireproofing of steel columns, and incorporates numerous environmentally friendly features.

Information
Location 250 Greenwich Street
New York City, New York, United States
Status Complete
Constructed 2002–2006
Use Office
Height
Roof 750 ft (228 m)
Technical details
Floor count 52
Floor area 1.7 million sq ft
158,000 m²
Companies
Architect David Childs (S.O.M.)
Developer Silverstein Properties