One World Trade Center

Why go

One World Trade Center anchors the rebuilt site. From the surrounding streets, its position northwest of the memorial shows reconstruction beside remembrance. Include the exterior on a Lower Manhattan walk to see how the office tower sits within the larger World Trade Center complex.

What to look for

• The spire completes a height of 1,776 feet, a reference to American independence.
• The tower stands on the northwest corner of the World Trade Center site.

The full story

The new tower carries the same name as the original World Trade Center’s North Tower, destroyed in the September 11 attacks. It stands on the former site of 6 World Trade Center rather than directly on the North Tower’s footprint. That distinction helps a visitor read the rebuilt complex as a new arrangement around the places of remembrance. David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill designed the building. Foundation work began in 2006, the final spire component was installed in 2013 and the building opened in 2014. Its symbolic height connects the project to the year of the Declaration of Independence. The official name One World Trade Center replaced the widely used Freedom Tower label during development. Together, its name, location and height show how rebuilding combined a functioning workplace with an architecture of national symbolism.

Useful to know

• Include the exterior in a walk through the surrounding memorial area.
• Do not plan office entry as part of a public sightseeing stop.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.