tragically destroyed by terrorists on 9/11/01.
This site is dedicated to its history.
unveiled by the Downtown-Lower Manhattan
Association in January 1960. It called for a
combination of office and hotel building up to 70
stories high, which would be built along the East River
next to the present day South Street Seaport, just
north of the cities Financial District.
Architect Minoru Yamasaki was in charge of the
design for New York's World Trade Center. Before the
Twin Towers became a reality, New Yorkers were given
a preview of what was to come with a giant 10 foot
model. The complex was to cover a 16 acre area and
consist of 7 buildings.
Towers, using a closely put together
steel frame to support the exterior
walls, was a daring idea when it was
proposed, but it had a precedent, the
IBM Building in Seattle, WA.
The steel skeleton of the Trade
Center was anchored to bedrock far
below street level at the bottom of the
pit that would become the largest
shopping mall in Manhattan.
As the North Tower rose, it's twin wasn't far behind, and their aluminum skin was already being fastened into place.
The North tower was first to reach it's full height. Workers gazing west from up there looked down on the Hudson
River landfill, the site of their next major source of jobs, the World Financial Center. The official dedication of the
World Trade Center, on April 4, 1973, included welcoming words from New York's Governor, Nelson A. Rockefeller.
The ceremonies were held in the lobby of the North Tower. The overall effect of the design of the Twin Towers was
that they were buildings without windows. But, though narrow and set back, they did provide panoramic views for the
people inside, and allowed daylight to stream into their offices.
