Rising from its square base, the redesigned Freedom Tower will taper into eight tall isosceles triangles, forming a perfect octagon at its center. An observation deck will be located 1,362 feet above ground and there will be a square glass parapet at 1,368 feet, the heights of the original Twin Towers. From these, an illuminated spire containing a television antenna will rise to a final height of 1,776 feet.
On June 29, 2005, a redesigned Freedom Tower was released, addressing security concerns raised about the original design. The new design retains essential elements of the original — soaring 1,776 feet into the sky, its illuminated mast evoking the Statue of Liberty's torch — but features a smaller, cubic base set back further from West Street to protect the building against any future terrorist attempts. The building will be constructed of steel and concrete.
Other key elements of the original design will be retained, including 2.6 million square feet of office space, tenant amenity spaces, world-class restaurants, below-grade retail, and access to the PATH, subway, and World Financial Center.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York Gov. George Pataki, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, and other rebuilding officials joined developer Larry Silverstein to welcome construction crews to the World Trade Center site.
"If you listen in the background, you can hear the heavy equipment … the builders here at the World Trade Center site beginning their work," Pataki said. "The Freedom Tower is going to be a symbol of our freedom and our independence.”
