World Trade Center Developer Larry A. Silverstein was joined today by New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Pritzker Prize-winning architect Fumihiko Maki and a host of other prominent government, civic, union and business leaders at a ceremony to mark the opening of the new 4 World Trade Center - the first office tower to be completed on the original 16-acre World Trade Center site.
Today's ceremony also marked the reintroduction of a stretch of Greenwich Street to the City streetscape for the first time since construction began on the original World Trade Center a half century ago.
The 977-foot, 72-story, 4 World Trade Center contains 2.3 million square feet of light-filled, green and high-tech office space spread over 56 office floors. Equally important, 4 WTC has been designed to enliven and seamlessly integrate into Downtown's streetscape, with a major concentration of retail - both at the street-level and in underground pedestrian concourses that lead directly to 11 subway lines and the PATH trains. All of the retail will open in tandem with the World Trade Center Transit Hub in late 2014 or early 2015. "This is a historic day for New York City and a major milestone in Downtown's remarkable rebirth as the world's most vibrant and sustainable urban neighborhood," said Mr. Silverstein. "With the 12 years of controversy and construction behind us, the opening of 4 WTC shows how we are knitting the new World Trade Center into this incredible part of the City. And as more and more of these buildings come on line, we move closer to our collective vision of a new World Trade Center as the heart of a unique live-work community."
"Today's opening of 4 WTC is a truly momentous occasion in New York's history," Governor Cuomo said. "Twelve years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, this building stands tall as a symbol of our nation's resilience and strength. It will also contribute to the revitalization of Lower Manhattan, connecting mass transit, business, government and tourism all on one site. As we move forward in building a new World Trade Center, the opening of this first tower is a significant milestone and illustrates that, even in the face of great adversity, New York rises."
Mayor Bloomberg said, "4 World Trade is the first building to be completed within the borders of the original World Trade Center, and is a testament to the strength and resiliency of New Yorkers. As we open its doors, the site once again becomes a part of New York's continued growth - reconnected with the City that surrounds it, and all those who live, work, and visit Lower Manhattan."
Senator Charles Schumer said, "Cutting the ribbon on the gleaming and modern Four World Trade - the very first new tower to open at this site - is a milestone for New York City and proof-positive of our resiliency and belief in the future. With the opening of Four World Trade -and the impending opening of One World Trade and the transit Hub and the Museum - we've proved how wrong those who wrote off Downtown were, and how important the billions the federal government investment were to this essential rebuilding effort. I congratulate Silverstein Properties, the Port Authority, the City of New York and the federal delegation for their collaborative efforts to get us to this day."
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, "Twelve years ago, the pundits said Lower Manhattan would never recover. Today, 4 World Trade Center, the first office building to open on the World Trade Center site, is the most state-of-the-art, high-tech office building in New York City. It is yet another significant step forward in Downtown's rebirth and in the re-emergence of my hometown community as the best place to live, to work, to visit, to raise a family and to do business. 4 World Trade Center is the next chapter in the greatest comeback story ever told, and I salute Larry Silverstein for his resolve and his leadership."
"The opening of 4 WTC is an important milestone for the rebuilding effort of Lower Manhattan," said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. "As the first building to be completed on the WTC site, it is a testament to the fact that New Yorkers are determined and resilient, and that we have come back stronger than ever. I congratulate Larry Silverstein and the Port Authority for their dedication and perseverance in getting to this day."
"I am delighted to celebrate the opening of 4 World Trade Center, which serves as a symbol of Lower Manhattan's resurgence. Larry Silverstein deserves our congratulations for delivering an elegant building that is a worthy symbol of New York's strength, resilience and determination," said Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney.
"The opening of 4 World Trade Center signifies a pivotal step in the revitalization of Downtown Manhattan and New York City as a whole," said New York City Comptroller John C. Liu. "Today, we remember those who were lost on September 11th, 2001, and we look forward to a new era of equal opportunity, job creation, and economic growth for which our great City is so well known."
"I can't stress how proud I am - as a native New Yorker and Manhattanite - to be standing at the opening of 4 World Trade Center," said Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer. "For New Yorkers, 4 World Trade Center is not just the next great building to grace our skyline. It's a symbol of our resiliency, and a testament to our will. And this is just the start. Next year, One World Trade will follow, helping to continue the amazing revitalization of Lower Manhattan and its business community. This is a proud day for New York City."
"I'm proud to celebrate the opening of 4 World Trade Center and this major milestone in the revitalization of Lower Manhattan," said City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. "The opening of 4 World Trade Center will send a clear message that no adversity or challenge is big enough to prevent New York City from bouncing back stronger and more resilient than ever. I want to congratulate Silverstein Properties and everyone who worked so hard on this major step forward in the rebirth of the World Trade Center area."
State Senator Daniel Squadron said, "Lower Manhattan proves again and again that we've not only come back - but we've come back stronger than ever. And few things illustrate that as well as the opening of 4 World Trade Center. Congratulations to Larry Silverstein, the City, Speaker Silver, and everyone who made today possible."
City Council Member Margaret Chin added, "For those of us who live and work Downtown, 4 World Trade Center is so much more than an office tower. Its completion is a symbol of 12 years of recovery, progress, and most of all, resilience. Here in the footprint of the original World Trade Center site, we are confident of Lower Manhattan's continued success as an economic engine for our City, an unforgettable place to visit, and a community that we call home."
Designed by Mr. Maki and his firm, Maki & Associates, to meet a LEED Gold standard of sustainability, 4 World Trade Center possesses an abstract quality - minimal, light, cool in color, and ephemeral, changing with the light of day. Seen from a distance, the building presents a unique angular profile at the crown, in keeping with a key element of Daniel Libeskind's Master Plan - the spiral composition formed by the group of four towers encircling the Memorial. Said Fumihiko Maki, "The design of 4 World Trade Center has two fundamental elements - a ‘minimalist' tower that achieves an appropriate presence, quiet but with dignity, and a ‘podium' that becomes a catalyst for activating the surrounding urban streetscape as part of the revitalization of Lower Manhattan." Daniel Libeskind said, "Today, as a New Yorker, I am pleased to see the first commercial tower open at the World Trade Center Site. The Master Plan balances the memory and healing of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum with the resilience and rebirth of a vibrant, urban neighborhood. As Fumihiko Maki's elegant and sophisticated skyscraper rises from bedrock ready to start the working day, we show our collective optimism."
The lobby of 4World Trade Center is marked by soaring 46-foot high glass walls on three sides, which combine with an inner wall of gleaming black Swedish granite to welcome in the sky, trees and natural light. The office lobby, which also incorporates public art as well as Greek Thassos marble and African anigre wood finishes, overlooks the eight-acre Memorial park.
The Church Street side of 4 World Trade Center will be activated by five floors of world-class shops, restaurants, boutiques and amenities, as well as a public entrance to a grand underground concourse featuring direct access to 11 subway lines, plus the PATH trains, the World Trade Center Transportation Hub and half a million square feet of destination retail.
More than 1,200 union construction workers put in over 3.2 million hours to build 4 World Trade Center from bedrock to 977 feet.
A quarter of the office space is slated to become the new headquarters of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. Another 600,000 square feet will be occupied by the City of New York. The remainder of the office space will be leased by Silverstein Properties to commercial tenants.
A full set of high-resolution images, renderings and animations, as well as fact sheets on 4 World Trade Center, are available for download at http://www.4wtc.com/press.
