The World trade center never really became what its name advertised and over time anticipation and actuality moved apart. For a decade or two the World Trade center courted maritime, trade related businesses without ever becoming the single hub. New York state and the PA rented very substantial amounts of space but neither was remotely trading organizations. In the 1980s, at last Word Trade Center rents began to move from below – market to equal to or above – market rates. Smaller tenants left the World Trade Center and banks, brokerage houses, insurance companies and law firms moved in and thereby reflecting a wide – ranging mix with fewer trade companies.
With the Twin Towers unrivalled as the defining feature of the Manhattan skyline and the busy vibrant five –acre Plaza between the towers well established as a popular meeting place, the World trade Center began to replace Wall Street as the biggest tourist magnet in the Lower Manhattan. Differentiations of roles and activities further blurred during the 1990s. The establishment of the Commodities Exchange at World Trade Center and construction of the privately funded World Financial Center, located at the west of World trade center, further expanded the old Financial District. The World Trade center typified the financial district and was the beating heart. Visitors and Tourists were attracted towards it during summer and winter alike. It was a leisurely stroll down to through the elegant crystal palace of the Winter Garden when you go across the covered bridge connecting the World Trade Center, the twin towers, to the World Financial Center and it ended on the Hudson river waterfront and the parks, the handsome esplanade that added amenity and elegance to the new apartment blocks of battery Park City.
The Pictures of the covered bridge are shown below.
In late 1960s, the New York – New Jersey region was declining as a trade and shipping center with Houston and New Orleans growing rapidly. New York needed a dramatic, high profile project to help it out and the region recapture pre – eminence in trade and associated finance. The whole city and its areas were deteriorating, Lower Manhattan needed revitalization, Urban renewal had passed it by and decay was evident everywhere. The Manhattan was full with small – sized business and poor trade. There was a need for the brand new World Trade Center for the export, import, shipping, insurance and financing communities could be a powerful catalyst for growth of the city. In short, there was a need for the World Trade center, its idea was given at the right time and its time had come and as such it drew powerful political and financial support.
Big projects meant big money and everybody wanted a piece of the action. Hundreds of issues had to be resolved including scope; size and good governance of the project and of course its financing, land acquisition, design, transportation and taxation. Knowing that some industries and business would benefit and others might get hurt including the major real estate and office – leasing companies, powerful real estate, business and financial groups tried to shape the project.
Despite powerful criticism about the PA’s entry into the commercial and real estate market, with an eye to economic benefits, New York and New Jersey passed the legislation that enabled the PA to proceed. They recognized that older office buildings were losing tenants to newer ones and many people had moved to the more efficient and new Mid – Manhattan. This was the time when World Trade Center placed its steps into to trading.
The time moved and Twin Towers reached the screen quickly. The Twin Tower had become an undeniable fact for everyone and thus everyone had to accept it one day or the other. Gradually pubic started accepting it and then it moved into the Movie line.
It was filmed in many movies and for the very first time it was filmed into the climax of the remake of King Kong in 1976. The huge King Kong was leaping from tower to tower with Jessica in his paw and she was fighting with her fate. The King Kong once moved to the Empire Building state and then the Twin Towers came into the screen. This was the first time it was filmed in any movie and the series went on. Though it was really hard to film it due to security reasons but the directors found it a great place for some special scenes of their movies.
Among the better known are the Woody Allen’s nostalgic “Manhattan” that was filmed on Diane Keaton and Meryl Streep in 1979. Then released “Escape from New York” in 1989, by Kurt Russell, featuring the towers in futuristic horror movie. After that there was “Wall Street” in 1987 by Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen and then the “Working Girl” in 1988 in which the ambitious Melanie Griffith gazes up at the Twin Towers, a symbol of unbounded ambition, a salute to success. Then another super hit movie the “Godzilla” in 1998 in which the Twin Towers were featured again.
Thus Twin Towers also got fame in the film industry and became a symbol of Tycoon. It was featured as the most desirable place or the ambitious place where people come to make their dreams true.
The Twin Towers promoted themselves effortlessly. The five acre Plaza from which they rose was a pedestrian haven removed from vehicular traffic and there was a massive bronze spherical sculptural whose vertical lines were co – incidentally like the vertical lines of the twin Towers. The plaza was bigger than the Piazza of San Marco in Venice and was a natural beauty point for all. Beyond it was the World Financial Centre and the Winter Garden that made the sight beautiful. To the south of the world trade center was the New York harbor icon the Statue of Liberty.
Two rewarding features of the world trade center that drew the visitors and the New Yorkers alike towards them were The Deck on the 107th floor of the south tower and the World restaurant on the 107th floor of the North Tower. These were the features that drew the critics and public towards the twin towers.
The Deck on the south tower was not open for public until December 1975. The reason it was opened was that the visitors were not able to see the site fully from the windows because of the Empire tower. After the permission for general public, people used to come here to see another beautiful side of their city. They were able to see the stunning site of the New York, the Harbor and the Brooklyn.
The World Restaurant on the 107th floor of the North Tower was opened in April 1976. Hundreds and Thousands of viewers came to see the beautiful site. They were able to see the panoramic view of the city with lunch. The visitors were able to Drink and have Dinner on the top of the city beyond all the lights which was a the most beautiful aspect of the restaurant. Both these features attracted over 1.5 million visitors every year.
Over its thirty years of life span, the world trade centre – The Twin Towers and other five buildings along with Marriot Hotel was a driving force. The Twin Towers symbolized the American Capitalism for hundreds of millions throughout the world. But that was not the main purpose of World trade Centre. It is important to know that who built it, what was its aim and how through natural synergies that purpose expanded and changed.
The hugely successful idea of World Trade Centre came from a powerful but on profile government agency that financed itself from airport and marine terminal user fees and from bridge and tunnel tolls, accruing large surpluses that it needed to invest.
The agency was the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey that was founded in 1921 to improve trade and commerce. At first, the main activity of this agency was operating marine cargo ports on the New York = New Jersey waterfronts. It also operated the existing airports and after World War 2 built new airports. But in 1960 PA had money and wanted to invest it in public benefit projects. A trade center was one possibility which was soon backed by the financial center. The PA and many other financial sector businesses like the banks, business tycoons and major investors worked together on this project. The PA had sufficient funds for this project but they called other businesses to take part in this work and to build a new trade center that would be the world’s largest trading center. Then its design was selected and worked started on its construction.
Thus the foundation of the Twin Towers was laid and it became the World’s largest trading center. The PA kept it words by improving the business and commerce by building World Trade center.
The Twin towers were no more, everyone was sad, everyone was hurt, everyone had tears in his eyes, the whole nation was weeping but there were people who showed their heroic acts. They saved themselves along with others.
A woman in a wheel chair is carried down endless flights of stairs, a blind man and his dog were escorted down and people assisted the injured and disabled. Executives made a last check that all employees are safely out leave too late to save themselves. Some twenty senior World Trade Center staff perished on site while trying to save others lives. They martyred just to save others. The fire department’s chaplain gave the Last Rites to the dying firemen became a victim himself. He came there to save the victims and himself became a victim. The courage that kept firemen, police officers and other rescue personnel in the danger zone helped the people in escape but the cost they paid was their own lives. They all died just to save others, each of them was a hero, each of them was not afraid of death; each of them was a real patriot.
New York’s Emergency Command Center in the World Trade Center was totally destroyed but even then emergency plans clicked in instantly. Within minutes the disciplined teams of rescue personnel were doing everything the flame – wracked, the smoke – billowing site allowed for. Fire engines and ambulances raced down traffic – free avenues, all the hospital were given red alert and the whole New Jersey was made into a hospital. All this was done just to save the survivors.
That day came with cruelty but was dealt with heroism. Every one showed his internal heroism and the survivors were saved even on the cost of rescuers own lives.
The biggest event in the history of the United State was occurring and millions of people were watching that awful sight live but there were people who witnessed that event on television. Media played its role and captured the whole event and it was broadcasted live. After the hitting of first plane the cameras of the whole New York were on the Twin Towers.
In Greenwich Village, a mile and a half north to the World Trade Center people flooded onto the streets within minutes of the first airbus attack. Most witnessed the collapse of the South Tower at 9:50 am while the North Tower which was still billowing flame and smoke collapsed at 10:29. Horrified watchers saw people jumping from high floors, tiny colored dots within the flumes of falling debris and a sense of unreal, the surreal, and pervaded. People looked into the eyes of complete strangers uncomprehending. Many clasped each other, some sat on the curbs, some started sobbing, knowing that people they loved were dying or must have died in horrific circumstances and they cannot do anything for them except watching the horrible scene on Television screens.
Everything was instantly broadcasted but little new information was forthcoming. No one could estimate the death toll. It was morning of endless streams of people shambling north up the avenue.
The rest world was shocked, stood watching that dreadful sight and some weeping voicelessly. Around 5000 people were killed and thousands were missing. Everyone was praying for his loved one and watching the TV screens to see a glimpse of his loved one. But of no use there was fire, there was devastation and nothing could be watched except hopelessness. Even the TV broadcasters were shocked and a few were hiding their tears.
The flame bursts and plumes of smoke are seared into the memories of people worldwide. No event in the history became known throughout the world so quickly or so dramatically or was so symbolic. The Twin Towers rose 1360 feet in the center of one of the world’s most densely populated cities. It is likely that more people saw the flames, the smoke and the collapse of the shimmering Twin Towers with their own eyes than ever witnesses any other terrorist activity.
Within the hour on that warm, sunny morning there was nothing that anyone could say that was different or new and he TV commentators left no thought unexpressed. People spoke to comfort each other or to break through numbness that shock produced rather than to make informative statements. The enormity, the suddenness and the totality of the event was overwhelming. It is impossible to comprehend such virulent hate.
The response to the attack showed near – miraculous efficiency and focus. The speed of action, the scale of operations, and the courage of every person who participated make for a memorable chapter in the nation’s history. The response was really good despite of that sadness and hush everyone came forward to help the people. There were real acts of heroism. Everyone was trying to help the affected. The rescue and the public jointly took this act and tried to rescue the affected people of this cruel act.
That day was a not a simple day it rose with shine of the flames of that terroristic act and its night came with the cries and cruelty of those terrorists. But all we can say is that the response of the New Yorkers cannot be denied. They proved that this nation is a strong nation and no one can shatter them into pieces.
After the horrible act of terrorism, no one knew the real cause and the personnel responsible for this act. But then the news that a Muslim agency named AL-Qaida took the responsibility of this terrorist attack on the Twin Towers. They claimed that it was an answer to the brutality of America for human race.
The leader of the Agency came out to be Osama – bin – Laden. Many video tapes were then received by the media which were shown on Television. In every video Al – Qaida took the responsibility of this attack and was not ashamed of this act as according to them it was justice. They took the revenge of the killing done by America.
But in this revenge they took lives of thousands of innocent people. They killed the humanity, they destroyed thousands of homes. The whole world was ashamed on this act of brutality even the Muslims were against it. According to Muslims their religion is a religion of Peace but Al – Qaida did wrong by this assassination.
Everyone accused Al – Qaida for this act. The United States attacked Afghanistan in search of Osama – bin – Laden. But the video tapes of Osama – Bin – laden exhibited that they will perform more terrorist attacks in the United States due to which the United States made its policies strict and thousands of people were arrested and were taken to jail for interrogation. All of the arrested persons are still missing and are thought to be jailed in Gavantana mobe.
Therefore, America took the revenge of this brutal act from many Muslims. They arrested every person who seemed to be suspicious. They also got some clues about Al – Qaida but still there is a war between America and Al – Qaida.
To work on Yamasaki’s design the structural firm Worthington, Skilling, Helle & Jackson worked to develop the tube – frame structural system used in the Twin Towers. The World Trade Center towers utilized high – strength, load bearing perimeter steel columns that were spaced closely together to form a strong, rigid structure to support all lateral loads such as wind loads and sharing the gravity load with the core columns. The structure containing 59 columns per side was constructed with extensive usage of pre – fabricated modular pieces each consisting of three columns, three stories tall and connected by plates. The plates were welded to the columns to create the off – site modular pieces, at the fabrication shop.
The core of the towers contained the elevator and shafts, the restrooms, three stairwells and other support spaces. The core was made of steel and concrete mixture to make it strong enough to bear any stress and the core of each tower was a rectangular area that is 87 by 135 feet and contained 47 steel columns running from the bedrock t the top. The floors supported their own weight and the human’s load also providing lateral stability to the exterior walls and distributing the wind loads among the exterior walls.
The trusses located from the 107th floor were designed to support the tall communication antenna on the top of the North tower that was fixed in 1978. The tube frame design using steel and concrete at a time and also sprayed by the fire resisting material.
But despite these measures and such a strong structure the Twin Towers could not stand the crash of the planes and were grounded on September 9, 11. May be there were some flaws left in the structure.
