Structural steel for the 540m tower that will be known as 1 World Trade Centre has risen 60m above street level in a tangible sign of progress at ground zero.

“This progress is one more sign that the site is not a pit anymore,” said Chris Ward, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns the 64,000m² trade centre site.

Workers are now installing 16 steel nodes on the 20th floor level which serve as joints between the steel framing for the building’s podium and the steel for the rest of the tower. The 104-storey skyscraper is due to be completed in 2013.

Work was also taking place elsewhere at the trade centre site, Mr Ward said, as the port authority’s commissioners held their monthly meeting on World Trade Centre rebuilding.

“What people can’t see … is over 64,000m² of museum space being built below grade,” he said.

The commissioners approved contracts for several projects, including a contract with New York-based DCM Erectors for installing the bronze that will be inscribed with the names of those who died at the twin towers on September 11.

Comments are closed