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It’s taken thirteen years but Lower Manhattan, New York is back in business as the new One World Trade Centre has officially opened its doors directly across from the 9/11 Memorial Museum which opened earlier this year.
Standing on the same location that 2,700 people perished when two hijacked planes were flown into the Twin Towers in September 2001, the One World Trade Centre is now the tallest building in the Western hemisphere at a dizzying 541 metres, spread over 104 floors.
Publishing giants Cond? Nast, who own The New Yorker, Vanity Fair and other magazines are the skyscraper’s first tenants. An initial influx of 200 employees will rise to 3,400 by February 2015 and they are expected to be joined by many other companies with the new tower being approximately 60 per cent leased already.
Chief Executive of Conde Nast, Charles Townsend was in celebratory mood; ?This is a terrific day for Lower Manhattan, a wonderful day for New York City and an absolutely great day for Conde Nast.?
The father of a firefighter who lost his life in the tragedy and president of the September 11th Families? Association, Lee Ielpi, was both excited and nostalgic.
?I am happy we’ve gotten to this point, though it may have taken longer than we hoped. I would hope that Cond? Nast understands that this is good ground that the building sits on, sacred ground. In that respect yes, we must rebuild, but we must never ever forget why we’re building it.?
Follow Niall Swan on Twitter @NiallMacSuain