One World Trade Center: New York’s tallest tower

One World Trade Center is New York's tallest building. This iconic skyscraper replaced the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.

What You Need to Know About One World Trade Center

One World Trade Center is New York‘s tallest building, standing 541 m (1,776 ft) high. This imposing skyscraper opened on November 3, 2014 in the Financial District, located at the southern tip of Manhattan.
The tower’s height is no accident: at 1,776 feet (541 m), it references the date of American independence, July 4, 1776. Another key figure, less well known: the tower without its antenna reaches 417 m (1,368 ft), exactly the same height as the original North Tower of the World Trade Center, destroyed on September 11, 2001.
One World Trade Center replaced the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, which collapsed following the terrorist attacks of 2001. The project, initially called the “Freedom Tower,” took more than 10 years to complete. The tower was officially named One World Trade Center in 2009.
The tower was originally designed by Polish-American architect Daniel Libeskind, but American architect David Childs redesigned the plans to create the final structure. Childs also designed the Twin Towers of the Time Warner Center on Columbus Circle and the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa.
The tower has 108 floors, primarily occupied by offices, including the Condé Nast group, publisher of The New Yorker, Vogue, Vanity Fair, GQ, and Wired magazines.

Start by standing right at the base of the tower, on the entrance facing West Street. From this vantage point, the tower appears to rise like a pyramid into the sky. The optical effect created by its architecture is striking. You’ll also notice that while the tower appears to be entirely glass with eight sides, it actually has a reinforced concrete and steel base.
Since May 29, 2015, an observation deck has operated at the top of the tower: the One World Observatory. It spans three floors, from the 100th to the 102nd level, and offers breathtaking views of the city on one side and the bay on the other, with sweeping views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Buy your tickets in advance. The observatory admits a limited number of visitors every 15 minutes, and given its popularity, days fill up quickly.
To purchase tickets in advance, visit the page for One World Observatory tickets. Note: all tickets include a specific date and entry time.
If you’re under 18 and want to visit the observatory, you must be accompanied by an adult. You must be at least 17 years old to purchase a ticket.

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