Image courtesy of Iwan Baan

7 World Trade Center by SOM

Completed in 2006, this 52-storey office tower signaled the rebirth of the Lower Manhattan following the September 2001 attacks and set a standard for the World Trade Center master plan.

Image courtesy of James Ewing Otto

Conveying a sense of lightness and establishing a strong street-level presence were central to the design. The tower rises like a shimmering glass shard, with a curtain wall that reflects the ever-changing sky. The building’s lower portion is clad in a perforated steel screen that was created in collaboration with designer James Carpenter. Behind the metal scrim sits a panel of blue and white LEDs whose intensity gradually shifts throughout the day. In the spacious lobby, a captivating light installation by the artist Jenny Holzer draws the attention of passers-by.

Image courtesy One WTC © SOM

As New York City’s first commercial office building to receive LEED® certification, 7 World Trade Center incorporates a range of sustainable features, starting with the use of recycled structural steel, insulation, and interior materials. Over its life, the tower is expected to use less energy than a traditionally built skyscraper of comparable size, in part by using collected rainwater to cool the building, and by directly metering tenants to encourage energy conservation.

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