The original World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan, New York City, included seven buildings, with 1 WTC, the tower with the antenna spire, on the left and 2 WTC on the right; the original 7 World Trade Center was the red granite-clad building left of the Twin Towers, and the East River lay in the background. The World Trade Center was the tallest in the world from 1971 to 1973, surpassing the Empire State Building before being surpassed by the Willis Tower. Groundbreaking took place on August 25, 1966. Construction began on 1 WTC in August 1968, 2 WTC in January 1969, 3 WTC in December 1979, 4, 5, and 6 WTC in 1970, and 7 WTC in 1983. Completion followed on December 23, 1970, for 1 WTC, in July 1971 for 2 WTC, in July 1981 for 3 WTC, in 1975 for 4, 5, and 6 WTC, and in May 1987 for 7 WTC. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was owned by the Port Authority of N.Y. & N.J. Its heights included the 1 WTC antenna spire at 1,730 feet; roofs of 1 WTC at 1,368 feet, 2 WTC at 1,362 feet, 3 WTC at 250 feet, 4 and 5 WTC at 120 feet, 6 WTC at 110 feet, and 7 WTC at 610 feet; and top floors of 1 and 2 WTC at 1,350 feet. Floor counts were 110 floors in 1 and 2 WTC, 22 in 3 WTC, 9 in 4 and 5 WTC, 8 in 6 WTC, and 47 in 7 WTC. Floor area totaled 4,300,000 square feet each in 1 and 2 WTC, 500,000 square feet each in 4, 5, and 6 WTC, and 1,868,000 square feet in 7 WTC, while 1 and 2 WTC each had 99 elevators.

Photo: Devry Becker Jones

Photo: Devry Becker Jones

Photo: Devry Becker Jones

Elwood, New Jersey · USA