Building Opens At 7 World Trade Center

A state of the art skyscraper opened today at 7 World Trade Center, the third building to fall on 9/11, after the twin towers.

Developer Larry Silverstein opened the 52—story 7 World Trade Center for business by unveiling a bright red sculpture called "Balloon Flower" and hosting a concert featuring Lou Reed and Suzanne Vega.

Silverstein built the first 7 World Trade nearly 20 years ago and has struggled to rebuild destroyed office space at ground zero for more than four years. The land is owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and leased by Silverstein.

The shimmering glass tower was redesigned by David Childs. And it's the first commercial tower to be certified as "green" because it uses less electricity and has high-efficiency cooling and heating systems. It's also adopted newer safety standards, with wider stairwells and two—foot—thick concrete walls.

Silverstein has rented less than a fifth of 7 World Trade's 1.7 million square feet. He moved in his development company's offices this week, while three architects who are designing towers planned for ground zero will set up shop soon.

Ameriprise Financial Incorporated, a spinoff of American Express, and the New York Academy of Sciences plan to move in by fall. A Chinese developer has signed a tentative agreement to rent
the top five floors.