NEW YORK | One World Trade Center | 1,776' Pinnacle / 1,373' Roof | 108 FLOORS

[NYguy]

http://commercialobserver.com/2014/0...sfp=3160509449

Industry Leader: 1 WTC a Lightning Rod





By Tobias Salinger 7/11/14

A week after photos of lightning striking the steel spire of One World Trade Center made international news, experts familiar with the electric bolts pointed to the building’s resilience against such dangers.

The 1,776-foot skyscraper, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, sustained six lightning shocks since the end of June, said Rob Cooper, the president of top lightning protection system installer Associated Lightning Rod Company.

“That building inherently has lightning protection,” said Mr. Cooper, whose company implemented lightning safeguards at the Plaza Hotel, John F. Kennedy Airport and several towers around the city, though not at 1 WTC. “The needle on top is exposed structural steel that’s attached to the structural steel core of the building, which goes all the way underground. Lightning protection is built into that structure.”

Skyscraper owners usually spend between $50,000 and $100,000 on their lightning protection systems, said Mr. Cooper, who calls the end of June through early September “lightning season” and notes that taller buildings face a greater risk. Lightning strikes caused 23 deaths, 145 injuries and $23.8 million in damages in the United States last year, according to the Insurance Information Institute, an insurance industry research organization.

But safeguards like rods and copper cables neutralize the bolts by transferring their “mega-electricity” to the ground underneath buildings, said Kim Loehr of the nonprofit Lightning Protection Institute.

“The worst-case scenario is fire,” said Ms. Loehr. But, she noted, “There’s a lot of apathy. Lightning’s striking all the time.”

Representatives for the Durst Organization, the developers of 1 WTC, acknowledged last week’s strike wasn’t the building’s first, but said no figures for the number of strikes or officials tasked with lightning protection were available.

[islandxtreme26]

Check out 1WTC in this Gigapan image I shot on Friday morning....featuring window washers on the west facade of the Tower.

http://www.gigapan.com/gigapans/158687

[NYguy]

Kong returns...



Kelly Hafermann Photography

[kotsy]

NYC by kotsy.in.toronto, on Flickr

NYC by kotsy.in.toronto, on Flickr

NYC by kotsy.in.toronto, on Flickr

NYC by kotsy.in.toronto, on Flickr

NYC by kotsy.in.toronto, on Flickr

NYC by kotsy.in.toronto, on Flickr

NYC by kotsy.in.toronto, on Flickr

Top of the Rock by kotsy.in.toronto, on Flickr

NYC by kotsy.in.toronto, on Flickr

[TouchTheSky13]

Beautiful.


Source: WTC Progress

[Hudson11]

• Video Link

[Roadcruiser1]

Originally Posted by TouchTheSky13

Beautiful.


Source: WTC Progress

Compared to the Lobby of the South Tower

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i1FOT6zX7D...win+towers.jpg

[James Bond Agent 007]

Shouldn't this thing be put in the "completed" category by now?

[kpdrummer82]

Originally Posted by James Bond Agent 007

Shouldn't this thing be put in the "completed" category by now?

The building is not complete yet.

[StrongIsland]

Delete.

[Perklol]

Originally Posted by Roadcruiser1

Compared to the Lobby of the South Tower

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i1FOT6zX7D...win+towers.jpg

Somehow this photo reeks of asbestos.

[OptimumPx]

Originally Posted by Roadcruiser1

Compared to the Lobby of the South Tower

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i1FOT6zX7D...win+towers.jpg

Actually that's the 44th floor elevator lobby. The better comparison would be with the elevator banks in the lower level of the main lobby.

Still image from this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVJDC_jLeFo

[pico44]

Originally Posted by James Bond Agent 007

Shouldn't this thing be put in the "completed" category by now?

Whats the rush? It doesn't look completed at street level, and I'd prefer to have the thread easily accessible as we watch the ultimate completion of the building and surrounding entryway. It is invariably one of the first two or three threads I visit when I come to SSP, and likely the most popular thread in site history; so let's not be so eager to stash this conversation in storage.

[hunser]

^ 1WTC views:
SSP: 11,274,641
SSC: 13,897,220
WNY:5,130,306
-----------
Total: 30,302,167

Over 30 million views in the three major skyscraper forums!

Replies:
SSP: 35,413
SSC: 55,405
WNY: 14,177
----------
Total: 104,995

[Perklol]

Originally Posted by pico44

Whats the rush? It doesn't look completed at street level, and I'd prefer to have the thread easily accessible as we watch the ultimate completion of the building and surrounding entryway. It is invariably one of the first two or three threads I visit when I come to SSP, and likely the most popular thread in site history; so let's not be so eager to stash this conversation in storage.

I agree.

[ArtDecoRevival]

Originally Posted by James Bond Agent 007

Shouldn't this thing be put in the "completed" category by now?

No. Completed buildings go in the completed category. One WTC is nowhere near completed. Most of the work left is internal, but even externally, there's still some cladding where the external lift used to be and some work near the ground. When it opens for business it should be put in the completed category. Sorry, but I'm at a loss as to why you think it's completed when pictures plainly show how much work is yet to be done. Maybe end of this year.

Originally Posted by kotsy

NYC by kotsy.in.toronto, on Flickr

I love NYC's skyline. So many spires. The set-back law in the early 20th century was the best thing that ever happened for its architecture, because it inspired such innovation, which led directly to New York's iconic gothic style and use of spires (even in otherwise modern buildings). Even the stripped down One WTC antenna is growing on me, because it's slender and simple. If it were bulkier and white, it might have had a bit of trouble fitting in with the other spires and antennas.

PS: Just saw that was your very first post, kotsy. And a great first post it was!

[ArtDecoRevival]

Originally Posted by TouchTheSky13

Beautiful.


Source: WTC Progress

I also love how spacious the new WTC lobby is, compared to the dingy, claustrophobic feel of the old one. So much for those criticisms about it being a giant fortress. It's turned out great. Love those clean marble walls.

And for people who still think the old WTC was better than the new One WTC, well this is just another reason they're

[Sioux City]

Please bear with me as I go slightly off topic to ask a question. Numbers for three different sites were just cited above. How are the sites different, and how are they the same? Like many people here I stumbled across this site a number of years ago, while still processing the loss of the old complex, and holding out hope for renewal and healing. While I eventually joined this page, and only made a few posts thus far, I am following two other posts on SSC, via favorited links on my desktop. One for the memorial and plaza; the other for the VSC. It has been an awkward way of following the progress, but I am so happy to have made these discoveries, while healing along with the rest of the nation, and world. I also follow WTC Progress page on Facebook. I believe it doubles as a twitter page. Thanks for accommodating this middle-aged tech neophyte.

[RockMont]

Those marble walls are spectacular.

[Lecom]

First half of this video focuses on 1WTC's lighting scheme on the 4th of July.

• Video Link