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One World Trade Center spire installed in New York City | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The spire has been installed atop New York's One World Trade Center, making the skyscraper the tallest building in the Western hemisphere. | |
The building in lower Manhattan, still being built, stands at the site of the 11 September 2001 attacks. | The building in lower Manhattan, still being built, stands at the site of the 11 September 2001 attacks. |
The tower stands at 1,776ft (541m), a reference to the year of America's independence, after building was slowed by bureaucratic and design delays. | |
Workers watched the event from a work platform at the top of the tower. | |
'Tribute to lives lost' | |
"It's a pretty awesome feeling," project manager Juan Estevez told the Associated Press news agency. | "It's a pretty awesome feeling," project manager Juan Estevez told the Associated Press news agency. |
"It's a culmination of a tremendous amount of team work... rebuilding the New York City skyline once again." | "It's a culmination of a tremendous amount of team work... rebuilding the New York City skyline once again." |
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the installation of the spire was a proud moment for the city and state. | |
"This milestone at the World Trade Center site symbolises the resurgence and resilience of our state and our nation," Mr Cuomo said. | |
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie thanked the workers on the project. | |
"Today's achievement is a fitting tribute to the sacrifices made by so many brave and innocent souls nearly 12 years ago - including first responders... who lost their lives while heroically responding to the attacks on our nation," he continued. | |
On Friday morning the two pieces of the spire were lifted by a crane and fitted to the 16 pieces of the antenna already in place. | |
Ironworkers then screwed on 60 bolts at an elevation of 1,701ft in the air. | |
Below the tower is a memorial to the nearly 3,000 people killed when al-Qaeda militants flew jets into the World Trade Center's twin towers, causing their collapse. | Below the tower is a memorial to the nearly 3,000 people killed when al-Qaeda militants flew jets into the World Trade Center's twin towers, causing their collapse. |
A museum is also under construction. | A museum is also under construction. |
When it is completed, the One World Trade Center will house 2.6 million sq-ft (241,000 sq-m) of commercial office space, as well as observation decks, restaurants and other public facilities. | |
The 408ft spire will serve as a broadcast antenna. | The 408ft spire will serve as a broadcast antenna. |