Misplaced Pages

#408591

133-646: The intersection of Vesey and West Streets was the site of the Washington Market, the city's main produce market. Established in 1812, its location near the docks facilitated the movement of goods. Prior to the construction of the World Trade Center it ran as a continuous street from Broadway to the Hudson River . As of 2013, it is still a continuous street, but it has four discontinuous segments with mixed uses: The eastern extension of

266-570: A " Ritchie Boy " secret unit specially trained at Fort Ritchie, Maryland . For seven months he served as an assistant military attaché at the American Embassy in Paris. During this period, he called on family contacts and Standard Oil executives for assistance. In 1946, Rockefeller joined the staff of the longtime family-associated Chase National Bank. The chairman at that time was Rockefeller's uncle Winthrop W. Aldrich . The Chase Bank

399-522: A "Western Hemisphere free trade area", which became the Free Trade Area of the Americas in a Miami summit in 1994. His and the council's chief liaison to President Bill Clinton in order to garner support for this initiative was through Clinton's chief of staff, Mack McLarty , whose consultancy firm Kissinger McLarty Associates is a corporate member of the council, while McLarty himself is on

532-832: A 1970 account was supposed to accommodate 130,000 people. On a typical weekday, an estimated 50,000 people worked in the complex and another 140,000 passed through as visitors. The World Trade Center was so large that it had its own zip code: 10048 . The towers offered expansive views from the observation deck atop the South Tower and the Windows on the World restaurant on top of the North Tower. The Twin Towers became known worldwide, appearing in numerous movies and television shows as well as on postcards and other merchandise. It became

665-466: A 362 foot (110 m) telecommunications antenna or mast that was built on the roof in 1979 (upgraded in 1999 to accommodate DTV broadcasts). With this addition, the highest point of the North Tower reached 1,730 feet (530 m). Chicago's Willis Tower , then called Sears Tower which was finished in May 1973 , reached 1,450 feet (440 m) at the rooftop. When completed in 1973, the South Tower became

798-782: A New York icon, in the same league as the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and the Statue of Liberty . The World Trade Center was compared to Rockefeller Center , which David Rockefeller's brother Nelson Rockefeller had developed in midtown Manhattan. One World Trade Center and Two World Trade Center, commonly referred to as the Twin Towers , were designed by architect Minoru Yamasaki as framed tube structures, which provided tenants with open floor plans, uninterrupted by columns or walls. They were

931-495: A business writer, it also was the origin of the electronic component distribution business. The idea of establishing a World Trade Center in New York City was first proposed in 1943. The New York State Legislature passed a bill authorizing New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey to begin developing plans for the project, but the plans were put on hold in 1949. During the late 1940s and 1950s, economic growth in New York City

1064-601: A century ideological extremists at either end of the political spectrum have seized upon well-publicized incidents such as my encounter with Castro to attack the Rockefeller family for the inordinate influence they claim we wield over American political and economic institutions. Some even believe we are part of a secret cabal working against the best interests of the United States, characterizing my family and me as 'internationalists' and of conspiring with others around

1197-444: A figure that was substantiated by a monograph on the family's overall benefactions, entitled The Chronicle of Philanthropy . He published Memoirs in 2002, the only time a member of the Rockefeller family has written an autobiography. Rockefeller was a noted internationalist . Rockefeller's will requires his estate, once assets are liquidated, to donate over $ 700 million to various non-profits, including Rockefeller University,

1330-694: A fund-raising group based in Washington, Republicans Who Care, that supported moderate Republican candidates over more ideological contenders. Rockefeller was acquainted with Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director Allen Dulles and his brother, Eisenhower administration Secretary of State John Foster Dulles —who was an in-law of the family —since his college years. It was in Rockefeller Center that Allen Dulles had set up his WWII operational center after Pearl Harbor , liaising closely with MI6 , which also had their principal U.S. operation in

1463-509: A height of 1,377 ft (420 m). On a clear day, visitors could see up to 50 miles (80 km). An anti-suicide fence was placed on the roof itself, with the viewing platform set back and elevated above it, requiring only an ordinary railing. This left the view unobstructed, unlike the observation deck of the Empire State Building. Windows on the World, the restaurant on the North Tower's 106th and 107th floors, opened in April 1976 . It

SECTION 10

#1732776870409

1596-411: A square plan approximately 208 feet (63 m) in dimension on each side. The buildings were designed with narrow office windows 18 inches (46 cm) wide, which reflected Yamasaki's fear of heights as well as his desire to make building occupants feel secure. His design included building facades clad in aluminum-alloy. The World Trade Center was one of the most striking American implementations of

1729-410: A strong, rigid wall structure, supporting virtually all lateral loads such as wind loads, and sharing the gravity load with the core columns. The perimeter structure containing 59 columns per side was constructed with extensive use of prefabricated modular pieces, each consisting of three columns, three stories tall, connected by spandrel plates. The spandrel plates were welded to the columns to create

1862-409: A utility shaft that ran vertically between floors. Areas at the furthest extent of the fire were extinguished almost immediately; the original fire was put out in a few hours. Most of the damage was concentrated on the 11th floor, fueled by cabinets filled with paper, alcohol-based fluid for office machines, and other office equipment. Fireproofing protected the steel and there was no structural damage to

1995-637: Is St. Paul's Chapel , the Church Street Station Post Office , and the World Trade Center . The street next to the World Trade Center was closed to pedestrians after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 , and has not yet been reopened to vehicular traffic. A structure left standing after the collapse of the adjacent buildings is known as the Survivors' Staircase which has been preserved and can be viewed in

2128-530: Is closer to the site's eastern border. It was on this shoreline, close to the intersection of Greenwich and the former Dey Street , that Dutch explorer Adriaen Block 's ship, Tyger , burned to the waterline in November 1613, stranding him and his crew and forcing them to overwinter on the island. They built the first European settlement in Manhattan . The remains of the ship were buried under landfill when

2261-463: Is the single largest private parcel on the island, encompassing the entire Baie de Colombier . Many years ago, the Rockefeller family donated the land in the initial creation of the Saint Barth "Zone Verte," or Green Zone, which is an area which cannot be developed. The property includes a private dock in the port of Gustavia , as there were no roads to the property and the only way to get there

2394-514: The 1993 World Trade Center Bombing Memorial fountain. The plaza was pervaded by Muzak background music that came from installed loudspeakers. For many years, the Plaza was often beset by brisk winds at ground level owing to the Venturi effect between the two towers. Some gusts were so strong that pedestrians' travel had to be aided by ropes. In 1997 Tony May opened an Italian restaurant in

2527-674: The Cultural Revolution ". Rockefeller met Henry Kissinger in 1954, when Kissinger was appointed a director of a seminal Council on Foreign Relations study group on nuclear weapons, of which David Rockefeller was a member. He named Kissinger to the board of trustees of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund , and consulted with him frequently, with the subjects including the Chase Bank's interests in Chile and

2660-644: The Mount Desert Land and Garden Preserve . He owned a large estate on the French island of Saint Barthélemy . Along with the Rothschild family , was one of the earliest developers and tourists on the island in the 1950s. The home was very modern and was located in the Colombier district, known to many as the most beautiful section of the island. It has changed hands several times over the years, and

2793-643: The Museum of Modern Art in New York City in 1929. The collection, valued at several hundred million dollars, was auctioned in the spring of 2018, with proceeds going to several designated nonprofit organizations, including Rockefeller University, Harvard University, the Museum of Modern Art, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Rockefeller's principal residence

SECTION 20

#1732776870409

2926-515: The National Security Council , and a subsequent lifelong friend. In Cary Reich's biography of his brother Nelson, a former CIA agent states that David was extensively briefed on covert intelligence operations by himself and other Agency division chiefs, under the direction of David's "friend and confidant", CIA director Allen Dulles. In 1964, along with other American business figures such as Sol Linowitz , Rockefeller founded

3059-670: The National September 11 Memorial & Museum . The World Trade Center PATH station is accessible from the street at the World Trade Center site. Just past the western end of the street is the Irish Hunger Memorial . This end of the street is in the northern part of Battery Park City . Vesey Street was the birthplace of The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company , the retail group more commonly known as "A&P." World Trade Center (1973%E2%80%932001) The original World Trade Center ( WTC )

3192-528: The Rockefeller Brothers Fund , the principal foundation established in 1940 by the five brothers and their one sister. The extended family also became involved in their own philanthropic organization, formed in 1967 and primarily established by third-generation members, called the Rockefeller Family Fund. In the 1980s, Rockefeller became embroiled in controversy over the mortgaging and sale of Rockefeller Center to Japanese interests. In 1985,

3325-590: The United States Department of State to admit the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi , into the United States for hospital treatment for lymphoma . This action directly precipitated what is known as the Iran hostage crisis and placed Rockefeller under intense media scrutiny, particularly from The New York Times , for the first time in his public life. Rockefeller retired from active management of

3458-491: The World Trade Center site took eight months, during which the remains of the other buildings were demolished. On May 30, 2002, the last piece of WTC steel was ceremonially removed. A new World Trade Center complex is being built with six new skyscrapers and several other buildings, many of which are complete. A memorial and museum to those killed in the attacks, a new rapid transit hub , and an elevated park have opened. The memorial features two square reflecting pools in

3591-407: The framed-tube structural system used in the twin towers. The Port Authority's Engineering Department served as foundation engineers , Joseph R. Loring & Associates as electrical engineers , and Jaros, Baum & Bolles (JB&B) as mechanical engineers . Tishman Realty & Construction Company was the general contractor on the World Trade Center project. Guy F. Tozzoli , director of

3724-518: The shoreline was extended beginning in 1797 and was discovered during excavation work in 1916. The remains of a second eighteenth-century ship were discovered in 2010 during excavation work at the site. The ship, believed to be a Hudson River sloop , was found just south of where the Twin Towers stood, about 20 feet (6.1 m) below the surface. Later, the area became New York City's Radio Row , which existed from 1921 to 1966. The neighborhood

3857-677: The tallest buildings in the world ; they were also the tallest twin skyscrapers in the world until 1996, when the Petronas Towers opened. Other buildings in the complex included the Marriott World Trade Center (3 WTC), 4 WTC , 5 WTC , 6 WTC , and 7 WTC . The complex contained 13,400,000 square feet (1,240,000 m ) of office space and, prior to its completion, was projected to accommodate an estimated 130,000 people. The core complex cost about $ 400 million (equivalent to $ 2.31 billion in 2023). The idea

3990-480: The 107th floor to the top of the buildings were designed to support a tall communication antenna on top of each building. Only 1 WTC (North Tower) actually had a spire antenna fitted, which was added in May 1979. The truss system consisted of six trusses along the long axis of the core and four along the short axis. This truss system allowed some load redistribution between the perimeter and core columns and supported

4123-432: The 1960s by Bangladeshi-American structural engineer Fazlur Rahman Khan , was a new approach that allowed more open floor plans than the traditional design that distributed columns throughout the interior to support building loads. Each of the World Trade Center towers had 236 high-strength, load-bearing perimeter steel columns which acted as Vierendeel trusses . The perimeter columns were spaced closely together to form

Vesey Street - Misplaced Pages Continue

4256-496: The Crown family of Chicago, which ended the more than 70 years of direct family financial association with Rockefeller Center. In 2005, he gave $ 100 million to the Museum of Modern Art and $ 100 million to Rockefeller University , two of the most prominent family institutions; as well as $ 10 million to Harvard and $ 5 million to Colonial Williamsburg . In 2006, he pledged $ 225 million to the Rockefeller Brothers Fund upon his death,

4389-521: The Greatest Bar on Earth and Cellar in the Sky (reopened after Labor Day ) replaced the original restaurant offshoots. In 1999, Cellar in the Sky was changed into an American steakhouse and renamed as Wild Blue. In 2000 (its last full year of operation), Windows on the World reported revenues of $ 37 million, making it the highest-grossing restaurant in the United States. The Skydive Restaurant, which

4522-670: The Hudson River. In a December 1961 meeting between Port Authority director Austin J. Tobin and newly elected New Jersey Governor Richard J. Hughes , the Port Authority offered to take over the H&;M Railroad. They also decided to move the World Trade Center project to the Hudson Terminal building site on the west side of Lower Manhattan, a more convenient location for New Jersey commuters arriving via PATH . With

4655-658: The London branch of what was to become the Chase Manhattan Bank . After returning to the United States to complete his graduate studies, he received a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago in 1940. After completing his studies in Chicago, he became secretary to New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia for eighteen months in a " dollar a year " public service position. Although the mayor pointed out to

4788-540: The Museum of Modern Art and Harvard. The largest donation will be either $ 250 million or the remaining balance of the estate that will fund the launch of the David Rockefeller Global Development Fund. Throughout his life, Rockefeller was accused of being part of an internationalist conspiracy seeking to undermine the interests of the United States and promote a more unified global order. One of Rockefeller's most prominent accusers

4921-481: The North Tower within Tobin Plaza for musicians and performers. These series of concerts and events were called "CenterStage at the World Trade Center". At the center of the plaza stood the monumental sculpture The Sphere by German artist Fritz Koenig . The world's largest bronze sculpture of modern times was surrounded by a fountain. The site had other sculptures such as Ideogram , Cloud Fortress , and

5054-450: The Port Authority leased operation of the observatory to Ogden Entertainment, which decided to renovate it. On April 30, 1997, the Top of the World tour reopened after renovations were finished. Attractions added to the observation deck included 24 video monitors, which provided descriptions of 44 points of interest in six languages; a theater showing a film of a simulated helicopter tour around

5187-525: The Port Authority's approved plans to privatize the World Trade Center in the late 1990s, they sought to lease it to a private entity in 2001. Bids for the lease came from Vornado Realty Trust ; a joint bid between Brookfield Properties Corporation and Boston Properties ; and a joint bid by Silverstein Properties and the Westfield Group . Privatizing the World Trade Center would add it to

5320-409: The Port Authority's chief engineer, John M. Kyle Jr., involved digging a trench, and as excavation proceeded, filling the space with a slurry consisting of a mixture of bentonite and water, which plugged holes and kept groundwater out. When the trench was dug out, a steel cage was inserted and concrete was poured in, forcing the slurry out. It took fourteen months for the slurry wall to be completed. It

5453-433: The Rockefeller family mortgaged the property for $ 1.3 billion, with $ 300 million of that going to the family. In 1989, 51 percent of the property, later increased to 80 percent, was sold to Mitsubishi Estate Company of Japan. This action was criticized for surrendering a major U.S. landmark to foreign interests. In 2000, Rockefeller presided over the final sale of Rockefeller Center to Tishman Speyer Properties , along with

Vesey Street - Misplaced Pages Continue

5586-480: The September 11 attacks, mentions of the complex in various media were altered or deleted , and several dozen "memorial films" were created. The World Trade Center experienced several major crime and terrorist incidents, including a fire on February 13 , 1975; a bombing on February 26 , 1993; and a bank robbery on January 14 , 1998. These events preceded the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. During

5719-560: The Twin Towers, the plan for the World Trade Center complex included four other low-rise buildings, which were built in the early 1970s. The 47-story 7 World Trade Center building was added in the 1980s, to the north of the main complex. Altogether, the main World Trade Center complex occupied a 16-acre (65,000 m ) superblock . The World Trade Center complex housed more than 430 companies that were engaged in various commercial activities. The complex hosted 13,400,000 square feet (1,240,000 m ) of office space, which according to

5852-401: The World Trade Center towers could be subjected to and structural response to those forces. Experiments also were done to evaluate how much sway occupants could comfortably tolerate; however, many subjects experienced dizziness and other ill effects. One of the chief engineers Leslie Robertson worked with Canadian engineer Alan G. Davenport to develop viscoelastic dampers to absorb some of

5985-578: The World Trade Department at the Port Authority, and Rino M. Monti, the Port Authority's Chief Engineer, oversaw the project. As an interstate agency, the Port Authority was not subject to the local laws and regulations of the City of New York, including building codes . Nonetheless, the World Trade Center's structural engineers ended up following draft versions of New York City's new 1968 building codes. The framed-tube design, introduced in

6118-476: The architectural ethic of Le Corbusier and was the seminal expression of Yamasaki's gothic modernist tendencies. He was also inspired by Islamic architecture , elements of which he incorporated in the building's design, having previously designed Saudi Arabia's Dhahran International Airport with the Saudi Binladin Group . A major limiting factor in building height is the issue of elevators;

6251-645: The area for the World Trade Center by March 1965, and demolition of Radio Row began in March 1966. It was completely demolished by the end of the year. Approval was also needed from New York City Mayor John Lindsay and the New York City Council . Disagreements with the city centered on tax issues, and the New York City Planning Commission wanted the Port Authority to increase its payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) to

6384-460: The attacks, al-Qaeda -affiliated hijackers flew two Boeing 767 jets, one into each of the Twin Towers, seventeen minutes apart; between 16,400 and 18,000 people were in the Twin Towers when they were struck. The fires from the impacts were intensified by the planes' burning jet fuel, which, along with the initial damage to the buildings' structural columns, ultimately caused both towers to collapse . The attacks killed 2,606 people in and around

6517-440: The attacks, some from smoke inhalation. Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman and four other individuals were later convicted for their involvement in the bombing, while Yousef and Eyad Ismoil were convicted for carrying out the bombing. According to a presiding judge, the conspirators' chief aim at the time of the attack was to destabilize the North Tower and send it crashing into the South Tower, toppling both skyscrapers. Following

6650-485: The bank in 1981, succeeded by his protégé Willard C. Butcher . Former Chase chairman John J. McCloy said at the time that he believed Rockefeller would not go down in history as a great banker but rather as a "real personality, as a distinguished and loyal member of the community". Rockefeller traveled widely and met with both foreign rulers and U.S. presidents, beginning with Dwight D. Eisenhower . At times he served as an unofficial emissary on high-level business. Among

6783-652: The bank was branded a "problem bank" by the Federal Reserve . From 1974 to 1976, Chase earnings fell 36 percent while those of its biggest rivals rose 12 to 31 percent. The bank's earnings more than doubled between 1976 and 1980, far outpacing its rival Citibank in return on assets . By 1981 the bank's finances were restored to full health. In November 1979, while chairman of the Chase Bank, Rockefeller became embroiled in an international incident when he and Henry Kissinger , along with John J. McCloy and Rockefeller aides, persuaded President Jimmy Carter through

SECTION 50

#1732776870409

6916-609: The bathtub began in late 1967. Construction work began on the North Tower in August 1968 , and construction on the South Tower was under way by January 1969 . The original Hudson Tubes , which carried PATH trains into Hudson Terminal, remained in service during the construction process until 1971, when a new station opened. The topping out ceremony of 1 WTC (North Tower) took place on December 23 , 1970, while 2 WTC's ceremony (South Tower) occurred on July 19 , 1971. Extensive use of prefabricated components helped to speed up

7049-634: The board of directors. He was a trustee of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace , including in 1948, when Alger Hiss was president. Displeased with the refusal of Bilderberg Group meetings to include Japan, Rockefeller helped found the Trilateral Commission in July 1973. After the war and alongside his work at Chase, Rockefeller took a more active role in his family's business dealings. Working with his brothers in

7182-409: The bombing, floors that were blown out needed to be repaired to restore the structural support they provided to columns. The slurry wall was in peril following the bombing and the loss of the floor slabs that provided lateral support against pressure from Hudson River water on the other side. The refrigeration plant on sublevel B5, which provided air conditioning to the entire World Trade Center complex,

7315-548: The buildings would each have to be 110 stories tall. The Port Authority publicly presented a model for the complex on January 18, 1964. The original plans called for two towers rising 1,350 feet (410 m), as well as several six-story buildings surrounding a central plaza (later the Austin J. Tobin Plaza ). These buildings were to include office space, restaurants, a hotel, exhibition space, stores, and an information center about world trade. The agency released its final model of

7448-481: The center marking where the Twin Towers stood. One World Trade Center , the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere at 1,776 feet (541 m) and the lead building for the new complex, completed construction in May 2013 and opened in November 2014. The western portion of the World Trade Center site was originally under the Hudson River . The shoreline was in the vicinity of Greenwich Street , which

7581-453: The center. He also knew and associated with the former CIA director Richard Helms as well as Archibald Bulloch Roosevelt Jr. , a Chase Bank employee and former CIA agent whose first cousin, CIA agent Kermit Roosevelt Jr. , was involved in the Iran coup of 1953 . In 1953, he had befriended William Bundy , a pivotal CIA analyst for nine years in the 1950s, who became the Agency liaison to

7714-427: The city called "Manhattan Magic"; a model of Manhattan with 750 buildings; a Kodak photo booth and two gift shops. The 107th-floor also featured a subway -themed food court that featured Sbarro Street Station and Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs with a dining area that simulated Central Park . Weather permitting, visitors could ride two short escalators up from the 107th-floor viewing area to an outdoor platform at

7847-524: The city government. On August 3 , 1966, an agreement was reached whereby the Port Authority would make annual PILOTs for the portion of the World Trade Center leased to private tenants. In subsequent years, the payments would rise as the real estate tax rate increased. In May 1967, the New York City Planning Commission approved several changes to the street grid that would allow the Port Authority to begin acquiring land for

7980-402: The city's tax rolls and provide funds for other Port Authority projects. On February 15 , 2001, the Port Authority announced that Vornado Realty Trust had won the World Trade Center lease, paying $ 3.25 billion for the 99-year lease. Vornado outbid Silverstein by $ 600 million though Silverstein upped his offer to $ 3.22 billion. However, Vornado insisted on last minute changes to

8113-522: The completion of the Sears Tower in 1973. They were not surpassed until the construction of the Burj Khalifa , which opened in 2010. The towers were also the world's tallest twin towers until 1996, when the Petronas Towers opened. Each tower had a total mass of around 500,000 tons. The original World Trade Center had a five-acre (two-hectare) plaza around which all of the buildings in

SECTION 60

#1732776870409

8246-407: The complex in March 1966. Despite public criticism over the height of the 110-story twin towers, Yamasaki & Associates and Emery Roth & Sons made only relatively minor changes to the plans, which were released in May 1966. The revised plans called for the twin towers and four additional low-rise structures to surround the central plaza. Yamasaki's design for the World Trade Center called for

8379-404: The complex, including the twin towers, were centered. World Trade Center officials had wanted the plaza to be a "contemplative space" or a Zen garden . In 1982, the plaza was renamed after Port Authority's late chairman, Austin J. Tobin, who authorized the construction of the original World Trade Center. During the summer, the Port Authority installed a portable stage, typically backed up against

8512-401: The complex. On September 20 , 1962, the Port Authority announced the selection of Minoru Yamasaki as lead architect and Emery Roth & Sons as associate architects. Yamasaki devised the plan to incorporate twin towers. His original plan called for the towers to be 80 stories tall, but to meet the Port Authority's requirement for 10,000,000 square feet (930,000 m ) of office space,

8645-467: The construction of the World Trade Center took place on August 5 , 1966. The site of the World Trade Center was located on filled land with the bedrock located 65 feet (20 m) below. To construct the World Trade Center, it was necessary to build a " bathtub " with a slurry wall around the West Street side of the site, to keep water from the Hudson River out. The slurry method selected by

8778-518: The construction process, and the first tenants moved into the North Tower on December 15, 1970 , while it was still under construction, while the South Tower began accepting tenants in January 1972 . The complex had 111 tenants with a combined 1,800 employees by late 1971. When the Twin Towers were completed, the total costs to the Port Authority had reached $ 900 million. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on April 4 , 1973. In addition to

8911-468: The course. Windows on the World was forced to close following the 1993 World Trade Center bombing as the explosion damaged receiving areas, storage and parking spots used by the restaurant complex. On May 12, 1994, the Joseph Baum & Michael Whiteman Company won the contract to run the restaurants after Windows's former operator, Inhilco , gave up its lease. After its reopening on June 26, 1996,

9044-443: The deal, including a shorter 39-year lease, which the Port Authority considered nonnegotiable. Vornado later withdrew and Silverstein's bid for the lease to the World Trade Center was accepted on April 26 , 2001, and closed on July 24 , 2001. On September 11, 2001 , Islamist terrorists hijacked two commercial airliners and crashed them into the Twin Towers. One group led by Mohamed Atta crashed American Airlines Flight 11 into

9177-501: The design to stack local elevators within the same elevator shaft. Located on the 44th and 78th floors of each tower, the sky lobbies enabled the elevators to be used efficiently. This increased the amount of usable space on each floor from 62 to 75 percent by reducing the number of elevator shafts. Altogether, the World Trade Center had 95 express and local elevators. The structural engineering firm Worthington, Skilling, Helle & Jackson worked to implement Yamasaki's design, developing

9310-523: The fire and was criminally charged. The first terrorist attack on the World Trade Center occurred on February 26, 1993, at 12:17 p.m. A Ryder truck filled with 1,500 pounds (680 kg) of explosives (planted by Ramzi Yousef ) detonated in the North Tower's underground garage. The blast opened a 100 ft (30 m) hole through five sublevels, with the greatest damage occurring on levels B1 and B2 and significant structural damage on level B3. Six people were killed and 1,042 others were injured in

9443-497: The floors. The trusses connected to the perimeter at alternate columns and were on 6 foot 8 inch (2.03 m) centers. The top chords of the trusses were bolted to seats welded to the spandrels on the exterior side and a channel welded to the core columns on the interior side. The floors were connected to the perimeter spandrel plates with viscoelastic dampers that helped reduce the amount of sway felt by building occupants. Hat trusses (or "outrigger trusses") located from

9576-479: The foreign leaders he met were Saddam Hussein , Fidel Castro , Nikita Khrushchev , and Mikhail Gorbachev . In 1968, he declined an offer from his brother Nelson Rockefeller , then governor of New York , to appoint him to Robert F. Kennedy 's Senate seat after Kennedy was assassinated in June 1968, a post Nelson also offered to their nephew John Davison "Jay" Rockefeller IV . President Jimmy Carter offered him

9709-431: The future. Following the deaths of his brothers, Winthrop (1973), John III (1978), Nelson (1979), and Laurance (2004), David became sole head of the family (with the important involvement of his elder son, David Jr.). Rockefeller ensured that selected members of the fourth generation, known generically as the cousins , became directly involved in the family's institutions. This involved inviting them to be more active in

9842-457: The governors of both New York and New Jersey . New Jersey Governor Robert B. Meyner objected to New York getting a $ 335 million project. Toward the end of 1961, negotiations with outgoing New Jersey Governor Meyner reached a stalemate. At the time, ridership on New Jersey's H&M Railroad had declined substantially—from a high of 113 million riders in 1927, to 26 million in 1958—after new automobile tunnels and bridges had opened across

9975-710: The largest gift in the Fund's history. The money will be used to create the David Rockefeller Global Development Fund , to support projects that improve access to health care, conduct research on international finance and trade, fight poverty, and support sustainable development, as well as to a program that fosters dialogue between Muslim and Western nations. Rockefeller donated $ 100 million to Harvard University in 2008. The New York Times estimated in November 2006 that his total charitable donations amount to $ 900 million over his lifetime,

10108-638: The largest in the world. In 1973, Chase established the first branch of an American bank in Moscow, in the then Soviet Union . That year Rockefeller traveled to China, resulting in his bank becoming the National Bank of China's first correspondent bank in the U.S. During this period, Chase Manhattan expanded its influence over many non-financial corporations. A 1979 study titled "The Significance of Bank Control over Large Corporations" provided an estimate for which large U.S.-based financial institutions had

10241-630: The lease to Silverstein Properties in July 2001 . During its existence, the World Trade Center symbolized globalization and the economic prosperity of the U.S. Although its design was initially criticized by New Yorkers and architectural critics, the Twin Towers became an icon of New York City. It had a major role in popular culture , and according to one estimate was depicted in 472 films. The Twin Towers were also used in Philippe Petit 's tightrope-walking performance on August 7, 1974. Following

10374-400: The main buildings of the World Trade Center. Construction of the North Tower at One World Trade Center began in 1966 with the South Tower at Two World Trade Center. When completed in 1972, 1 World Trade Center became the tallest building in the world for two years, surpassing the Empire State Building after its 40-year reign. The North Tower stood 1,368 feet (417 m) tall and featured

10507-480: The modernization of its banking system, with the full endorsement of President Boris Yeltsin . Rockefeller had a lifelong association with the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) when he joined as a director in 1949. In 1965, Rockefeller and other businessmen formed the Council of the Americas to stimulate and support economic integration in the Americas. In 1992, at a Council sponsored forum, Rockefeller proposed

10640-429: The modular pieces off-site at the fabrication shop. Adjacent modules were bolted together with the splices occurring at mid-span of the columns and spandrels. The spandrel plates were located at each floor, transmitting shear stress between columns, allowing them to work together in resisting lateral loads. The joints between modules were staggered vertically so that the column splices between adjacent modules were not on

10773-465: The morning of August 7, 1974, Philippe Petit performed a high-wire walk between the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center. For his unauthorized feat 1,312 feet (400 m) above the ground, he rigged a 440-pound (200 kg) cable and used a custom-made 30-foot-long (9.1 m), 55-pound (25 kg) balancing pole. He performed for 45 minutes, making eight passes along the wire. Though Petit

10906-513: The most control over other corporations. The study finds that: "The Rockefeller-controlled Chase Manhattan Bank tops the list, controlling 16 companies." He was faulted for spending excessive amounts of time abroad, and during his tenure as CEO the bank had more troubled loans than any other major bank. Chase owned more New York City securities in the mid-1970s, when the city was nearing bankruptcy. A scandal erupted in 1974 when an audit found that losses from bond trading had been understated. In 1975

11039-494: The new location and the Port Authority's acquisition of the H&M Railroad, New Jersey agreed to support the World Trade Center project. As part of the deal, the Port Authority renamed the H&M "Port Authority Trans-Hudson", or PATH for short. To compensate Radio Row business owners for their displacement, the Port Authority gave each business $ 3,000 without regard to how long the business had been there or how prosperous it was. The Port Authority began purchasing properties in

11172-645: The non-profit International Executive Service Corps , which encourages developing nations to promote private enterprise. In 1979, he formed the Partnership for New York City , a not-for-profit membership organization of New York businessmen. In 1992, he was selected as a leading member of the Russian-American Bankers Forum, an advisory group set up by the head of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to advise Russia on

11305-484: The north of the superblock. Beneath the World Trade Center complex was an underground shopping mall . It had connections to various mass transit facilities, including the New York City Subway system and the Port Authority's PATH trains. One of the world's largest gold depositories was located underneath the World Trade Center, owned by a group of commercial banks. The 1993 bombing detonated close to

11438-549: The north, Vesey Street to the south, and Washington Street to the east. Built in 1923, it served as the corporate headquarters of New York Telephone Company (NYTel) . Verizon maintains a presence at this location, although its headquarters is now in Midtown . The Art Deco building was designated as a New York City landmark in 1991 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. Adjacent to Vesey Street

11571-441: The northern facade of the North Tower at 8:46:40 a.m.; the aircraft struck between the 93rd and 99th floors. Seventeen minutes later, at 9:03:11 a.m., a second group led by Marwan al-Shehhi crashed the similarly hijacked United Airlines Flight 175 into the southern facade of the South Tower, striking it between the 77th and 85th floors. David Rockefeller David Rockefeller (June 12, 1915 – March 20, 2017)

11704-431: The plaza next to 4 World Trade Center called "Gemelli". The following year, he opened another restaurant in an adjacent place called "Pasta Break". On June 9, 1999, the outdoor plaza reopened after undergoing $ 12 million in renovations. This involved replacing marble pavers with over 40,000 gray and pink granite stones, as well as adding benches, planters, food kiosks, and outdoor dining areas. Although most of

11837-544: The plaza. 6 World Trade Center , at the northwest corner, housed the United States Customs Service . 5 World Trade Center was located at the northeast corner above the PATH station, and 4 World Trade Center , located at the southeast corner, housed the U.S. Commodities Exchange . In 1987, construction was completed on a 47-floor office building, 7 World Trade Center , located to

11970-570: The position of United States Secretary of the Treasury but he declined. Rockefeller was criticized for befriending foreign autocrats in order to expand Chase interests in their countries. The New York Times columnist David Brooks wrote in 2002 that Rockefeller "spent his life in the club of the ruling class and was loyal to members of the club, no matter what they did." He noted that Rockefeller had cut profitable deals with "oil-rich dictators", "Soviet party bosses" and "Chinese perpetrators of

12103-471: The possibility of the election of Salvador Allende in 1970. Rockefeller supported his "opening of China" initiative in 1971 as it afforded banking opportunities for the Chase Bank. Though a lifelong Republican and party contributor, he was a member of the moderate " Rockefeller Republicans " that arose out of the political ambitions and public policy stance of his brother Nelson. In 2006, he teamed up with former Goldman Sachs executives and others to form

12236-710: The press that Rockefeller was only one of 60 interns in the city government, his working space was the vacant office of the deputy mayor. From 1941 to 1942, Rockefeller was assistant regional director of the United States Office of Defense, Health and Welfare Services. Rockefeller enlisted in the U.S. Army and entered Officer Candidate School in 1943. He was promoted to Captain in 1945. During World War II he served in North Africa and France (he spoke fluent French) for military intelligence , setting up political and economic intelligence units. He served as

12369-408: The restaurant two out of four stars, signifying a "very good" quality. In his 2009 book Appetite , William Grimes wrote that, "At Windows, New York was the main course". In 2014, Ryan Sutton of Eater.com compared the now-destroyed restaurant's cuisine to that of its replacement, One World Observatory . He said, "Windows helped usher in a new era of captive audience dining in that the restaurant

12502-400: The same floor. Below the 7th floor to the foundation, there were fewer, wider-spaced perimeter columns to accommodate doorways. The core of the towers housed the elevator and utility shafts, restrooms, three stairwells, and other support spaces. The core of each tower was a rectangular area 87 by 135 feet (27 by 41 m) and contained 47 steel columns running from the bedrock to the top of

12635-404: The second floor, visitors were required to pass through security checks added after the 1993 World Trade Center bombing . They were then sent to the 107th-floor indoor observatory at a height of 1,310 feet (400 m) by a dedicated express elevator, which could be only accessed by entering the core. The exterior columns were narrowed to allow 28 inches of window width between them. In 1995,

12768-400: The second tallest building in the world at 1,362 feet (415 m). Its rooftop observation deck was 1,362 ft (415 m) high and its indoor observation deck was 1,310 ft (400 m) high. Each tower stood over 1,350 feet (410 m) high, and occupied about 1 acre (4,000 m ) of the total 16 acres (65,000 m ) of the site's land. During a press conference in 1973, Yamasaki

12901-505: The space in the World Trade Center complex was off-limits to the public, the South Tower featured a public glass-enclosed observation deck on the 107th floor called Top of the World and an open-air deck with the height of 110 stories. The observation deck opened in December 1975 and operated from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (June to August) and from 9:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. (September to May). After paying an entrance fee in

13034-562: The street at Broadway is Ann Street . Designed by Robert D. Kohn in the Art Nouveau style, the Old New York Evening Post Building at 20 Vesey Street was completed in 1907. It was designated as a New York City landmark in 1965 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The Barclay–Vesey Building occupies the entire block bounded by West Street to the west, Barclay Street to

13167-473: The successor companies of Standard Oil, especially Exxon Mobil . Chase National became the Chase Manhattan Bank in 1955 and shifted significantly into consumer banking. It is now called JPMorgan Chase . Rockefeller started as an assistant manager in the foreign department. There he financed international trade in a number of commodities, such as coffee, sugar and metals. This position maintained relationships with more than 1,000 correspondent banks throughout

13300-529: The sways. These viscoelastic dampers, used throughout the structures at the joints between floor trusses and perimeter columns along with some other structural modifications, reduced the building sway to an acceptable level. In March 1965, the Port Authority began acquiring property at the World Trade Center site. Demolition work began on March 21 , 1966, to clear thirteen square blocks of low rise buildings in Radio Row for its construction. Groundbreaking for

13433-434: The taller the building, the more elevators are needed to service it, requiring more space-consuming elevator banks. Yamasaki and the engineers decided to use a new system with two " sky lobbies "—floors where people could switch from a large-capacity express elevator to a local elevator that goes to each floor in a section. This system, inspired by the local-express train operation used in New York City's subway system, allowed

13566-601: The time of his death, Forbes estimated Rockefeller's net worth was $ 3.3 billion. Initially, most of his wealth had come to him via the family trusts created by his father, which were administered by Room 5600 and Chase Bank . In turn, most of these trusts were held as shares in the successor companies of Standard Oil , as well as diverse real estate investment partnerships, such as the expansive Embarcadero Center in San Francisco, which he later sold for considerable profit, retaining only an indirect stake. In addition, he

13699-438: The tower. In addition to fire damage on the 9th through the 14th floors, the water used to extinguish the fire damaged a few of the floors below. At that time, the World Trade Center had no fire sprinkler systems . On March 12, 1981, the Port Authority announced a $ 45 million plan to install sprinklers throughout the World Trade Center. A disgruntled custodian, 19 year old Oswald Adorno, was discovered to have deliberately started

13832-454: The tower. The large, column-free space between the perimeter and core was bridged by prefabricated floor trusses. The floors supported their own weight as well as live loads , providing lateral stability to the exterior walls and distributing wind loads among the exterior walls. The floors consisted of 4-inch (10 cm) thick lightweight concrete slabs laid on a fluted steel deck. A grid of lightweight bridging trusses and main trusses supported

13965-466: The towers, as well as all 157 on board the two aircraft. Falling debris from the towers, combined with fires in several surrounding buildings that were initiated by falling debris, led to the partial or complete collapse of all the WTC complex's buildings, including 7 World Trade Center , and caused catastrophic damage to 10 other large structures in the surrounding area. The cleanup and recovery process at

14098-549: The transmission tower. The framed-tube design, using steel core and perimeter columns protected with sprayed-on fire-resistant material, created a relatively lightweight structure that would sway more in response to the wind compared to traditional structures, such as the Empire State Building that has thick, heavy masonry for fireproofing of steel structural elements. During the design process, wind tunnel tests were done to establish design wind pressures that

14231-428: The two floors of Rockefeller Center known as Room 5600 , he reorganized the family's myriad business and philanthropic ventures. The men kept regular "brothers' meetings" where they made decisions on matters of common interest and reported on noteworthy events in each of their lives. Rockefeller served as secretary to the group, making notes of each meeting. The notes are now in the family archive and will be released in

14364-459: The vault. Seven weeks after the September 11 attacks, $ 230 million in precious metals was removed from basement vaults of 4 WTC. This included 3,800 100-Troy-ounce 24 carat gold bars and 30,000 1,000-ounce silver bars. On February 13, 1975, a three-alarm fire broke out on the North Tower's 11th floor. It spread to the 9th and 14th floors after igniting telephone cable insulation in

14497-482: The world to build a more integrated global political and economic structure--one world, if you will. If that's the charge, I stand guilty, and I am proud of it. In 1940, Rockefeller married Margaret "Peggy" McGrath , who died in 1996. They had six children: Rockefeller died in his sleep from congestive heart failure on March 20, 2017, at his home in Pocantico Hills, New York . He was 101 years old. At

14630-596: The world's first world trade center . They had two choices: the east side of Lower Manhattan , near the South Street Seaport ; or the west side, near the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (H&M) station, Hudson Terminal . Initial plans, made public in 1961, identified a site along the East River for the World Trade Center. As a bi-state agency, the Port Authority required approval for new projects from

14763-471: The world. He served in other positions and became president in 1960. He was both the chairman and chief executive of Chase Manhattan from 1969 to 1980 and remained chairman until 1981. He was also, as recently as 1980, the single largest individual shareholder of the bank, holding 1.7% of its shares. During his term as CEO, Chase spread internationally and became a central component of the world's financial system due to its global network of correspondent banks,

14896-584: Was Georgia Congressman Lawrence Patton McDonald , who in the 1975 book, The Rockefeller File , wrote: The Rockefellers and their allies have, for at least fifty years, been carefully following a plan to use their economic power to gain political control of first America, and then the rest of the world. Do I mean conspiracy? Yes, I do. I am convinced there is such a plot, international in scope, generations old in planning, and incredibly evil in intent. In response to accusations of this type, David Rockefeller himself wrote in his 2003 book, Memoirs : For more than

15029-519: Was a warehouse district in what is now Tribeca and the Financial District . Harry Schneck opened City Radio on Cortlandt Street in 1921, and eventually, the area held several blocks of electronics stores, with Cortlandt Street as its central axis. The used radios, war surplus electronics (e.g., AN/ARC-5 radios), junk, and parts were often piled so high they would spill out onto the street, attracting collectors and scroungers. According to

15162-452: Was a 180-seat cafeteria on the 44th floor of 1 WTC conceived for office workers, was also operated by Windows on the World. In its last iteration, Windows on the World received mixed reviews. Ruth Reichl , a New York Times food critic, said in December 1996 that "nobody will ever go to Windows on the World just to eat, but even the fussiest food person can now be content dining at one of New York's favorite tourist destinations". She gave

15295-659: Was a complex of seven buildings in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City . Built primarily between 1966 and 1975, it was dedicated on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed during the September 11 attacks in 2001. At the time of their completion, the 110-story-tall Twin Towers , including the original 1 World Trade Center (the North Tower) at 1,368 feet (417 m), and 2 World Trade Center (the South Tower) at 1,362 feet (415.1 m), were

15428-533: Was a destination in itself, rather than a lazy by-product of the vital institution it resided in." Five smaller buildings stood on the 16-acre (65,000 m ) block. One was the 22-floor hotel, which opened at the southwest corner of the site in 1981 as the Vista Hotel ; in 1995, it became the Marriott World Trade Center (3 WTC). Three low-rise buildings (4 WTC, 5 WTC, and 6 WTC), which were steel-framed office buildings, also stood around

15561-515: Was an American economist and investment banker who served as chairman and chief executive of Chase Manhattan Corporation . He was the oldest living member of the third generation of the Rockefeller family , and family patriarch from 2004 until his death in 2017. Rockefeller was the fifth son and youngest child of John D. Rockefeller Jr. and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller , and a grandson of John D. Rockefeller and Laura Spelman Rockefeller . He

15694-438: Was asked, "Why two 110-story buildings? Why not one 220-story building?" His tongue-in-cheek response was: "I didn't want to lose the human scale." Architectural critic Ada Louise Huxtable criticized the design of the twin towers when they were first announced, saying: "Here we have the world's daintiest architecture for the world's biggest buildings." The twin towers had more floors (at 110) than any other building before

15827-663: Was associated with Columbia University, was founded with the help of Rockefeller's educational philanthropy, the General Education Board. In 1936, Rockefeller graduated cum laude from Harvard University , where he worked as an editor on The Harvard Crimson . He also studied economics for a year at Harvard and then a year at the London School of Economics (LSE) under Friedrich von Hayek . He once dated Kathleen Cavendish, Marchioness of Hartington . During his time abroad, Rockefeller briefly worked in

15960-640: Was at "Hudson Pines", on the family estate in Pocantico Hills, New York . He had a Manhattan residence at 146 East 65th Street, as well as a country residence (known as "Four Winds") at a farm in Livingston, New York ( Columbia County ), where his wife raised Simmenthal beef cattle. He maintained a summer home, "Ringing Point," at Seal Harbor on Mount Desert Island off the Maine coast. In May 2015, he donated one thousand acres of land in Seal Harbor to

16093-538: Was by boat. David Rockefeller would moor his yacht at his private dock in Gustavia before transferring to the Colombier estate in a smaller boat as the bay could not accommodate his yacht. The property was recently listed for over $ 100 million, but is not currently used as a residence. The main house has fallen into disrepair. It was sold for $ 136 million in 2023. The Kykuit section of the Rockefeller family compound

16226-555: Was charged with criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, he was later freed in exchange for performing for children in Central Park . On February 20, 1981, an Aerolíneas Argentinas airliner was guided away by air traffic controllers after radar signals indicated it was on a collision course with the North Tower (1 WTC). The aircraft, which departed from José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil , Ecuador, and

16359-600: Was concentrated in Midtown Manhattan . To help stimulate urban renewal in Lower Manhattan, David Rockefeller suggested that the Port Authority build a World Trade Center there. Plans for the use of eminent domain to remove the shops in Radio Row bounded by Vesey , Church , Liberty , and West Streets began in 1961 when the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was deciding to build

16492-527: Was developed by restaurateur Joe Baum at a cost of more than $ 17 million. As well as the main restaurant, two offshoots were located at the top of the North Tower: Hors d'Oeuvrerie (offered a Danish smorgasbord during the day and sushi in the evening) and Cellar in the Sky (a small wine bar ). Windows on the World also had a wine school program run by Kevin Zraly , who published a book on

16625-407: Was heavily damaged. After the bombing, the Port Authority installed photoluminescent pathway markings in the stairwells. The fire alarm system for the entire complex needed to be replaced because critical wiring and signaling in the original system were destroyed. A memorial to the victims of the bombing, a reflecting pool , was installed with the names of those who were killed in the blast. It

16758-424: Was later destroyed following the September 11 attacks. The names of the victims of the 1993 bombing are included in the National September 11 Memorial & Museum . In January 1998, a DeCavalcante crime family member Ralph Guarino gained maintenance access to the World Trade Center. He arranged a three-man crew for a heist that netted over $ 2 million from a Brinks delivery to the North Tower's 11th floor. On

16891-529: Was necessary before the excavation of material from the interior of the site could begin. The 1,200,000 cubic yards (920,000 m ) of excavated material were used (along with other fill and dredge material) to expand the Manhattan shoreline across West Street to form Battery Park City . The Port Authority awarded $ 74 million in contracts to various steel suppliers in January 1967, and excavation of

17024-523: Was noted for his wide-ranging political connections and foreign travel, in which he met with many foreign leaders. His fortune was estimated at $ 3.3 billion at the time of his death. Rockefeller was born in New York City , where he grew up in an eight-story house at 10 West 54th Street , the tallest private residence ever built in the city at the time. Rockefeller was the youngest of six children born to financier John Davison Rockefeller Jr. and socialite Abigail Greene "Abby" Aldrich . His father John Jr.

17157-630: Was or had been a partner in various properties such as Caneel Bay , a 4,000-acre (16 km ) resort development in the Virgin Islands ; a cattle ranch in Argentina; and a 15,500-acre (63 km ) sheep ranch in Australia. Another major source of asset wealth was his art collection, ranging from impressionist to postmodern , which he developed through the influence upon him of his mother Abby and her establishment, with two associates, of

17290-406: Was primarily a wholesale bank, dealing with other prominent financial institutions and major corporate clients such as General Electric , which had, through its RCA affiliate, leased prominent space and become a crucial first tenant of Rockefeller Center in 1930. The bank is closely associated with and has financed the oil industry , having longstanding connections with its board of directors to

17423-508: Was scheduled to land at nearby JFK Airport , was flying at a much lower altitude than regulations recommended. The 1995 PCA world chess championship was played on the 107th floor of the South Tower. On February 8, 2000, a worker was crushed to death and another was injured by an industrial cooling unit. Slow leasing was a hallmark of the old World Trade Center complex. The Twin Towers suffered high vacancy rates for decades. The complex achieved 95% occupancy only in mid-2001. Following

17556-400: Was suggested by David Rockefeller to help stimulate urban renewal in Lower Manhattan, and his brother Nelson , then New York's 49th governor, signed the legislation to build it. The buildings at the complex were designed by Minoru Yamasaki . In 1998, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey decided to privatize it by leasing the buildings to a private company to manage. It awarded

17689-510: Was the only son of Standard Oil co-founder John Davison Rockefeller Sr. and schoolteacher Laura Celestia "Cettie" Spelman . His mother Abby was a daughter of Rhode Island U.S. Senator Nelson Wilmarth Aldrich and Abigail Pearce Truman "Abby" Chapman. David's five elder siblings were Abby , John III , Nelson , Laurance , and Winthrop . Rockefeller attended the experimental Lincoln School at 123rd Street in Harlem . The school, which

#408591