El World Trade Center continúa elevándose 25 años después del 11-S

Fifty years after the French Revolution in 1789, some historians argue that the 20th century did not truly begin until World War I in 1914. Following Eric Hobsbawn's theory, the 21st century is considered to have begun with the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York. These attacks marked the beginning of the uncertain world we live in today.

In the quarter-century since the attacks, over $20 billion has been spent on rebuilding the World Trade Center complex in lower Manhattan. This summer, the foundation stone was laid for a new skyscraper that will be completed in the next decade, reinforcing a constantly evolving complex that embraces technological advancements and artificial intelligence, while replacing traditional financial offices.

In 1974, the World Trade Center complex became a symbol of American financial dominance. However, it became a target for terrorist attacks led by Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. The 19 terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes to crash them into US economic, military, and political landmarks on September 11, 2001, including the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and the US Capitol (though the latter was not hit as the plane crashed in Pennsylvania).

The destruction was so severe that it took a year to clear the rubble from Ground Zero before reconstruction could begin. Larry Silverstein, a leading real estate developer, had signed a 99-year lease for the WTC just weeks before the attacks. Since then, he has focused on a reconstruction costing around $26.2 billion. Much of the remaining investment will be dedicated to constructing the new skyscraper, which is set to reach 373 meters in 2031, the 30th anniversary of the attacks, and will serve as the global headquarters for American Express.

In place of the Twin Towers, two memorial stones now stand, along with a memorial museum and the Oculus transport station designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava in the shape of a flying dove. Around the site, several new skyscrapers have been built, including the One World Trade Center, a 1,776-foot crystal skyscraper (in honor of the year of the US Declaration of Independence) and the tallest building in New York at 541 meters.

In its day, the Twin Towers housed 50,000 workers from 430 companies in 28 countries, including financial, insurance, and other firms like Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, and Lehman Brothers. Today, the financial district has changed significantly. Many offices are being converted into apartments, and new parks are being constructed.

At the One World Trade Center, you can find a wide variety of companies, not just financial ones, but also technology, media, and coworking spaces. Blanca Pereda, head of enterprises orchestration at the German software company Celonis, located on the 70th floor, considers it a privilege to work in the WTC, but acknowledges that the reality is that we all remember September 11 every day, not with fear, but with great respect.

A seven-minute silence is observed during the annual memorial ceremony, one at 8:46 AM (14:46 CET) for the impact of Flight 11 of American Airlines into the North Tower, another at 9:03 AM for Flight 175 of United Airlines into the South Tower, another at 9:37 AM for Flight 77 of American Airlines into the Pentagon, another at 9:59 AM for the collapse of the South Tower, another at 10:03 AM for the collapse of the North Tower, and the first time this year, at 12:20 PM for those who died later due to health complications related to the attacks. The toxic air is a reminder of the tragedy.