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World Trade Center Statistics and Facts
- The idea behind the Twin Towers initially came from Rockefeller’s concept in the 1950s, in an attempt to bring businesses back to the area.
- The Twin Towers was designed by architect Minoru Yamasaki (Japanese American) and developed by the NJ and NY Port Authorities.
- Since 2001 – Port Authority leased WTC to Larry Silverstein.
- In order to maintain it’s stability, the towers were built with a strong core which held the building’s weight, and reinforced with lightweight, but still sturdy, walls serving as the building’s shell.
- Construction began in 1966 and was completed in 1970.
- In the first decade, not many businesses were interested in housing themselves in the WTC; after the stock market improved in the 1980s, more businesses settled into WTC.
- On average, 50,000 people worked in the Twin Towers (inhabiting the 13.4 million square feet of office space) with as many as 200,000 visitors daily.
- The Twin Towers had been attacked prior to Sept. 11th, on Feb. 26, 1993 by garage bombs. The attack did not result in sustained injuries to the building.
- The Twin Towers were 110 stories high, taller than the Empire State building, making them temporarily the world’s tallest buildings (until a few years later when Chicago’s Sears Tower was completed and stole the ranking).
- In the attacks of Sept. 11th, 3 buildings [out of 7 comprising the WTC] fell the day of the attacks, with the remaining 4 buildings were eventually destroyed due to excessive damage.
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