7 World Trade Center

Early to rise is the defining characteristic of 7 World Trade Center. Completed just a short five years after the events of September 11, 7 World Trade Center proudly stands over Ground Zero as the rest of the WTC complex is slowly rebuilt. The building is touted as the safest skyscraper in the United States thanks to a host of life-safety enhancements absent from its previous rendition. These changes include the use of two-foot-thick reinforced concrete, fireproofed elevator and stairway access shafts, and wider stairways. Starting at the 11th floor, the building offers about 1,700,000 square feet of Class A office space equipped with some of the latest support systems. The structure was also constructed using recycled steel as well as low-sulphur fuels, which earned it a variety of honors in the sustainable energy community. Additional impressive green initiatives undertaken during construction include installing rainwater collection systems and using high-quality reflecting glass. If there was ever a good way to rebuild lower Manhattan, 7 World Trade Center was an excellent start.