One World Trade Center is set to become the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere today when the final parts of the 408-foot spire are lifted onto the top of the building.
It already became the tallest building in New York City when the building just passed the height of the Empire State Building. Then in December, crews started putting the spire in place. According to CNN, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said that last two sections of the spire will be lifted today, while another stainless steel beacon that weighs nearly six tons will bring the building to 1,776 feet high.
Today’s addition follows the biggest part of the spire, a 67-ton piece that was added in January. This spire will be used for a TV broadcast center in the World Trade Center building.
According to the Associated Press, the building is expected to open for businesses in 2014. While it will be the tallest in the Western Hemisphere, it will not come close to the 2,700-foot tall building in Dubai.
While New York celebrates this milestone today, police are still investigating a surprising discovery from last week. A piece of landing gear that may have belonged to one of the planes that hit the Twin Towers on 9/11 was discovered wedged between two buildings. The area is being searched for more debris from that tragic day.