Freedom Tower & 9/11 Memorial

The Freedom Tower is an incredible structure built on ground zero.  The building honors those whose lives taken on 9/11/01& serve as an inspiration for the determination & resilience we represent as a nation.  The building has 8 facades; elongated triangular shapes.   The 8 sides combines both Towers into one united formation.  When staring upwards from its base, there is an eternal skywards vantage.  A tall antennae on the very top adds an exclamation point to the powerful statements declared by the building.  The glass panels create the illusion of movement & change.  The Freedom Tower stands proudly as a testament to our strength, courage & resourcefulness. Adjacent are 2 square memorials built on the sites of the Twin Towers.  The railings surrounding the cascading waters have the names etched in of the 2,983 people killed that day by terrorist attacks.  The waterfalls flow downwards into reflecting pools.  The cascading waters invoke the horrible images of the Towers falling with thousands of innocent people trapped inside.  There are surrounding trees for shade & square stone slabs for seating & reflection.  The trees are all swamp white oaks gathered from areas directly impacted:  500 mi. radius of the WTC, PA & Washington D.C.  The oaks were selected for their durabilty, their changing foliage & their varying, indivudal growth rates. The solemnity of the memorial is a respectful, serene outdoor space for reflection & rememberance.  The Freedom Tower & 9/11 Memorial are free public spaces that speak clearly of our country's high regard for life & liberty.