The tallest building in the western hemisphere, the 1,776 foot tall One World Trade Center has now opened its doors. New York City is slowly rebuilding itself after the 9/11 tragedy and today, 13 years later, the One World Trade Center is officially open for business.
The first tenant to move into the One World Trade Center is going to be publishing giant, Condé Nast. On Monday, the first 175 employees will start arriving, but many more will follow. Around 3,400 writers, advertising execs and editors, all working for 18 of Condé Nast’s magazines will work in the One World Trade Center.
Condé Nast’s spokesperson, Patti Rockenwagner, said:
Condé Nast is proud to be a component of this vital moment of renewal for the city of New York. We are excited about contributing to the vitality of this community for years to come. It’s long anticipated and we’re looking forward to it.
Chief executive of Condé Nast, Charles Townsend, will lead the employees inside the One World Trade Center. Condé Nast will occupy 22 floors of the tower, a total of 1.2 million square feet. Townsend will be working on the 42nd floor, while Graydon Carter, Vanity Fair’s editor will be moving into the 41st floor and Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue, will work at the 25th floor.
A security guard at the One World Trade Center, Louis Media, was in tears when talking about first day at work:
Even 10 years from now, my son will ask me or my daughter will ask me, and I will be like, ‘I was there when the building opened [and] my job was to protect the building. A lot of people don’t get a chance to be a part of history even if it is a small part.
One World Trade Center has only leased 58% of its space, which amounts to 3 million square feet.
One World Trade Center, also known as the Freedom Tower, was initially supposed to open in 2006, but that wasn’t possible due to the many delays following political grappling.