One World Trade Center already is New York's tallest building.
And when the last pieces of its spire rise to the roof -- weather permitting -- the 104-floor skyscraper that replaces the fallen twin towers will be just feet from becoming the highest in the Western Hemisphere.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says the spire pieces plus a steel beacon will then be lifted at a later date from the rooftop to cap the building at 1,776 feet.
One World Trade Center has already topped the skyline as New York City's tallest building
Once finsihed, One World Trade Center will be the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere at 1776 feet
One World Trade Center will offer a stunning view of Manhattan
Visitors standing near the windows of the One World Observatory from the 100th floor of One World Trade Center
Installation of the 800-ton, 408-foot spire began in December, after 18 pieces were shipped from Canada and New Jersey.
The spire will serve as a world-class broadcast antenna.
With the beacon at its peak to ward off aircraft, the spire will provide public transmission services for television and radio broadcast channels that were destroyed on Sept. 11, 2001, along with the trade center towers.
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Overlooking the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the high-rise is scheduled to open for business in 2014.
The tower is being built at the northwest corner of the site, which is well on its way to reconstruction with the 72-story 4 World Trade Center and other buildings
Dave Checketts (front, L), Chairman and CEO of Legends, along with officials from The Durst Organization, Legends Hospitality LLC and The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey gave a preview to the news media of the One World Observatory site
A broadcast spire yet to be affixed to the skyscraper will serve as a world-class broadcast antenna.
Overlooking the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the high-rise is scheduled to open for business in 2014.
The tower is at the northwest corner of the site, which is well on its way to reconstruction with the 72-story 4 World Trade Center and other buildings.
Monday's celebration of the reconstructed trade center comes days after a grisly reminder of the terror attack that took nearly 3,000 lives: the discovery of a rusted piece of airplane landing gear wedged between a nearby mosque and an apartment building -- believed to be from one of the hijacked planes that ravaged lower Manhattan.
The astonishingly tall building will offer amazing views of New York City
Visitors stand near the windows of the One World Observatory from the 100th floor of One World Trade Center
The skyscraper will still fall short of the world's tallest building, which is in Dubai and tops 2,700 feet
The extraordinary view will be open to the public after the building is finished and made accessible to visitors
As officials prepared to erect the spire, the office of the city's chief medical examiner was working in the hidden alley, where debris may still contain human remains.
The new tower's crowning spire is a joint venture between the ADF Group Inc. engineering firm in Terrebonne, Quebec, and New York-based DCM Erectors Inc., a steel contractor.
The world's tallest building, topping 2,700 feet, is in Dubai.