July 4 marks start to Freedom Tower

A granite cornerstone weighing 20 tons was laid at the World Trade Center site in New York City on Sunday, July 4, marking the beginning of construction of the new Freedom Tower.<br>
New York Governor George Pataki said that July 4 Independence Day was chosen for laying the cornerstone as a symbol to show that extremists didn’t destroy America’s faith in freedom. The twin towers on the site were felled in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.<br>
The new building will measure 1776 feet — corresponding with the date of the U.S. declaration of Independence — and is a twisting glass and steel tower. (RWDI of Guelph, Ontario have been helping with the structural design.) On the actual footprint of the fallen towers will be two reflecting pools.<br>
The redevelopment will include a a memorial to the approximately 2,800 people who died in the attacks. There will also be a railway station, and several small theatres. Construction of the Freedom tower is scheduled to be completed in 2009. <br>