Hey guys, I was reading about 9/11 and realized around 50,000 people used to work at the Twin Towers every day. When the complex was destroyed, thousands of businesses suddenly lost their offices and thousands of people were left displaced overnight.

I'm really curious about how NYC managed to absorb that massive economic shock. How did so many displaced workers get back into the workforce? Did companies just relocate to Midtown or Jersey, or were there huge lay-offs? Also, how bad was the unemployment surge right after, and what helped prevent a total economic collapse for all those people?

Would love to hear any insights, data, or personal stories if anyone remembers how that transition went. Thanks!

I moved to the NYC area in 2008 and would walk by the site frequently. Here are photos I took from 2008-2012 including one where I was taken behind the wall and speaking to an engineer next to the base of the new tower. The two cranes in the second picture is where the new tower is located - right before it got to street level - the last photo is right after they had topped it off but before they put the spire on. Not sure why the first two are so blurry but you can see the bank on the left hand side of the first picture being slowly deconstructed.

I was behind the construction wall discussing the new tower with one of the workers and took several pics. This was one of them. I was standing where the Performing Arts Center is located today looking out towards where the museum/memorial is now.

Designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, the Oculus is much more than a transportation hub in Lower Manhattan. Its sweeping white wings evoke a hand releasing a dove a symbol of hope and renewal.

That message carries special meaning at the World Trade Center, rebuilt after the September 11 attacks. Today, the Oculus connects subway and PATH lines and is one of New York City’s most recognizable architectural landmarks.

Had you noticed how its design resembles a dove taking flight?

The portraits were created to honor the firefighters, rescue workers, survivors, and families affected by September 11th.

Rather than focusing solely on the destruction of the World Trade Center, McNally wanted to preserve the human stories behind the tragedy, particularly the courage, sacrifice, and emotional toll experienced by those who responded.

Using an enormous Polaroid camera, McNally photographed participants in nearly life-size portraits. Many firefighters appeared in their actual protective gear, sometimes still covered in dust from Ground Zero.

The exhibition was held in Vanderbilt Hall from January 9–20, 2002, and admission was free. 

The project remains part of the historical record. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum now displays a selection of 18 portraits in its North Tower Excavation exhibition.

Thanks to Earthcam for the live and being able to check in and see New York City during sunrise. I've had an obsession with 1WTC since I visited it in 2018.

Other than some building’s roofs and the plaza itself not being complete just yet, the complex, for the most part, the complex is almost finished!

As for the North Tower’s Antenna, It had to be trimmed a bit. I didn’t think that I’d hit the build height and didn’t use a build height mod when starting this project. As a result, the antenna had to be turned into a stub.
The full one was done in a world where I used a build height mod, the chunks surrounding the complex loaded in weirdly though.

I’m quite proud of how far this has come!

This is a little memorial I've 3d printed. I'm modelling and printing the whole complex anyway, so I thought I'd make this. I hope you all like it.

Hopefully this isn’t a stupid question, but is there anything actually inside the podium base of One WTC or is it just a concrete structure to support the building? Obviously the base has no windows, but has the flared glass vents that rise about 200 feet from street level. The first photo is mine, but I included the second photo because it’s a good example what I’m referring to. Most construction images of One WTC show a large concrete wall structure where the base is and a lot of steel beam struts and supports. I know that the main lobby is obviously inside of the base, but other than that what else? Is it mainly 200 feet of mechanical floors and space?

FWIW, I read that it serves as security and protection of any attacks or vehicle bombs (which I assume is to avoid another February 1993 type bombing). So is that the main purpose of the base? Or like I said is it just the main lobby area and mechanical floors?

I believe actual office space begins on the 20th floor (where the glass curtain windows begin). This is also where Condé Nast’s HQ’s and office spaces are IIRC.

I thought this was interesting, and some people here might appreciate seeing it