Arcelor Mittal – Producer of First Steel Columns for Freedom Tower
On December 19, Governor George E. Pataki joined Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Port Authority officials, and other dignitaries to witness the placement of the first steel columns for the Freedom Tower as construction on the tower continues. The columns were produced in Luxembourg and fabricated in Lynchburg, Virginia. The Freedom Tower was designed by David Childs and is one of the signature elements of the Libeskind Master Plan, all of which are currently under construction on the World Trade Center site.
The 1,776-foot-tall Freedom Tower will include 2.6 million square feet of office space, tenant amenity spaces, an observation deck, restaurants, and broadcast and antennae facilities. Below-ground retail and access to the PATH rapid-transit system and the World Financial Center will also be provided. The Freedom Tower will be completed in 2011.
In July of this year approximately 805 tons of steel were produced in Differdange, Luxembourg to create the first 27 ‘extra-large’ steel columns for the Freedom Tower. Arcelor Mittal, one of the world’s largest steel companies, produced the massive steel columns. The columns weigh 730 pounds per foot and range in length from 30 to 56 feet for shipping.
In August, the steel columns were shipped by vessel from Antwerp, Belgium. Four different ships made the trans-Atlantic voyage to deliver the columns to two port cities, Portsmouth, Virginia and Camden, New Jersey where they were then transported to the fabricator, Banker Steel Company, L.L.C. of Lynchburg, Virginia. There, the steel was fabricated into “built-up” columns by welding plates to their sides, forming columns that weigh up to 2,440 pounds per foot. From start to finish, the steel has traveled approximately 4,700 miles.
The installation of the giant steel columns capped off a year in which major progress was made to redevelop the World Trade Center site.
16 comments
-
January 16th, 2007 by phil jadlowiec
Lakshmi Mittal: you purchased steel companies in the U.S.A are they not good enough to produce the steel needed for the freedom towers?
-
January 16th, 2007 by Arcelor Mittal Communications
Dear Phil,
The architects and the city of New York decided to purchase these beams, not Mr Mittal or Arcelor Mittal. We are simply the providers. Thank you for your comment.
Arcelor Mittal Communications
-
January 17th, 2007 by gail richardson
Are audio/video available to show this massive production in stages?
-
January 17th, 2007 by Susan Bobby
I am proud it’s made from steel by Arcelor Mittal. Steel is a global resource, the most recyclable material on earth, and the heart of any new vision for the Freedom Tower or any grand-scale ideas conceived in the USA or in the world. Think globally.
-
January 20th, 2007 by Vincent
For those who are interested there’s a flickr tag which may become interesting in the next months.
http://flickr.com/photos/tags/freedomtower
-
January 24th, 2007 by Greg DePhillis
As Arcelor Mittal does not (as yet) own any beam mills here in the U.S., the next best thing was to supply these beams from our Differdange mill in Luxembourg. We are the main supplier of jumbo beams for the U.S. market and these were produced in our exclusive ASTM A913/grade 65 quality that helps to reduce weight and cost while adding strength.
The engineer, building owner, and construction manager, are all convinced about the benefits of our grade 65 beams and plan to use it extensively in the Freedom Tower and the other surrounding hi-rise projects.
-
February 1st, 2007 by Lucien
Dear Phil Jadlowiec,
We here in Luxembourg and especially those working for Arcelor Mittal are proud to be choosen to produce the steel columns for the Freedom Tower.
-
April 20th, 2007 by JUAN SALVADOR REYES CODOCEO
ENTREGO MIS MAS INFINITAS FELICITACIONES, POR EL GRAN EXITO DE ESTE EMPRESARIO DEL ACERO A NIVEL MUNDIAL, COMO LO ES Y SERA POR SIEMPRE, YA QUE SE HA ESFORZADO, Y EL EXITO ES PROPIO DEL Y SU
GRAN ESPOSA Y FAMILIA.Mr. LAKSHMI MITTAL, RECOMIENDO QUE PROCEDA A INVERTIR URGENTE EN
CHILE, PAIS DE SUD AMERICA, CAPITAL MUNDIAL DEL COBRE, MANIFIESTO
ESTA INQUIETUD, YA QUE SUD AMERICA ESTA BASTANTE IMPORTANTE, PARA
SUS INVERSIONES, COMO EN CHILE, PORQUE ES UN PAIS QUE ESTA MUY
SEGURO, PARA INVERTIR, Y ACA EXCLUSIVAMENTE SE ENCUENTRA LA UNICA
EMPRESA QUE ES DEL GRUPO GERDAU INTERNACIONAL. DOY MIS MAS SINCEROS DESEOS DE CONGRATULACIONES AL EXITO POR SIEMPRE, DEBIDO
A SU GRAN ESFUERZO E INTELIGENCIA.ME INTERESA MUCHO CONTAR CON SU E-MAIL PARA MANIFESTARLE MI DESEO
DE QUE SE DESIDA A INVERTIR EN ESTE PAIS CHILE, QUEDO A LA ESPERA
DE SU CORREO ELECTRONICO PRIVADO, PARA ENTREGARLE A UD, MAYOR DE
LAS INFORMACIONES EN RELACION AL GRUPO GERDAU EN CHILE.SALUDOS CORDIALES
JUAN REYES CODOCEO
-
July 10th, 2007 by fourpawsg
I am a U.S citizen, and I could not help but cry when I saw what the Freedon Tower will look like when it is done. It is so Beautiful, and it will stand Proudly where the WTC once stood. Thank You for having a Mill large enough to make the Steel Columns for the New Freedom Tower.
A comment to the person who felt Hurt about these Columns not being Made in the U.S. or Canada. We just don’t have the Mills here to handle such a Tall Order.
Isn’t this a good way for the world to be involved in righting a Huge Wrong, And paying Tribute to those who lost their lives at the WTC? I think it is.
God Bless You All.
Lois
-
August 9th, 2007 by Phil Jadlowiec
In response to the letter that was written”WE DO NOT HAVE THE MILLS HERE TO HANDLE SUCH A TALL ORDER” this country Did at one time thanks to corporate greed they are Gone!!
-
August 15th, 2007 by Vincent
Some beams can be seen on this photo : http://flickr.com/photos/lens-flair/1111972814/
-
December 5th, 2007 by Frank Turner
Dear Phil, USA are always first to ask for worldwide free markets.
These are the results. In any case American steel industry never had a mill able to roll so big beams.
-
January 14th, 2008 by Philippe
Hi!
ArcelorMittal wants to build ” Beam mill ” at contrecoeur in Quebec on the grounds of Mittal Canada, is what that is really.
Thank you!
-
November 25th, 2010 by Phil Jadlowiec
Lakshmi Mittal you bought mills here in the U.S.A Now you close them. Why is this happening? Why are you doing this to the people of HENNEPIN ILLNOIS? This is a world class finishing mill – good paying jobs are being lost and sent over seas. Do you not care about these companies and the workers who make money for you and your shareholders? I call this corporate greed. What do you call it?
-
November 30th, 2010 by Team Web TV
Dear Phil,
The Hennepin facility was closed two years ago as we announced in 2008. The closing of our facility came as a result of the extraordinary economic conditions the Company faced in 2008 and 2009. During that time, ArcelorMittal was forced to make some difficult decisions not only in the U.S., but across the globe.
In the U.S., we reviewed the rationale and viability of redundant operations which included Hennepin. To remain cost competitive, the Company had to make the tough decision to close the Hennepin facility, consolidate operations and move production to other ArcelorMittal facilities in the U.S.
Like many businesses, we were forced to look at ways to ensure the long-term sustainability of the company. It is a matter of great regret that we had to make this decision. This was purely an economic business decision based on the extraordinary economic conditions and was not a reflection on the professionalism and dedication of our Hennepin employees.
-
March 1st, 2011 by mike
Geez, Wasn’t the closing of Hennepin really a Rape of the Hennepin letter and the corporate vision to send Hennepins product line to the Hunan province? Please don’t give the same sorry old response. It makes you look really bad.
Add a comment
CONTENT LOCATOR
