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Danish architects to design World Trade Center skyscraper number two
Lucie Rychla
June 4th, 2015
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Bjarke Ingels Group taking over from British architects with a design geared toward creative businesses
Lower Manhatten with the already constructed One and Four World Trade Center (photo: Cadiomals)
Danish architects from the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) have been chosen to redesign the ‘state-of-the-art tower’ Two World Trade Center – one of five buildings that will ultimately replace the Twin Towers destroyed in 2001 – reports DR.
According to Daria Pahhota, BIG’s spokesperson, the studio was hired to design Two World Trade Center for Silverstein Properties and 21st Century Fox and News Corp.
BIG skyscraper to transform Lower Manhatten
“We are very honored and humbled by the great task to contribute to the reconstruction of the World Trade Center more than a decade after 9/11 and help transform Downtown Manhattan [aka Lower Manhattan] into a vibrant environment for creative businesses and all New Yorkers, ” Pahhota said in a statement.
The district in Lower Manhattan has undergone major changes since the terrorist attack in 2001, and Pahhota emphasised the BIG skyscraper will be an important part of the transformation.
READ MORE: Danish design will make Manhattan prettier and safer
Geared toward creative businesses
The Danish firm is taking over the task of designing Two World Trade Center from the British architects Foster and Partners.
While Foster’s design was targeted at financial companies, BIG’s design will be geared more towards creative businesses with news studios and editing rooms.
Bjarke Ingels Group is getting really big in the US with architectural projects including the Google HQ, the Smithsonian Institute’s campus in Washington DC and an upgrade design for storm defences around Lower Manhattan.
READ MORE: BIG plans unveiled for Smithsonian South Mall campus in US capital
BIG designs all over the world
The company was founded in 2005 by Bjarke Ingels in Copenhagen, and five years later a branch office opened in New York City.
Today, the architecture firm employs around 200 architects working on projects in more than 18 countries.
READ MORE: Danish Maritime Museum wins DETAIL Prize 2014
In Denmark, BIG has designed, among others, the Danish Maritime Museum, the Copenhagen Harbour baths and the 8 House in Ørestad.
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