Nosy Neighbor: What Gives With This Window at 1 World Trade Center?

For about a year, I worked in 7 World Trade and had a great view from the 46th floor. (We’ve since moved.) Looking slightly southwest, and up, I’d always see this window on the north face of 1 World Trade and could never figure out why it was different. Is it a lightning rod mechanism? Is it from the time window washers got stuck on 1 WTC? (That seemed to be the south face according to NY Times.) Is it a window that can be removed from the inside to evacuate? I’ve been wondering this for ages—any thoughts would be appreciated. —A.

Those are temporary braces for the replacement of a panel of glass, said a rep for the Durst Organization. (The idea, added a rep for the Port Authority, is that the window needs to be held in place while the glue dries.) The braces likely haven’t been removed because the only way to do it is via the window-washing system, which has proved problematic. From the Real Deal in late 2016:

A majority of the windows at One World Trade Center haven’t been washed since 2015, because the system used to suspend the washers isn’t safe, a representative for the Durst Organization told The Real Deal. Typically, a boom at the top of the building lowers a window-washing rig that moves horizontally as the boom moves along a track on the roof. But in early 2016, Durst noticed that welding in the track—where pieces of metal are joined together—was riddled with cracks. The track, built in 2013, also has undersized bolts and suffers from other design flaws, said Jordan Barowitz, a spokesperson for Durst.

And if the floor is unoccupied, then there’s less of a rush to complete the job.

Got a question? Email tribecacitizen@gmail.com.

Previous Nosy Neighbor posts:
What’s opening at Le District?
What are the Hudson Tubes?
What’s this Citi Bike pole?
Is there a Moore Street?
What are those holes in 1 World Trade Center?
How long will the Bogardus Plaza construction take?
Why were the trees outside Goldman Sachs cut down?
When did the signage on 49 Chambers change?
Why are Tribeca’s street numbers messed up?
What are those two distinct white bands on 1 World Trade Center’s antenna?
Why are there hay bales at construction sites?
What’s that terrace above Le District?
What’s the white stuff all over Northwest Tribeca?
Why is the MTA parking buses on Church?
Is that a Dan Flavin artwork on Worth?
What’s the deal with 79 and 81 Warren?
Is work finally starting on 172 Duane?
Is this parking lot at risk of getting developed?
Why do buses have backward flags on the windows?
How do these metal braces work?
Is Franklin Place really a private street?
Where are the World Trade Center soldiers based?
What are these new blue parking signs?
What’s this thing embedded in the sidewalk?
Where can I buy photos of old Tribeca?
Why are these people gathering on Broadway?
Why does 3 World Trade Center have tailpipes?
What’s that thing on 60 Hudson’s roof?
Why is this statue behind a fence?
Why does 1 World Trade Center look so unfinished at night?
Why do Brookfield Place’s escalators run that way?
Why is the Duane Park flag almost always at half-staff?
Who are the Goatsingers?
What’s up with the exposed wall at 111 Murray?
What’s inside the base of 7 World Trade Center?
What are those panels on the sanitation garage?
How many fake restaurants are on Seamless?
Why is 15 Warren painted that way?
Where do Laughing Man’s profits go?
When will FiOS come to Tribeca?
What’s up with 60 Hudson?
What goes on at 444 Greenwich?
Why are Goldman Sachs’s lights always on?
Who’s responsible for the snowflake lights?
Why does cobblestoning require sprinklers?
Do newspaper boxes need permits?
Why does 161 Duane say “Whalebone”?
What’s the story behind those Harrison townhouses?
What’s that thing at W. Broadway and Leonard?
Are buses allowed to idle on Laight?
Can you recommend any Tribeca picture books?
Who enforces sidewalk-café regulations?
What do the characters on 47 Vestry mean?
Where was the original Blues Bar?
Can we walk on the West Street medians?
What’s the story behind the lights at 289 Church?
What’s the Dream House at 275 Church?
How come film shoots have a trailer with doors marked “Lucy” and “Desi”?

 

Comment: