The World Trade Center, frequently referred to as the Twin Towers or the WTC, used to be a seven-building complex located in the middle of New York City's financial district. The whole site, whose origins date back to 1960, was recognized internationally by its 110-story twin towers, which were regarded as the icon of the United States of America. In the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 both the North Tower (1 WTC) and the South Tower (2 WTC) collapsed. The nearby 47-story 7 World Trade Center, damaged by debris and fire, also fell into pieces. Moreover, the other component buildings of the 16-acre World Trade Center were damaged and demolished.

Following September 11th, 2001 a heated discussion broke out on the fate of the World Trade Center site. The public became divided over whether the whole area should be turned into a memorial for the thousands of lives lost or whether new office space complex should be erected on the site. Finally, plans to reconstruct the World Trade Center site were launched. The erection of the International Freedom Center, a museum and cultural center, was part of the World Trade Center Site redevelopment project, however, the idea, found as inappropriate by families of September 11th victims, was finally rejected.

Currently, the NEW World Trade Center complex is being built. Its centerpiece is the Freedom Tower, also known as World Trade Center Tower 1, which was designed by Daniel Libeskind, a renowned architect. The completion of the 1776ft skyscraper, whose height is connected with the year of the making of America and her independence, is scheduled for September 11th, 2010. Apart from the five other office towers, the ''Reflecting Absence'' , the World Trade Center Memorial, is planned for the site. Since May 2006, after four years of construction works, the new World Trade Center 7, a 49-story high-rise, can be admired on the site of the former World Trade Center. The state-of-the-art construction materials make the edifice the safest skyscraper in the United States of America.