NEW YORK CITY—“When the city was attacked on 9/11, our collective response and our civic response went far beyond what we lost on that day. Our first duty was to create a stirring memorial to those friends, neighbors and co-workers lost on 9/11,” said Larry Silverstein, chairman of Silverstein Properties, at the ceremony for the public opening of 3 World Trade Center on Monday. “But it didn't stop there. We were also charged with producing a more vibrant and connected neighborhood than anything that existed here before, a better version of New York.”

3 World Trade Center, reported by The New York Times to cost $2.7 billion, stands at 175 Greenwich St. It is the second tallest building in the 16-acre World Trade Center site that also includes the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, the Oculus transportation hub, 7 World Trade Center, One World Trade Center, and 4 World Trade Center. The Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center and 2 World Trade Center are still under construction.

Silverstein, the building architect, political leaders, governmental representatives, key tenants and the president of the Building and Construction Trades Council addressed the audience which filled the lobby. They spoke with pride regarding the completion of the 1,079 foot high, 80-story, 2.5 million square-foot skyscraper.