Rising on the northwestern corner of the World Trade Center site, One World Trade Center has been declared the tallest building in North America, by virtue of the height of its spire, which reaches 1,776 ft / 541m. The roof of the main portion of the tower is marked by a stainless steel parapet at a height of 1,368ft / 417m, the same elevation as the North Tower of the original World Trade Center. The beacon atop the mast crests at a symbolic height that references the year of the U Declaration of Independence, 1776.
As the tower rises from a blast-resistant cubic podium, the corners taper inwards, transforming the square floor plan at ground level into an octagonal plan at the midpoint and ending in a rotated square plan at the roof. The resulting shape is a simple massing composed of eight interlocking isosceles triangles. The sloping shape of the facade creates a crystalline effect as it reflects the sunlight at different angles throughout the day. Seen straight from any of the cardinal directions, the profile of the tower recalls the rectangular shape of the Twin Towers. Seen on the diagonal, the silhouette narrows as it rises, resembling the simplicity of an obelisk.