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Old 09-15-2001, 08:14 PM   #20
elSicomoro
Person who doesn't update the user title
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 12,486
Re: Re: Perspective: long term questions

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Originally posted by tw
The world does work when using dry rationale. It is emotion that causes instability. There is an emotional factor in building a new WTC - described as honor. As noted previously, "honor - which is a valid point but not sufficient to answer the question."
I can appreciate what you are saying. Building a skyscraper, from a bare bones perspective, doesn't require emotion. But how many of these skyscrapers have been built w/o some sort of fanfare? The WTC towers were built as a revitilization project for Manhattan. Weren't Liberty One and Two here in Philadelphia built as a revitilization project for Center City? The skyscraper in and of itself is a marvel that can stir emotion.

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The WTC center survived more than a 707. Each tower survived a direct strike from a Jumbo Jet. But when a fire compromised structural integrity of one floor, then the entire building was lost. It is a compromise necessary to build them that high.
If I understand correctly, the main reason of the collapse was b/c the temperature of the steel hit 800 degrees, which is the melting point, correct? Is it possible to make a building element that can withstand higher temperatures? And not to sound stupid, but I'm assuming that the sprinkler systems were either futile, or damaged in the attack, correct?

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Trump wants to extend the Chicago Sears Tower to be the world's highest.
They still insist they're the world's tallest building, although it involves some controversy over what is considered part of a building and what is not. With their spires, the Petronas Towers put the Sears Tower down to #3. Not to mention, I remember at one point hearing rumors about the Sears Tower being half-empty.

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IOW maybe new buildings will appear at ground zero. But need they be so tall as to be so unstable? Is honor that important - or are there any other reasons? Honor alone is a foolhardy reason to rebuild the towers.
That is true. However, you don't really think that the rebuilders will work without emotion, do you?

Thank you for the enlightenment on the elevators.
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