THE STORY OF A SKYLINE REBORN AND A TRIBUTE
TO A NATION’S RESILIENCE

CROWNING NEW YORK

ONE-HOUR SPECIAL PREMIERING
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7^th AT 8PM ET/PT ON SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL™

Story Behind The Re-Building of One World Trade Center and Installation of 408 Foot Spire Designed To Emit Beams of LightThat Are Visible For 50 Miles

New York, August 20, 2014 – The 9/11 attacks left a hole in New York City and in the hearts of millions of people around the world. In the immediate weeks after the tragedy, the city and country were in shock, mourning that terrible day and stunned by the still smoking pile of debris that was once two of the world’s most iconic buildings. But the determination to rebuild quickly emerged, as did much debate about the nature and style of a new building. The one-hour special, CROWNING NEW YORK, premiering Sunday, September 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel, takes a look at the engineering and construction feats of the defining structure, One World Trade Center, that has rebuilt Gotham’s skyline. It is a story of hope mixed with the realistic nature of what it takes to build the Western Hemisphere’s tallest building. This isn’t rebuilding Ground Zero. This is the final chapter in rebuilding a city.

This engineering triumph helps fulfill former NY Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s defiant declarations after the 9/11 attacks: "We will rebuild. We're going to come out of this stronger than before, politically stronger, economically stronger. The skyline will be made whole again." 

Remarking on the achievement, former New York Governor George Pataki said: “It conveys that same sense of excitement and awe that… makes it very different from being just another building.”

At 1,776 feet, One World Trade Center is now the tallest building in the U.S. and third tallest in the world. To capture the construction workers' remarkable work in placing the 40-story 758-ton spire on top of a building that was already 104 stories high, Smithsonian Channel’s production partner, New York City-based Pulse3TV, was given unparalleled access to the WTC site and its iron workers, as well as exclusive access to the beacon testing site. They used a helicopter to film the installation of the spire, as well as helmet cams and GoPro cameras.

CROWNING NEW YORK also highlights the initial competitions and heated arguments that marked the early evolution of the tower’s conception. Architect Daniel Libeskind’s idea for the site and David Childs' architectural invention echo the Twin Towers in height, but its new design has made it the strongest building in the world.

It features never-before-aired footage of the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, as well as definitive interviews with Libeskind and officials including Pataki, Giuliani, as well as many of the construction workers.

CROWNING NEW YORK is produced by Pulse3TV, Executive Producer Vincent Kralyevich and Producer/Director Paul McGuire. Executive Producers for Smithsonian Channel are David Royle and Charles Poe.

ABOUT SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL

Smithsonian Channel™, owned by Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where curiosity lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing entertainment across multiple platforms.  Smithsonian Channel combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME® with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create award-winning programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, history, science, nature, and pop culture. Among the network’s offerings are series including Aerial America, L.A. Frock Stars, Secrets, Mighty Ships, Mighty Planes and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include Civil War 360, 9/11: The Heartland Tapes; MLK: The Assassination Tapes and The Day Kennedy Died. Find out more at www.smithsonianchannel.com.