Apr 30, 2012

One World Trade officially surpassed the height of the Empire State Building today to become New York City’s tallest building. With the addition of a steel column, the unfinished frame of the building stands at more than 1,250 feet high. When completed it is expected to be declared the tallest building in the United States and the third-tallest in the world.

: Ironworkers Jim Brady (L) and Billy Geoghan release a steel cable after connecting a steel beam between two columns at the top of One World Trade Center to make it New York City’s tallest building. One World Trade Center is being built to replace the Twin Towers destroyed in the Sept. 11 attacks. It reached just over 1,250 feet on Monday. That’s just taller than the observation deck on the Empire State Building. (Mark Lennihanl/Getty Images)

: New York’s skyline got a new king after the still unfinished World Trade Center tower, built to replace the destroyed Twin Towers, crept above the venerable Empire State Building. One World Trade Center, already a gleaming, angular landmark on the city’s skyline, will still get taller as construction winds up late next year, finally reaching 1,776 feet (541.3 meters) and 104 floors. (Stan Honda/AFP/GettyImages)

: The One World Trade Center building is reflected in the glasses of Bradford Carpentar of Long Island as he looks up at the building. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

: Ironworkers Adam Cross (L) and Steven Cross connect a steel beam at the top of One World Trade Center to make it New York City’s tallest building. The cousins are from the Kahnawae native american reservation in Quebec, Canada. (Mark Lennihan/Getty Images)

: A couple, posing for their pre-wedding photographs, are back-dropped by the One World Trade Center and Manhattan skyline as seen from New Jersey. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)

: A construction worker looks out the windows of the 71st floor of the One World Trade Center as a beam is lifted up by a cable in New York. The One World Trade Center will stand at 1,776 feet (541 meters) to the tip of its antenna when it is completed. (Andrew Burton/Reuters)

: One World Trade Center officially surpassed the height of the Empire State Building today to become New York City’s tallest building. With its unfinished frame, the building stands at a little more than 1,250 feet high. When it reaches its full height — likely in another year, it will be declared the tallest building in the United States and the third-tallest in the world. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

: A view shows the One World Trade Center (L) in New York. (Andrew Burton/Reuters)

: Construction continues on the One World Trade Center, after workers moved a steel column into place. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

: A woman takes a picture of the new One World Trade Center building. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

: The view from the 71st floor of One World Trade Center. (Stan Honda/AFP/GettyImages)

: One World Trade Center surpasses the height of the Empire State Building to become New York City’s tallest building. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

: One World Trade Center building, which is under construction on the site of the destroyed original World Trade Center, is seen in New York City. With its unfinished frame the building stands at a little more than 1,250 feet high. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

: One of the beams that will make One World Trade Center the tallest building in New York City rises past a window on one of the top floors in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

: Construction continues on One World Trade Center after workers moved a steel column into place to make it New York City’s tallest building in New York City. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

: A street hawker holds a computer-generated image of the completed new One World Trade Center building, which is under construction on the site of the destroyed original World Trade Center. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)