The supertall structure has the same name and roof height as the North Tower of the original World Trade Center, which was destroyed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The building's architect is David Childs, whose firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) also designed the Burj Khalifa and the Willis Tower.

One World Trade Center became the tallest structure in New York City on April 30, 2012, when it surpassed the height of the Empire State Building.

[3] On March 26, 2009, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) confirmed that the building would be officially known by its legal name of "One World Trade Center", rather than its colloquial name of "Freedom Tower".

The construction of the new building is part of an effort to memorialize and rebuild following the destruction of the original World Trade Center complex.