Building Log: World Trade Center (Pre-9/11)

[DuskTrooper 314]

looks good!!!

[6459978. 106]

It all looks superb!

 

One comment: the roofs on 4, 5, and 6 look quite bland. I realize that in real life, there wasn't too much roof junk there, but could you maybe photo shop the texture a bit so that there is at least more contrast? (Of course, that's a silly request; it would take you days to change such a minor thing... so disregard everything I said...)

[Smurfer2 7]

I'll be in the minority and say that the night lighting needs some work. Otherwise I'm glad to see all 6 buildings on one lot.

[rubik3 118]

One comment: the roofs on 4, 5, and 6 look quite bland. I realize that in real life, there wasn't too much roof junk there, but could you maybe photo shop the texture a bit so that there is at least more contrast? (Of course, that's a silly request; it would take you days to change such a minor thing... so disregard everything I said...)

 

Well at a closer zoom there is contrast and I've tweaked it quite a bit to make it look as good as possible.  And if I were to go back and change it now it would mean 5 more days of exports.

 

I think that I'm getting close to done with the hotel.  I've put some random vents on the bottom roof to break up the monotony but I think it won't really matter as the towers hide a lot of that part of the hotel.

 

[Smurfer2 7]

Well, I'm glad we can scratch the hotel from the list. I guess you have a few more tweaks and then on to the, plaza.....

[rubik3 118]

Well luckily the hotel doesn't take nearly as long to render and I was able to get it done last night.  I also was able to get the entry awning done though I think it still needs some color tweaks.

 

Now it's on to the plaza so pls post any and all images you can find on any small props that existed anywhere in the plaza.  I'm going to go ahead and start working on the base then go back and re-export a couple of the buildings later.

[cat person 2]

Hi Rubik,
I am not sure if you have seen this site but here is the link with panoramic views that you can control and zoom in and out. If you have seen this site, sorry.

http://www.newyork.com/vny/panorama/tour3b.html

and more pics

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/newyork/sfeature/images/sf_gallery_08.jpg

http://www.cs.duke.edu/~xiaobo/pics/wtc2.jpg


http://www.greatgridlock.net/NYC_Images/652.jpg


http://www.wtc3d.com/wtc45.jpg


http://www.fpage.com/miscs/images/wpeC.jpg




http://worldtradecenterproject.com/photo80-7a.html

http://alharamclub.com/wtc_pentagon/bi_3.jpg

http://sept11marriottsurvivors.org/page3.html


http://www.harriger.com/images/01.4/wtcplaza.jpg

http://users.ixpres.com/~jliffgens/wtc3.htm


http://68.196.111.161:443/wtc/long_before/pages/DSC00284.htm

http://68.196.111.161:443/wtc/long_before/pages/DSC00285.htm

http://robertdfeinman.com/wtc/index_2.htm

[wolverine 12]

Rubik this is wonderful!  I look forward to seeing the plaza.

[BigMac 24]

Here are some pictures of the plaza:

http://www.nycfoto.com/pictures/640x480/01.29.02/nycfoto_PC220003.JPG
http://www.nycfoto.com/pictures/640x480/01.28.02/nycfoto_P7230022.JPG
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/newyork/sfeature/images/sf_gallery_08.jpg
http://www.fpage.com/miscs/images/wpeC.jpg
http://www.cs.duke.edu/~xiaobo/pics/wtc2.jpg
http://people.cornell.edu/pages/jep36/21wtcplz.jpg
http://www.leonfu.com/images/WTCSculpture.jpg
http://community.webshots.com/s/image3/7/7/49/970749_ph.jpg
http://www.vigilcd.org/images/large/brianrose/wtc09.jpg


I'll be looking for more.

[6459978. 106]

What's with the brown stuff at the bottom of the buildings? Looks like the texture is too coarse to be stone.

[whateverwhatever24 0]

I think that the brown stuff is the sifference in levels between the base and the ground but im not sure.

[Smurfer2 7]

[bEGINQUOTE]

4/14/2004 7:29:34 PM[/quoteDATE]

6459978.[/quoteAUTHOR]

What's with the brown stuff at the bottom of the buildings? Looks like the texture is too coarse to be stone.

[/quoteMESSAGE][/bEGINQUOTE]

I don't think that was textured or was not rendered on high yet.

Well, that hotel looks very good. Your work is truly awesome.

[kid_a 1]

[bEGINQUOTE]

4/14/2004 7:47:56 PM[/quoteDATE]

Smurfer2[/quoteAUTHOR]

[bEGINQUOTE]

4/14/2004 7:29:34 PM[/quoteDATE]

6459978.[/quoteAUTHOR]

What's with the brown stuff at the bottom of the buildings? Looks like the texture is too coarse to be stone.

[/quoteMESSAGE][/bEGINQUOTE]

I don't think that was textured or was not rendered on high yet.

Well, that hotel looks very good. Your work is truly awesome.

[/quoteMESSAGE][/bEGINQUOTE]

Ditto, that and the brown stuff is stone which seperated the various buildings so that they would be level. The WTC site has a slope that goes I believe to the SW, so they used stone for the site to become level.

[6459978. 106]

You know what I just realized? The World Trade Centre was made up of some pretty ugly buildings (hope I don't get burned alive for that one) I realize that there is a lot of emotional attachment to the old towers in this day and age, but from a strictly architectural point of view, they were very bland. Compared to the rest of New York's architecture, and to the skyscrapers that followed them (i.e. Petronas Towers, Taipei 101, etc.) and they stand out more as symbols than examples of aesthetically pleasing architecture.

 

That said,.... I really think you're doing a fantastic job on this project!

[kennethcole212 2]

Rubik, you are doing such a great job on this. The plaza buildings look great and bring back so many wonderful memories. Thank you. I also wish to ask that, since you must re-render the towers, if you could make them as buildings and not props so we can query them easily. In my dense rendition of downtown, I can successfully query them on only one rotation. I often check to see if people are actually working in the world trade center. If you can do that it would be amazing! I can only give you much thanks and praise for the superb project!

[rubik3 118]

Sorry for the lack of updates, I've run into a pile of work that I have to get done.  Anyways thanks for the pictures as always, and hopefully I'll find some time this weekend to get some work done on the plaza.

 

You know what I just realized? The World Trade Centre was made up of some pretty ugly buildings.

 

It's all in the eye of the beholder.  They were built with a very gaudy 70's style architecture but even with their, love it or hate it look, I think we can all agree that the New York skyline doesn't look as good as it did when the towers were standing.

 

I also wish to ask that, since you must re-render the towers, if you could make them as buildings and not props so we can query them easily.

 

I think that once the 18x17 lot is complete, it'll solve that problem.  You'll have to have one huge city in order to completely hide the complex.

 

Hopefully in the next couple of days i'll have some images to post of the plaza.

[BigMac 24]

The towers were never very credible in the architectural community, but were adored by the public. How many buildings have their own nickname (Twin Towers)? While appearing to be giant Lego buildings to many architects, the towers were nothing if not innovative.

They were the first skyscrapers to introduce the concept of local elevators (hence the sky lobbies), and their steel core and light floor trusses allowed them to be built as tall as they were (notice how they maintain the shape of their footprints all the way to the top, not levelling off or becoming too topheavy).

Also, the flat roofs had their own benefits: The ability to place on them just about anything...antennae, helipads, and the unforgettable panoramic observation platform, once the highest in the world. The aspects of the towers' genius were sometimes subtle, but they were there.

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Considering that the WTC was built at the point where the minimalist/modern/international architecture craze was cresting, the two buildings were cheered for their engineering and efficient use of indoor space. The whole thing was nearly supported by the outside walls, and had large volumes of column and wall-free space. That meant more space to sell, and more easier to configure office space. Very desirable in office realty.

I still can't understand why architectural critics didn't really like the WTC's aesthetics. It followed the design from the bottom philosophy. The arches in the bottom gave the building a character, and ironicly were inspired by Islamic artwork. The buildings also would look solid and silvery from a distance, almost as if they didn't have any windows. They would become more porous as you approached them.

The public, at first, didn't really care for the towers. Neighbors didn't like the WTC superblock that took out the old street grid (the old 7 WTC closed off another street between a neighborhood and the complex as well). Some said that the towers were too big... C'mon New York, don't get provincialon us.. But these transgressions were eventually overlooked because they redeveloped the entire area.

Just my 2 Cents...

[rubik3 118]

Well I'm finally going to find some time to work on the plaza today.  I decided that I'm going to render what would normally be base textures.  This way the slope will be exact no matter where it's placed.  I fiddled with the LE for a while and just couldn't find a way to make the lot slope as I wanted it too so I'm going to try it this way.

 

I'll be back to post another image when I get some more of the props done.

[+Guest]

Good job, reminds me about the center of the trade center.

[whateverwhatever24 0]

yay! the ball thing in the plaza! that was so cool... but did it get destroyed in 9/11 or partially destroyed?

[wolverine 12]

Amazing!  I can't believe the end of this project is getting closer!

[drewz15 0]

the ball in the plaza, or The Sphere, was only partially destroyed on 9/11. it was one of the few things found mostly intact at the site, and it's now in Battery Park City on display in a plaza as a memorial.

[Tunafish 48]

Fing Awsome. I can't wait. Once this is finished, you'll have the best building on the STex

[BigMac 24]

Nice job, rubik, especially with the bench configuration. I remember that the ground was slightly lower between the nine planters and the fountain, and there were benches built into the planters. You can see these details in this picture:




whateverwhatever24, pictured below is the Sphere as it is now seen in Battery Park.

The inscription reads:

For three decades this sculpture stood in the plaza of the World Trade Center. Entitled 'The Sphere', it was conceived by artist Fritz Koenig as a symbol of world peace. It was damaged in the tragic events of September 11, 2001, but endures as an icon of hope and the industructible spirit of Americans. The Sphere was placed here on March 11, 2002 in memory of all those who lost their lives to terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center.

[SPARTAN-117 0]

I'm so glad a magnificent lot like this is not spoilt with reflections which make it stand out more than normal and make it appear out-of-place.  You're doing such a great job, Rubik, keep it up.

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Are you going to do the skybridge that went across from the west side of the complex? I remember seeing it a lot on the news both on 9/11 and when it was partially intact during the clean-up. IIRC, it connected the WTC to the World Financial Center. I could be wrong...

[rubik3 118]

I remember that the ground was slightly lower between the nine planters and the fountain, and there were benches built into the planters.

 

I will probably add in the benches but I'll probably leave the fountain at the same heighth as the rest of the plaza.  With the base I have to make some sacrifices to make it 1. blend in with the rest of the game and 2. make it work.  The LODs are already getting heavy in the poly count and adding in a circular hole would increase it to a point that I fear for lag ingame.  The reason the LODs have to be so specific is so that props that get placed on top of it don't disappear into the model.

 

I've gotten some of the basic props done for the plaza such as a couple of sculptures and planter boxes...fauna will be added in the LE.  I also started working on a base texture for my fake lot.  Personally I think it'll work better than trying to place it on an exact slope.  But as you can see I'm going to have problems with the road textures whether its on a lot or on the model.  It'll be hard to make it look like it actually was and still look right when placed in a city..

 

[teekanne 0]

this looks just awesome

[Tunafish 48]

How did you get the roads like that??

Awsome