Condé Nast almost walked away from its 25-year deal with the Port Authority for 1 million square feet at 1 World Trade Center (neé the Freedom Tower). Why?
Because the Port balked at installing a cafeteria ventilation shaft that would have, according to the New York Post‘s Keith Kelly, “blast[ed] … out the southern wall, which some sources felt would have marred the aesthetics of the sheer glass façade overlooking the memorial.”
Ug-ly. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed: the shaft, which could cost up to $1 million, will be on the north side of 1 WTC and will point toward midtown, thereby blowing the detritus of all that sushi and tofu toward Condé’s soon-to-be-old home at 4 Times Square.
The shaft could still be visible from the street, however, at 25 feet wide and one story high.
tacitelli@observer.com :: Follow me on Twitter @tacitelli
