4 World Trade Center (1975–2001)
| Company type | Office building |
|---|---|
| Industry | Commercial real estate |
| Predecessor | Hudson Terminal complex |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Defunct | 2001 |
| Fate | Destroyed during the September 11 attacks; subsequently dismantled |
| Headquarters | New York City, New York , United States |
| Products | Office space, commodities exchanges trading floors |
The initial 4 World Trade Center (4 WTC), also referred to as the Southeast Plaza Building, was a nine-story office tower standing 118 ft (36 m) tall, situated at the southeast corner of the World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Finished in 1975, its design was crafted by Minoru Yamasaki alongside Emery Roth & Sons. The structure suffered extensive damage during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks orchestrated by al-Qaeda and was subsequently dismantled. The location now accommodates both 3 World Trade Center and the new iteration of 4 World Trade Center.
History
Constructed on the site previously occupied by the Hudson Terminal complex, 4 World Trade Center's construction began in late 1972 following the demolition of the earlier buildings. Both this tower and its segment of The Mall At The World Trade Center reached completion in 1975. The first occupants, the Commodities Exchange Center, started relocating in January 1977 and completed their move by July 1, 1977. Prominent tenants included Deutsche Bank, which occupied floors 4 through 6, and the New York Board of Trade, located on floors 7 to 9. The street-level entrance to The Mall at the World Trade Center was accessible from Liberty Street at the basement concourse level.
4 World Trade Center housed commodities exchanges that operated one of the largest trading floors globally at that time, featuring a total of 12 trading pits. This bustling trading environment was notably portrayed in the movie Trading Places.
Destruction
The collapse of the Twin Towers during the September 11 attacks resulted in debris that caused significant damage to surrounding structures, including the original 4 World Trade Center. Approximately two-thirds of its southern portion was destroyed, while the remaining northern section was effectively demolished following the fall of the South Tower. The building was eventually torn down to make way for new development.
At the moment of the attacks, large quantities of silver and gold coins were stored in the basement by the building's commodities exchanges, with an estimated value near $200 million. By November 2001, most of these coins had been recovered and removed through an intact part of the Downtown Hudson Tubes. In 2002, many coins owned by the Bank of Nova Scotia were retrieved, repackaged by the Professional Coin Grading Service, and later sold to collectors.
Tenants
During the time of the attacks, notable tenants occupying space within 4 World Trade Center included:
| Tenant | Square Feet Leased | Floors Occupied | Industry | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deutsche Bank | 273,991 | 4–6 | Financial Institutions | |
| New York Board of Trade | 125,000 | 7–9 | Government | |
| Overseas-Chinese Banking Corp. | 6,516 | 7 | Financial Institutions | |
| Green Coffee Association | 7,500 | 5 | Personal Services | |
| Gelderman, Inc. | 4,000 | 7 | Personal Services | |
| Tony May's Gemelli Restaurant & Bar | 10,000 | 0 | Retailers/Wholesalers |