DESCENT INTO MEH-NESS

There is not going to be a spire on 1 World Trade Center. Instead, what was once to be the Freedom Tower, twisting itself up to an attempt at symbolism at 1,776 feet above sea level, will now be a tall box with an antenna on top. There could be no better symbolism for both America's and architecture's lack of daring. When Daniel Libeskind, MA, won the competition for the redesign of ground zero back in the Stone Age, there was some hope that people would see something inspiring and beautiful. But there were already many questions about whether New York needed or would ever be able to absorb the millions of square feet of office and retail space. There were also questions about how Libeskind's particular vision might develop.