Freedom Tower, V. 2.0

The new Freedom Tower design was presented yesterday, showing the more fortress-like design (the NY Post calls it "Fort Zero") that's supposed to meet the NYPD's standards for safer and more bomb-resistant buildings. The jury is out: It's less ugly than before (at least this design had one vision, versus two stitched together), but it's still...lacking. But safer, so it seems New Yorkers are being asked to choose between safe designs and ones that can really lift people's spirits. Curbed had instant reviews yesterday (a mixed-bag), and today, the NY Times architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff's assessment is, as expected, withering: "The new obelisk-shaped tower, which stands on an enormous 20-story concrete pedestal, evokes a gigantic glass paperweight with a toothpick stuck on top." However, the criticism has come into a new stage, where people are pitying architect David Childs for having to whip together a design in a few weeks.

Gothamist, however, appreciates the Daily News' Michael Goodwin's editorial; Goodwin is pretty sure we'll be seeing another design soon, since this one was done so hastily, and he writes, "If Gov.Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg want usto cheer the latest incarnation, they better offer a cure for design fatigue."

Check out the Skidmore Owings & Merrill site for the Freedom Tower design, plus our readers' comments from yesterday and our posts on Freedom Tower.