NEW YORK (AFP).- The newest skyscraper in New York's World Trade Center complex was topped off with a final bucket of concrete Thursday as several hundred people looked on, at a ceremony highlighting the area's rebirth nearly 15 years after the 9/11 attacks.

The 80-story 3 World Trade Center, which is located next to the new WTC rail station opened in March and across from the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum, is now at its full height of 1,079 feet (329 meters).

The tower, which was designed by Richard Rogers and has a glass facade, will be fully completed next year and should have its first tenants in 2018.

There are now several skyscrapers replacing the Twin Towers destroyed on September 11, 2001. 

One World Trade Center is the main building, and the tallest in the United States at 1,776 feet. 4 and 7 World Trade Center are completed and occupied. Two others have yet to be built -- 2 and 5 World Trade Center.

On Thursday, developer Larry Silverstein -- responsible for several of the new towers -- hailed 3 World Trade Center as "the symbol of downtown's rebirth."

The area has "changed so much," he said.

"I always believed that the new WTC could be a success and that downtown's best days are still ahead," Silverstein added. 

"I just turned 85, and this project continues to be the passion of my life."



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