Looking solemn in hard-hats covered in commemorative stickers, World Trade Centre workers posed for a final photo moments before the silver spire was raised atop the new skyscraper.
Now the tallest building in the Western hemisphere, the shining new Freedom Tower stands at the site of the 11 September 2001 terror attacks.
Its height, 1,776ft, is a reference to the year of America's independence. It towers above a memorial to those 3,000 people killed when two planes, piloted by al Qaeda hijackers crashed into the Twin Towers, causing both buildings to collapse.
Workers pose for a photo prior to raising the silver spire atop the 1 World Trade Center building
The 408ft spire will serve as a broadcast antenna, and offices, observation decks, restaurants and a museum will be housed in the building.
Last week, construction director Steven Plate told WABC that the spire will be a "beacon that'll be seen for miles around and give a tremendous indication to people around the entire region, and the world, that we're back and we're better than ever."
A 408-foot spire is set into place at the top of One World Trade Center
With the spire, the building rises at a symbolic 1,776 feet tall
The tower is slated to open in 2014, and tenants include Vogue publisher Conde Nast and the government's General Services Administration.
Freedom Tower stands in the northwest corner of the site where the twin towers were destroyed. Other buildings are also under construction in the area, including 72-story Four World Trade Center.
One World Trade Center Spire
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The final piece of spire is hoisted in place on top of One World Trade Center, Friday, May 10, 2013 in New York. The addition of the spire, and its raising of the buildings height to 1,776 feet, would make One World Trade Center the tallest structure in the U.S. and third-tallest in the world. (AP photo/Mark Lennihan) (credit:AP)
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One World Trade Center stands at its full height above the New York City skyline in this view from the Heights neighborhood of Jersey City, N.J., Friday, May 10, 2013. A 408-foot spire was set into place at the top of the structure Friday, making the building a symbolic 1,776 feet tall. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (credit:AP)
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Workers prepare to raise the silver spire atop the 1 World Trade Center building in New York early Friday May 10, 2013. The 408-foot spire will serve as a world-class broadcast antenna. An LED-powered light emanating from it will be seen from miles away. When it is fully installed on the buildings roof, it will bring the iconic structure to its full, symbolic height of 1,776 feet. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (credit:AP)
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A 408-foot spire is set into place at the top of One World Trade Center seen from the Heights neighborhood of Jersey City, N.J., Friday, May 10, 2013. With the spire, the building rises at a symbolic 1,776 feet tall. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (credit:AP)
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Workers pose for a photo prior to raising the silver spire atop the 1 World Trade Center building in New York early Friday May 10, 2013. The 408-foot spire will serve as a world-class broadcast antenna. An LED-powered light emanating from it will be seen from miles away. When it is fully installed on the buildings roof, it will bring the iconic structure to its full, symbolic height of 1,776 feet. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (credit:AP)
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A 408-foot spire is set into place at the top of One World Trade Center seen from the Heights neighborhood of Jersey City, N.J., Friday, May 10, 2013. With the spire, the building rises at a symbolic 1,776 feet tall. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (credit:AP)
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A crane lifts into place a 408-foot spire at the top of One World Trade Center seen from the Heights neighborhood of Jersey City, N.J., Friday, May 10, 2013. With the spire, the building rises at a symbolic 1,776 feet tall. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (credit:AP)
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The top piece of the 408-foot spire for One World Trade Center is lifted to the top of the building in New York, Thursday, May 2, 2013. When it's fully installed, at a later date, it will top the building at a symbolic 1,776 feet. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:AP)
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A harness is lowered to the final piece of spire before it is hoisted to the roof of One World Trade Center, Thursday, May 2, 2013 in New York. The piece will be attached to the spire at a later date, capping off the tower at 1,776 feet. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (credit:AP)
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The top piece of the 408-foot spire for One World Trade Center is lifted to the top of the building in New York, Thursday, May 2, 2013. When installed it will top the building at a symbolic 1776 feet. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:AP)
Tommy Hickey(11 of32)
Ironworker Tommy Hickey holds a guide rope as the final piece of spire is hoisted to the roof of One World Trade Center, Thursday, May 2, 2013 in New York. The piece will be attached to the spire at a later date, capping off the tower at 1,776 feet. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (credit:AP)
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Construction workers watch as the final piece of spire is hoisted to the roof of One World Trade Center, Thursday, May 2, 2013 in New York. The piece will be attached to the spire at a later date, capping off the tower at 1,776 feet. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (credit:AP)
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The final piece of the spire is hoisted to the roof of One World Trade Center, Thursday, May 2, 2013 in New York. The piece will be attached to the spire at a later date, capping off the tower at 1,776 feet. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (credit:AP)
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The top piece of the 408-foot spire for One World Trade Center is lifted to the top of the building in New York, Thursday, May 2, 2013. When it's fully installed, at a later date, it will top the building at a symbolic 1,776 feet. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:AP)
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A worker holds a guide rope as the final piece of spire is hoisted to the roof of One World Trade Center, Thursday, May 2, 2013 in New York. The piece will be attached to the spire at a later date, capping off the tower at 1,776 feet. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (credit:AP)
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Workers attach a harness to the final piece of spire before it is hoisted to the roof of One World Trade Center, Thursday, May 2, 2013 in New York. The piece will be attached to the spire at a later date, capping off the tower at 1,776 feet. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (credit:AP)
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The final piece of spire is hoisted to the roof of One World Trade Center, Thursday, May 2, 2013 in New York. The piece will be attached to the spire at a later date, capping off the tower at 1,776 feet. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (credit:AP)
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Construction workers watch as the final sections of the spire is raised to the top of One World Trade Center May 2, 2013 in New York to a temporary work platform atop the structure. Ironworkers will install the sections at a later date and when complete, One WTC will stand 1,776 feet (541 meters) high, making it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Construction workers watch as the final sections of the spire is raised to the top of One World Trade Center May 2, 2013 in New York to a temporary work platform atop the structure. Ironworkers will install the sections at a later date and when complete, One WTC will stand 1,776 feet (541 meters) high, making it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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The final sections of the spire is raised to the top of One World Trade Center May 2, 2013 in New York to a temporary work platform atop the structure. Ironworkers will install the sections at a later date and when complete, One WTC will stand 1,776 feet (541 meters) high, making it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Ironworker Tommy Hickey (L) holds a rope as the final sections of the spire is raised to the top of One World Trade Center May 2, 2013 in New York to a temporary work platform atop the structure. Ironworkers will install the sections at a later date and when complete, One WTC will stand 1,776 feet (541 meters) high, making it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Ironworker Tommy Hickey (L) holds a rope as the final sections of the spire is raised to the top of One World Trade Center May 2, 2013 in New York to a temporary work platform atop the structure. Ironworkers will install the sections at a later date and when complete, One WTC will stand 1,776 feet (541 meters) high, making it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Construction workers watch as the final sections of the spire is raised to the top of One World Trade Center May 2, 2013 in New York to a temporary work platform atop the structure. Ironworkers will install the sections at a later date and when complete, One WTC will stand 1,776 feet (541 meters) high, making it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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The final sections of the spire (R) is raised to the top of One World Trade Center May 2, 2013 in New York to a temporary work platform atop the structure. Ironworkers will install the sections at a later date and when complete, One WTC will stand 1,776 feet (541 meters) high, making it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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The final sections of the spire (R of center) is raised to the top of One World Trade Center (bottom) May 2, 2013 in New York to a temporary work platform atop the structure. Ironworkers will install the sections at a later date and when complete, One WTC will stand 1,776 feet (541 meters) high, making it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Cranes work adjacent to the spire on top of One World Trade Center, Wednesday, May 1, 2013 in New York. The last piece of spire will be hoisted to the roof on Thursday, weather permitting, according to a spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (credit:AP)
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The top piece of the 408-foot spire for One World Trade Center is shown at ground level, Wednesday, May 1, 2013 in New York. The piece will be hoisted to the roof on Thursday, weather permitting, according to a spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (credit:AP)
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The top piece of the 408-foot spire for One World Trade Center, left, is shown at ground level, Wednesday, May 1, 2013 in New York. The piece will be hoisted to the roof on Thursday, weather permitting, according to a spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (credit:AP)
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Cranes work adjacent to the spire on top of One World Trade Center, Wednesday, May 1, 2013 in New York. The last piece of spire will be hoisted to the roof on Thursday, weather permitting, according to a spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (credit:AP)
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A detail of the top piece of the 408-foot spire for One World Trade Center is shown at ground level, Wednesday, May 1, 2013 in New York. The piece will be hoisted to the roof on Thursday, weather permitting, according to a spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (credit:AP)
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Construction cranes work on top of One World Trade Center, Wednesday, May 1, 2013 in New York. Officials with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey are hoping that the final pieces of the spire will be installed soon, making the tower 1776 feet tall. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (credit:AP)
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Cranes work adjacent to the spire on top of One World Trade Center, Wednesday, May 1, 2013 in New York. The last piece of spire will be hoisted to the roof on Thursday, weather permitting, according to a spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (credit:AP)