One World Trade Center, which is being built at the site of the fallen twin towers of erstwhile World Trade Center, is regaining its past record of being the tallest building in New York. The construction crew set in place a steel horizontal beam at a height of about 1,270 feet (387 meters), topping by about 20 feet (six meters) the rooftop of the observation deck of the Empire State Building, which stands about 3 miles (4.8 km) to the north in Midtown Manhattan. Including the antenna tower, however, the iconic Empire State Building is still higher.

The Empire State Building, built in 1931, was the New York's tallest at a height of 1,545 feet (471 meters) to the tip of its broadcast antenna until 1972 when it was overtaken by the original twin-towered World Trade Center. It then regained the title after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which destroyed the complex. Construction started six years ago on the new World Trade Center and now the skyscraper, formerly called the Freedom Tower, surpasses the top floor of the Empire State Building. "The new World Trade Center is more than just a skyscraper -  It is a symbol of the enduring spirit of the City and State of New York, representing our commitment to rebuilding stronger than before," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said in commemorating the milestone.

One World Trade Center will stand at 1,776 feet (541 meters) to the tip of its antenna when it is completed, possibly by late 2013. Then it will top the Empire State entirely. The skyscraper, only 55 per cent of which is leased, will be higher than the former twin towers, which were toppled in the 2001 attacks when nearly 3,000 people were killed. The north tower stood 1,727 feet (526 meters) including its antenna.