The latest design for the Freedom Tower, by architect David Childs.(File photo)

¡¡  BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhuanet) -- The World Trade Center Freedom Tower will shimmer in the sun in New York under a revised design unveiled Wednesday by architect David M. Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

    "When sunlight hits that prism, it splays into color," Childs said.

    The 187-foot-high base of the Ground Zero office building will be clad in bomb-resistant concrete base in a screen of glass prisms rather than metal panels to attract and reflect light. 

    The base will still be fortified with concrete on the inside, but the outside will be covered with "laminated safety glass," Childs added.

    "So if it did break, for any reason, it doesn't fall and shard, like metal and stone might fall," he said. "It would pulverize ... and then fall to the ground."

    If all goes according to plan ¡ª almost nothing has at ground zero ¡ª completion of the $2 billion, 2.6 million-square-foot Freedom Tower is expected in 2011. Enditem

(Agencies)