World Trade Center 9/11: What Happened to Every Business, Building by Building
- Igotta Begass
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
On September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center complex over 430 businesses from 28 countries across its seven buildings. What happened that day changed not just the New York skyline, but fundamentally altered how we think about business risk, emergency planning, and the concentration of commerce in high-rise buildings. Here's what happened to every major business, building by building.
The Scale of the Complex
The World Trade Center wasn't just two tall buildings: it was a 16-acre business ecosystem with its own zip code (10048) containing 10 million square feet of rentable office space. From global financial giants to small family-owned restaurants, the complex represented a cross-section of American and international commerce.
1 World Trade Center (North Tower): The First Hit, Last to Fall
The North Tower, standing 1,368 feet with 110 floors, was struck first at 8:46 AM but collapsed last at 10:28 AM. Here's what happened to its major tenants:
Floors 93-100: Marsh & McLennan Companies - This global insurance brokerage lost 295 employees and 63 consultants. The company relocated operations across multiple cities and underwent significant restructuring. Today, Marsh McLennan operates from locations worldwide and has become one of the largest insurance brokers globally, largely through post-9/11 acquisitions.
Floors 101-105: Cantor Fitzgerald - Perhaps the most devastating single company loss, Cantor Fitzgerald lost 658 employees: nearly two-thirds of its New York workforce. CEO Howard Lutnick, who wasn't in the office that morning, made the controversial decision to cut paychecks to families of deceased workers initially, then reversed course and distributed 25% of profits to families for five years. The company rebuilt and now operates globally.
Floor 106-107: Windows on the World Restaurant - This iconic restaurant, along with its catering company and conference center, was completely destroyed. All 79 employees present that morning perished. The restaurant never reopened, though several tribute restaurants have used the name elsewhere.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey - Occupying multiple floors, the Port Authority lost 37 employees. The agency, which owned the WTC complex, relocated operations and later oversaw the rebuilding of the site. They now operate from 4 World Trade Center.
2 World Trade Center (South Tower): The Second Hit, First to Fall
The South Tower, at 1,362 feet, was struck at 9:03 AM and collapsed at 9:59 AM. Major tenants included:
Floors 43-74: Morgan Stanley - This investment giant had nearly 2,700 employees in the South Tower. Thanks to head of security Rick Rescorla (a Vietnam veteran who had predicted the vulnerability of the towers), most Morgan Stanley employees survived. Rescorla's emergency drills and quick evacuation saved thousands of lives, though he died going back to help others. Morgan Stanley relocated to midtown Manhattan and remains a major Wall Street player.
Floors 78, 84-85: Aon Corporation - The insurance brokerage lost 176 employees. The company eventually merged with Willis Group Holdings in 2017, creating Willis Towers Watson, now one of the world's largest insurance brokers.
Floor 84: Keefe, Bruyette & Woods - This boutique investment bank lost 67 employees, including many senior executives. The firm rebuilt with help from competitors who donated office space and personnel. KBW was later acquired by Stifel Financial Corp in 2013.
The Other World Trade Center Buildings
3 World Trade Center (Marriott World Trade Center) - The 22-story hotel was completely destroyed when debris from both towers crushed it. All guests and most staff evacuated safely, but the hotel never reopened at that location. Marriott eventually opened new properties in lower Manhattan.
4 World Trade Center - Housed the New York Board of Trade and several smaller financial firms. The building was destroyed by falling debris. Many tenants relocated to New Jersey and other Manhattan locations.
5 World Trade Center - This 9-story building suffered severe fire damage and partial collapse. It was demolished in 2002. Tenants included various small businesses and trading firms that either closed permanently or relocated.
6 World Trade Center (U.S. Customs House) - The 8-story building was crushed by debris from the North Tower. The U.S. Customs Service relocated to other federal buildings in the area.
7 World Trade Center - This 47-story building collapsed at 5:20 PM due to fires caused by falling debris. Major tenants included:
Salomon Smith Barney - Relocated to midtown Manhattan
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission - Files from ongoing investigations were lost; the agency relocated to multiple locations
American Express Bank International - Operations moved to other AmEx facilities
The Human and Business Stories
Beyond the statistics are countless stories of resilience and tragedy. Euro Brokers, located on floors 84-87 of the South Tower, lost 61 of its 296 New York employees. The company continued operations but was later acquired by other firms.
Small businesses suffered disproportionately. Minas Shoe Repair, a tiny shop in the concourse, was destroyed. Owner Dominick Minas accumulated $400,000 in debt trying to restart his business, highlighting how devastating the attacks were for small enterprises without extensive insurance coverage.
The New York City Fire Department lost 343 firefighters, and the attacks led to massive changes in emergency response protocols and building codes nationwide.
Insurance and Business Continuity Lessons
The 9/11 attacks fundamentally changed how businesses think about risk management and business insurance coverage. Many companies learned hard lessons about:
Business interruption insurance - Many policies didn't adequately cover extended relocations
Key person insurance - Companies that lost senior executives struggled more than those with proper succession planning
Data backup and recovery - Firms with off-site data storage recovered faster
Emergency communication plans - Companies with established emergency protocols saved more lives
The Dangerous Concentration: Lessons for Today's Business Owners
The World Trade Center tragedy highlighted a critical vulnerability that still exists today: the concentration of too many businesses and workers in single high-rise buildings. When you put thousands of people above the 80th floor, evacuation becomes a life-or-death race against time.
a history of surviving
The Evacuation Challenge - In 2001, it took over an hour to evacuate the South Tower's lower floors. Above the impact zones, evacuation was impossible due to destroyed stairwells and elevators. Modern skyscrapers face similar challenges: even with improved safety systems, getting thousands of people down dozens of flights of stairs takes time that might not be available in an emergency.
Building Code Changes - Post-9/11 building codes now require:
Enhanced fireproofing for steel structures
Improved stairwell design and pressurization systems
Better emergency communication systems
Wider stairs and more evacuation routes in new construction
The Remote Work Revolution - The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a trend that 9/11 started: businesses questioning whether they need to concentrate all employees in single locations. Remote work and distributed offices reduce the risk of losing entire operations in a single catastrophic event.
Insurance Implications - Business owners today should consider:
Whether their current location creates concentration risk
If their insurance covers alternative work arrangements
How quickly they could resume operations from backup locations
Whether they have adequate coverage for extended business interruption
Moving Forward with Better Planning
Twenty-four years later, many of the businesses that survived or rebuilt from 9/11 have implemented robust disaster recovery plans. The tragedy taught us that putting all your eggs in one very tall basket: no matter how modern or secure: creates inherent risks.
Smart business owners today balance the benefits of prestigious high-rise addresses with practical safety considerations. They maintain backup offices, cross-train employees across locations, and ensure their insurance coverage matches their actual risk exposure.
The memory of September 11th should remind every business owner: disaster preparedness isn't just about compliance or insurance requirements. It's about protecting the people who make your business possible and ensuring your operations can survive even the unthinkable.
For businesses looking to evaluate their current risk exposure and insurance coverage, professional consultation can help identify vulnerabilities before they become tragic realities.
Should There Be Sky Scrapers With More then 50 business's in them
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