Business as usual for developer.

As controversy over the Freedom Tower continues, Silverstein Properties will nonetheless unveil a new design for the building's base that will replace its metal facade with a sheathing of glass, a source revealed to REW.

"It looks like a work of art now," the source said, speaking anonymously because the renderings have not yet been made public.

The Freedom Tower's base was at the heart of a storm of controversy that erupted last year after an NYPD report indicated the building would be vulnerable to an attack from a car bomb. To address the concerns, the building was completely redesigned, set back from West Street and its base was heavily reinforced. Many feared that beefing up the tower's lower portion would have a negative impact on its aesthetics, making it look more like a fortress, a constant reminder of the threat of attack, rather than a symbol of America's triumph over terrorism.

In models and renderings the base's facade before the most recent redesign in fact looked nearly identical to that of 7 World Trade Center, which is clad in metal and houses an electrical substation that powers Lower Manhattan. After the latest redesign, the tower's base will now be able to enjoy the light and air that its office floors receive.