The World Trade Center was primarily used as a large commercial office complex that housed more than 430 companies engaged in various business activities. It offered approximately 13.4 million square feet of office space designed to accommodate around 130,000 people, with an estimated 50,000 working there on a typical weekday and many more visitors passing through. The complex also included restaurants, a hotel, exhibition space, stores, and an information center about world trade. It served as a hub for international commerce and business, symbolizing economic power and modern architecture

. Additionally, the complex had transportation connections, including direct links to rail transportation such as PATH trains from New Jersey, making it a significant transportation hub as well

. The Twin Towers, the most iconic part of the complex, featured observation decks and restaurants that attracted tourists, further adding to its multifaceted use

. Originally conceived to stimulate urban renewal in Lower Manhattan and promote world trade, the World Trade Center was a symbol of global business and economic activity until its destruction in the September 11, 2001 attacks