The Twin Towers were chosen to be the centerpiece of the World Trade Center complex primarily as a symbol of economic power and international trade in New York City. Designed by architect Minoru Yamasaki and constructed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in the early 1970s, the towers were created as iconic tube-structured skyscrapers to house a large amount of office space and withstand significant wind and settlement loads on a challenging site of landfill.

The location and design were specifically selected to revitalize the economic activity in Lower Manhattan by providing a state-of-the-art business hub, symbolizing New York’s status as a global financial center. The twin design was distinctive and monumental, intended to be visible symbols of strength and progress. The construction began in 1966 and the towers opened in the early 1970s, becoming the tallest buildings in the world at the time.

In addition to economic considerations, the towers' twin form became an architectural icon and a representation of the city itself, which is part of why the 2001 terrorist attacks targeted them. Later redevelopment plans reflected the deep symbolic significance of the Twin Towers for New Yorkers and the world.