Archived News -- May 2002

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May 24, 2002

Team Twin Towers Is Cheered At Public Hearing

Cheers and applause greeted Team Twin Towers when it delivered its message at a public forum sponsored by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation.

Speaking to the gathering of 750 people on May 23, team member Amiad Finkelthal remarked that rebuilding the towers was the best way to show America's resolve. Amiad also noted that this was the perfect opportunity for New York to send a clear message to the world.

"How can New York - the world's skyscraper capital - even think about replacing 110-story towers with 50- or 60-story buildings? " he asked.

Referring to other cities, such as Hong Kong and Shanghai, that are planning to build the world's tallest tower, Amiad remarked, "It's time for New York to kick some assÖlet's make New York #1 again!" The comment drew knowing smiles from the assembled members of the development corporation.

Other speakers echoed our rebuilding message. New Yorker Andrew Oliff said: "If the Brooklyn Bridge were destroyed in a terrorist attack, we would not be discussing the re-envisioning of East River crossings. We would rebuild it. "

Jonathan Hakala, a Hoboken, N.J., resident who worked on the 77th floor of 1 World Trade Center, said, "If you're going to put buildings on that site, build one of the seven modern wonders of the world, and please give us a skyline that will once again cause our spirits to soar. "

The comments made a marked impression on officials. After the hearing, development corporation chairman John Whitehead told The New York Times that building tall structures is "still an open subject. " Whitehead had previously expressed skepticism about rebuilding.

Team Twin Towers will continue to speak out at upcoming public hearings. Check this website for further details as they develop.

ARCHIVED: NY Times: "From Public, a Strong Voice for Rebuilding Twin Towers", by Edward Wyatt
May 21, 2002

On May 21, 2002, the New York Times ran this article which detailed the accelerated rebuilding of the 1300-foot section of the 1/9 subway tunnel destroyed when the WTC collapsed.

ARCHIVED: NY Times: "A Subway Interrupted Awaits its Imminent Resurgence", by Randy Kennedy


May 20, 2002

On May 20, 2002, NY Newsday ran this article by architect Eli Attia in which he outlined the reasons why tall buildings are safer than shorter ones.

ARCHIVED: NY Newsday Opinion: "WTC Plans Should Reach the Stars", By Eli Attia, an architect based in New York City whose designs include 101 Park Avenue, the Republic National Bank world headquarters and the Millennium Hotel.


May 16, 2002

On May 16, 2002, the New York Post reported that the Lower Manhattan Development Corproation will hold a public hearing at 6 PM on May 23 at Pace University (Park Row location).

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Public Hearing Set for Redevelopment", by Maggie Haberman and William Neuman
On May 16, 2002, the Associated Press reported that the cleanup and recovery effort at the former WTC site will be complete on May 30, 2002.

ARCHIVED: Yahoo! reprint of: Associated Press, "WTC Cleanup to End May 30", by SARA KUGLER, Associated Press Writer


May 15, 2002

On May 15, 2002, Skyscrapers.com reported that a 1,968-foot tall, 150-story tower is to be erected in Instanbul, Turkey. The "Three Empires Project" (named after the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires), will include the spire-shaped 150-floor tower, two other high-rise blocks, a marina, seaport, and shopping mall.

ARCHIVED: Skyscrapers.com: "600-meter, 150-floor tower announced for Istanbul" -- by Asim Kazancigil


May 14, 2002

On May 14, 2002, AOl ran this reprint of a NY Newsday article describing the architecture of the replacement 7 WTC, which will be 750 feet tall. A 42-story office building shaped like a prism will sit atop a 9-story Con Edison substation.

ARCHIVED: AOL Local Guide Reprint of NY Newsday Article, "New 7 WTC Unveiled" by Alan Wax


May 12, 2002

On May 12, 2002, MSNBC ran this Newsweek article about advances being made in super-tall buildings and how several Asian countries are vying to have the world's tallest building on their soil. The contest is particularly intense between the cities of Shanghai and Hong Kong, who are pressing forward to succeed the Petronas Towers. According to the report, once the current slate of buildings is complete, Asian countries are planning 150-story buildings.

ARCHIVED: MSNBC Reprint of "High Time", by Jerry Adler, Newsweek, May 20, 2002 Issue


May 9, 2002

On May 9, 2002, MSNBC ran this Associated Press story which said the subway lines at the WTC site will built to support weight equal to that of the Twin Towers. MSNBC quoted Joseph Englot, Chief Structural Engineer, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as saying, "We'll put back the columns that could support the original loads. Not knowing now what the plans are, if somebody wanted to put back what was originally there, these columns could handle it." While the Port Authority and LMDC have publicly announced their intention to build smaller structures, this engineering decision leaves open the possibility of re-erecting the Twin Towers. The quoted material is at the end of the "Memorial Design" section of the article linked below.

ARCHIVED: MSNBC -- Reconstruction begins at WTC Site


May 8, 2002

On May 8, 2002, the NY Times reported that Larry Silverstein began rebuilding 7 WTC by erecting a construction fence about the site's periphery. His insurance company, Industrial Risk Insurers will pay an $831 million claim related to the collapse of 7 WTC in the late afternoon of September 11, 2001. The building was unoccupied when it burnt and collapsed. Silverstein owned 7 WTC outright, thus he has been able to follow a swift rebuilding schedule. The replacement building will be 50 stories rather than 47 and will be built in such a way as to restore Greenwich Street. The two Con Edison substations housed within 7 WTC will also be rebuilt there.

ARCHIVED: NY Times -- As a Hurdle Is Cleared, Building Begins at Ground Zero, By CHARLES V. BAGLI
On May 8, 2002, the NY Daily News reported that the 40-story Deutsche Bank Tower at 130 Liberty St. may have to be demolished, due to an aggressive black fungus that has spread through the walls and the ventilation system. The problems began when the sprinkler systems were triggered by the intense heat of the burning World Trade Center and compounded by a now repaired 24-story gash in the building's facade.

ARCHIVED: NY Daily News -- Mold May Topple Building By RALPH R. ORTEGA and GREG GITTRICH, Daily News Staff Writers


May 2, 2002

On May 2, 2002, the the NY Post ran an editorial supporting FEMA's conclusions defending the Twin Towers' performance after being hit by large planes. See the May 1 update for links to the FEMA reports. The editoral said that time and money would be better spent in securing the nation against terrorist attacks and reviewing our relationship with questionable allies.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Editorial: 9/11 - The Best Defense


May 1, 2002

On May 1, 2002, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released its findings regarding the collapse of the Twin Towers. FEMA reported that the Twin Towers "performed remarkably well" and "saved thousands of lives." The agency found no flaws in construction, but did recommend better fireproofing materials, hardened stairwells, and a review of floor trusses. FEMA also said that government agencies would do better to concentrate on security than to modify building codes. Links to the original documents appear below. The documents are in .pdf format. If you don't have Acrobat Reader, click the Adobe Acrobat graphic to obtain it.

ARCHIVED: World Trade Center, Executive Summary

ARCHIVED: World Trade Center, Observations, Findings, and Recommendations