WTC Memorial News

The Times reports that a slew of top design firms have applied to beomce the "associate architect" of the WTC memorial, Reflecting Absence, alongside Michael Arad and Peter Walker. Reporter David Dunlap says this could be a sign that the project is too huge in scope for Arad Walker (or any small team). And let's face it, NYC design firms have been wanting to get into the redesign of the WTC, given the democratic process of the memorial selection. The Times says that the firms "understood to be in the running" are Davis Brody Bond; Fox & Fowle Architects; Gensler; Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects; Hillier Group; Polshek Partnership Architects; and Swanke Hayden Connell Architects. Gothamist knows some about some firms (Polshek did the Rose Center addition for the AMNH, plus is working on the Clinton Library; Gwathmey did the Guggenheim addition), nothing about others, but our favorite would be Fox & Fowle, if only for having the best name.

Additionally, the LMDC has formed a committee to figure out how to incorporate artifacts from both the 1993 and 2001 WTC attacks into the memorial. According to NYC, "The panel will be made up of 25 historians, museum curators, family members, first responders, downtown residents and survivors." You can see the list here.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on April 9, 2004 9:36 AM

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FURRY21

You'all sound really ridiculous right now....which you obviously are since you make statements like I don't know what this firm or that firm has done. Go to the websites and try to imagine building even one of the buildings and then you can make such idiotic comments. Let's see what "greg" architects/design has done for NYC...nothing and miss representation, your name says it all.

FURRY21

You'all sound really ridiculous right now....which you obviously are since you make statements like I don't know what this firm or that firm has done. Go to the websites and try to imagine building even one of the buildings and then you can make such idiotic comments. Let's see what "greg" architects/design has done for NYC...nothing and miss representation, your name says it all.

FURRY21

You'all sound really ridiculous right now....which you obviously are since you make statements like I don't know what this firm or that firm has done. Go to the websites and try to imagine building even one of the buildings and then you can make such idiotic comments. Let's see what "greg" architects/design has done for NYC...nothing and miss representation, your name says it all.

FURRY21

You'all sound really ridiculous right now....which you obviously are since you make statements like I don't know what this firm or that firm has done. Go to the websites and try to imagine building even one of the buildings and then you can make such idiotic comments. Let's see what "greg" architects/design has done for NYC...nothing and miss representation, your name says it all.

horck

Calvin Klein poster? Blech.

I'll take a belching abstract orifice over Times Square shiiiiiite any day.

greg.org

ugh. that debt clock/giant steaming orifice is the WORST piece of "public art" in the entire city. I remember the NYT article when it was going up, the developer was trying to put the gameface on it, what a gift it'd be to the city, blah blah blah.

Just put a Calvin Klein poster over it already.

miss representation

oh, and Max Bond is listed on LMDC committee. Can you say conflict of interest? I think you can. Maybe he's doing penance for subjecting the world to the god awful sculpture pasted on the face of Circuit City.

dahl

my dad used to be a architect at davis brody bond - in addition to union sq stuff for nyu, they also did the buildings by union sq with the lighted pyramids on top, and the new (mid 90s?) building at mt sinai.

and polshek is currently the lead architect for newtown creek, the wastewater treatment plant in greenpoint.

miss representation

Davis Brody Bond: Most notable NY project I can think of recently: the appalling apartment complex on the south end of Union Square. Swanke Hayden Connell were comers in the late 80s, but have lost steam. Best NY work is the Steelcase HQ just off Columbus Center. Gwathmey Siegel are the go-to modernists for the Hamptons, but you may also know them for the addition to the Gugg (the 'Toliet Tank'). I think they have wormed their way into the hotel project for Astor Place (intially slated for Rem and Herzog & de Mueron). Gensler and Hillier are corporate office space hacks. They are also two of the largest firms in the world, and do know how to get bureaucratically funded work actually built, which can be an art in and of itself.