WTC Memorial - by Michael Arad (Architect) and Peter Walker (Landscape)

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Originally Posted by lofter1

Latest Details of WTC Memorial Museum Unveiled

...“It’s a way to bring people in and show them that the people who died were just like them,” Greenwald said....

“This is the most strangely shaped museum on the planet,” Greenwald said. “We are seven stories below ground. Some parts are 65 feet high. It makes lighting difficult and humidity control almost impossible.”

...“The recovery workers are absolutely part of our narrative,” Greenwald said. “They will be commemorated.”

... “The fundamental challenge is to balance commemoration with education and historical documentation,” Greenwald said. “How we negotiate those challenges is going to be very important. There are a lot of challenges to how we present this museum. We can’t invite the public in to an exhibit about trauma and re-traumatize them.”

...“It’s like a Rubik’s Cube down there,” she said. “There’s a lot we have to figure out. An extra two years is a gift.”

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Wow! I'm not sure if it is just the editing, but Greenwald sounds like a real pro trying to build a real museum as opposed to some sort of mausoleum. I look forward to hearing more interviews with her.

The report writer in the Trib is better than most at the NYTimes. Noticeaby free of editorializing.

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Originally Posted by TREPYE

That visitors center should be relocated from the center to the flanks in order to allow maximun view of Calatravas Hub.

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Yeah, it blocks the very best view angle.

Seeing as how the Performing Arts building at the SW corner of Vesey / Greenwich will NEVER be built they should move the Visitors Center to that location.

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Originally Posted by ablarc

Yeah, it blocks the very best view angle.

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All those trees are going to block views from that direction anyway - I think they went a little overboard with the grove. There could be some nice views from the upper level of the visitor center. It will have more than one level above ground, no?

There haven't been any real renderings specifically of the Visitors Center since Snohetta was sent back to the drawing board 2+ years ago.

We have been shown a triangular shaped building, but only as part of various renderings of the Memorial Plaza. But nothing showing much detail for the Visitors Center building (aside from the staircase descending into the below ground area with the double trident columns from the original WTC).

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Originally Posted by lofter1

Seeing as how the Performing Arts building at the SW corner of Vesey / Greenwich will NEVER be built they should move the Visitors Center to that location.

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Quite the pessimist. I don't think there's any doubt it will be built.

IMO the performing arts center, because of the overall site's its symbolic importance, will be the #1 citywide private fundraising priority for Bloomberg et al, just as the museum was the #1 priority.

When Bloomberg rallies the private sector for fundraising, things get done very quickly.

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Originally Posted by DarrylStrawberry

From LowerManhattan.info

The first pieces of steel are expected to be erected in the north footprint in January 2008.
Memorial crews plan to remove the ramp into the WTC site by April 2008 to continue construction on the south footprint.

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Push it back a few months, there is still work at the foundation level and also the liner for the slurry wall (where it will remain exposed).

RE: WTC Performing Arts Building

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Originally Posted by ASchwarz

Quite the pessimist. I don't think there's any doubt it will be built.

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Not a pessimist -- a realist.

What is the justification for spending half a billion dollars (the 2007 estimated cost -- but which will undoubtedly be higher once they actually stick a shovel in the ground) to build what will house ONE performance group?

It's been 3+ years since it was announced that Gehry would draw some schematics for the building, but what has been done? Hardly enything -- aside from scaling back the scope and contents of the project.

All indicatons show that the new WTC Performing Arts / Cultural Center is dead in the water.

Plus Bloomberg will no longer be mayor when the time comes to raise $$ for this one.

Of course if you or anyone else has any specifics to counter this then that info would be appreciated.

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Originally Posted by Citytect

All those trees are going to block views from that direction anyway

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Trees don't block views the way buildings do --especially in winter.

You can see under and often through them.

^I like trees and all, but I'm just not fond of viewing architecture through them. Is it really the best way?

There will be some good views along Greenwich Street. And if the museum building ends up being wedge shaped, there should be views of the station from the west side of the building (if you're good at looking through trees). Personally, I think the view approaching the station from the west along Fulton Street will be pretty great.

There will be some open areas in the within the grove, so it won't be a dense canopy.

I know. I'm really not concerned about either the trees or the museum building blocking views. I don't think it's an important issue. I was just pointing out that the trees will obstruct views too. With the extreme complexity of the underground infrastructure, museum, transportation, etc, I think it's a little unreasonable to suggest moving the museum and having to rework the below-grade rubix cube just to gain a certain view of Calatrava's station.

Does anyone have an idea what the steel beams being installed near the western slurry wall are for?

To strengthen the wall-this is in the area that will be removed for the 9A crossing to the WFC.

To strengthen it, yes, but the area that will be removed for the 9A crossing is on the other side of that concrete wall on the right. This is to strengthen the exposed slurry wall that will be visible from subsurface levels of the memorial - from bedrock up.