The news and editorials are full of what's wrong at the World Trade Center site, but offer no solutions worthy of our people. With two of the four towers about to be scrapped and replaced with retail "stumps", the Port Authority is ready to invest more public funds in the WTC transit "hub" than it would cost to build one of the two Twin Towers.
In fact, the entire Twin Towers II plan could be built with what is already budgeted! IT'S PAID FOR!
But it makes no sense for the citizens of NY and NJ alone to pay for a site that is the emotional property of every American. America was attacked and America should rebuild. If New York and New Jersey were to sell the American people the air rights over Ground Zero and a public corporation is formed that we can all buy into, it would surely attract much more private investment than would be required.
But until the venture is fully funded, Washington could front the money to move full speed ahead with the Twin Towers, which could still be topped off by the 10th anniversary of the attacks with dedicated effort. Because, even with hundreds of billions of dollars flying out of the public's hands to bail out mismanaged banks and corporations, a real World Trade Center is something we would all dearly love to pay for.
New York and New Jersey would get the money they so badly need, the Port Authority could build the below ground portion of the transit hub, and then go on to build a great Moynihan Station, the 9/11 Families would get the Twin Towers II memorial they prefer, and we, the people, would finally get our Twin Towers back – and they would be OUR towers.
It is time to give the people of the United States a chance to contribute to building a World Trade Center that is worthy of our country. Instead of asking us to accept the weakest elements of a bad plan, give us something to celebrate.
The WTC2011 Gallery is being superseded by a new generation of images – shots taken of the new 20-ft. model that is in the works. The images are representations of the architectural drawings of a real World Trade Center and not just computer-enhanced renderings. Click on the image above to be taken to the new showcase site for the project at www.TwinTowersII.com.
A new day is dawning in America. We are facing our weaknesses and rediscovering our strengths. Our best days are ahead of us as long as we are willing to learn from our mistakes.
Being bold is an American tradition. Nothing demonstrated that better than the Twin Towers. They became cherished symbols of what was best in America. The re-imagined Twins call for a return to the iconic profile of the originals but with the structural and design improvements that 21st-century technology and materials can offer, including safety, strength, and energy efficiency.
Just as the construction of the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center bucked the temptation to give in to despair during the Great Depression, new Twin Towers would be proof that we are in charge of our destiny and have the character it takes to bend the most trying circumstances to our advantage.
Building new Twin Towers would reassert as few things could that we may be battered, but we are most certainly not beaten. By showing that we can still act boldly and build greatly, we are signalling that our best days are definitely not in the past.
Do most Americans think that the Twin Towers should be rebuilt? YES. | Could the current project be converted into the World Trade Center this country deserves? YES. | Would it be much more efficient to build? YES. | Would it save billions of dollars? YES. | Would it be completed years ahead of the current schedule? YES.
The Twin Towers II plan outperforms the official plan across the board, making its adoption less radical than staying on the current course. A recent cost analysis of the relative plans was conducted using factors and information that had been unavailable before. It confirmed what common sense suggested: Replacing the four proposed towers with two 120-story towers would save billions of dollars. In addition, there is a flexibility to Twin Towers II – including a possible alternate site plan – that would mean that it could be introduced into the current scheme with very few adjustments. That means that under any circumstances, adopting this plan would result in a significant savings of time and money.
Using the blueprints of the original towers, the plan's creators re-engineered the Twin Towers to recapture what was grand about the originals, while diligently addressing their flaws. As a result, the design incorporates robust security, construction economy, and the greenest technology. The retail space is inviting, the commercial space is exceptional, and the outdoor spaces within the protected grade-level plazas are a pedestrian-friendly oasis and neighborhood delight.
This project could be realized in less time than the existing plan. It would be a good deal less expensive to both build and maintain, saving billions of dollars in construction costs and ultimately, in the cost of operation. Most existing contracts could be renegotiated to accommodate the change of course. And there is no doubt that the construction trades would rather rebuild the Twin Towers than any other plan.
The plans and models are available for viewing. Years of dedicated effort have gone into preparing for the day when the political climate would be ready to judge this plan on its merits. We are confident that it will stimulate the interest, and ultimately win the support, of those who hold the future of the World Trade Center in their hands, because it has no downside. This is what people have asked for from the beginning. It would be a colossal gain for all Americans and for peace-loving people everywhere.
Design Update: Ken Gardner is implementing a change to the facade that will replace the horizontal metal panels between the columns with spandrel glass. The effect will create unbroken vertical reflective ribbons. If it were to incorporate the same glass that was used in WTC7, it would enhance the impression of the complex as a true "Center," rather than just a collection of buildings. An image will be posted as soon as it becomes available.
The images on this site are conceptual. They are photographs of a very sophisticated presentation model, but in no way convey the beauty that would result from using the latest technology and materials. This website is really just pointing towards what is possible. The priority at this time is not on the further development of the site, which already provides a clearly superior alternative to the official plan, but on promoting the advantages of this alternative through focused and energetic outreach.
