WTC II Competition - A New Hope - cadinfo.net

There has been a lot of discussion in the architectural design community about the World Trade Center towers.

All expressing sympathy and condolences for the victims of the disaster but also discussing the architecture of the building, ranging from how its structural design and lack of asbestos may have helped save countless lives, to the inspiring symbolism it gave the entire nation, as well as thereby opening itself up as a "target".

For its entire 29 year existence, and indeed for many years before that, the design of the Trade Center has been controversial, from logistics like energy use and traffic due to its density, to the pristine modernism of its aesthetic design by Minoru Yamasaki.

The question now before not only New York, but the World, is what happens to that staggeringly important 16 acres in downtown Manhattan.  Does it become a memorial park, as was the case of the Oklahoma City building... or is a string of memorial parks all across the USA exactly what the misguided terrorists would love to see happen?

Many have called for the reconstruction of a duplicate of the twin towers exactly the way they were.  Others feel that the new millennium calls for something entirely different but yet symbolic of the new millennium, with something that also pays tribute to those who lost their lives there.  Certainly there are different criteria, needs, and technology different from almost a half-century ago when the original World Trade Center buildings were conceived.

In the world of virtual reality possible with architectural CADD software, it is now possible to quickly explore these many potential design options, in a way not just architects but everyone can visualize, by photographically superimposing them on the existing site to see what designs are appropriate, truly inspire, and give hope to a new generation.

Whether the design proposed really is a memorial park, or a tower bigger than the first, or anything in-between, or even just a tribute to the twin towers as they were, the virtual reality possibility of architectural CADD gives us the means to visualize these various design ideas.

As the premiere world wide competition in architectural CADD, the Designers 3D CAD Challenge with Architectural CADD Systems, gives us a vehicle to explore these designs on a schematic level very quickly, giving aid not only to the architectural profession and software developers as it has done in the past, but, in this case, a way for our profession to provide a service to the community, and the world, by providing a new hope and inspiration for the future.

Thus as an alternative to the design project currently underway for the international competition, where preliminary samples of designs are to be submitted by October 31, and final designs in schematic form presented November 14 at the Boston World Trade Center Amphitheater, designers are free to submit their designs for what they believe should be constructed on the 16 acres of Manhattan formerly the World Trade Center.

Invited to join the competition jury:

• The Honorable Rudolph Giuliani - Mayor, New York City
• Larry Silverstein, WTC Property Lease Holder for the Port Authority of Nyand NJ

1. Memorial - Presumably, ANY design will incorporate some sort of memorial to the victims of the disaster and perhaps a tribute to not only the heroes but also to the building by Minoru Yamasaki.  At least some of the required perspectives should be of such elements in the design.  The State of Minnesota has already contributed a statue of a fireman, which is already on the site.
2. You are free to design whatever you believe is appropriate for the site.  The property holder truly does desire that design ideas be submitted.  Keep in mind that this 16 acres is one of the most valuable pieces real estate on the planet.  Any design - whether a huge single building taller than the Petronas Towers, a twin or tri-tower approach, an exact duplicate of the previous design, a flat green meadow, or anything in-between - may be submitted.
3. Resource/Energy Conscious Design - Global resources, needs, and technology has changed dramatically since the previous building was built.

This web site (see below) will provide links to new resources that designers can and should employ, such as the new see-throughable photovoltaic architectural glass - which if employed on a building the size of the previous twin towers would mean that the building could provide electric power not only enough for itself but for the surrounding community.  Thus, Architects for Social Responsibility and "Green Architecture" may seriously consider submitting their proposals.  The ability to help out New York and our Nation in its time of need

The social responsibility of our profession is to help provide for public health, welfare and safety, to come up with innovative design solutions for the built environment, and to dream of new worlds bringing those ideas to fruition first in virtual reality and then in construction that can inspire new generations.

The building site owners, New York, and the World right now seriously need ideas for that site, as well as a new hope and inspiration.  For Architects and other building designers, this may be one of the best ways you can help out.

Details are on the web site for the 2001 Designers 3D CAD Challenge :
http://www.architecturalcadd.com/cup.htm