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Future of Skyscrapers After 9/11:
A Dying Breed or a Symbol of Prosperity?
While the wreckage of the World Trade Center is closer to being cleaned up than it was just a few months ago, the construction and architectural communities are already talking about whether these towers should be rebuilt to their original grandeur, and if the events of September 11 will signal a downturn in the construction of skyscrapers.
Paul Doherty, architect and principal of The Digit Group in Germantown, Tenn., believes there are two schools of thought on this issue. “One group, which includes Donald Trump, believes we should build the World Trade Center twice as big to stuff it in the terrorists’ faces,” he said. “The other group believes we should not build buildings that big because people won’t go up in them.”
In fact, Donald Trump told the CBS Evening News on September 23 that skyscrapers are in no way a dying breed. “The buildings will get bigger, taller and more magnificent,” he said. “I’d like to see something architecturally magnificent on that site … that way, we win,” he said.
On the flip side, architect Box Fox told the CBS Evening News he believes buildings 60 stories or less are more practical and hopes this will be the trend in the wake of the World Trade Center attacks.
Doherty said he falls somewhere in the middle. “Maybe instead of building tall we should build bigger,” said Doherty. “Just look at the Pentagon.” But, Doherty added, “If you don’t have the horizontal space you have to go vertical.”
“Generally we may see fewer high rises but the total square footage will be the same,” said Russ Ebeid, president of Guardian Industries’ Glass Group of Auburn Hills, Mich. “For example, instead of rebuilding two twin towers, they may build four 50-foot towers.
“There’s a lot of skepticism because no one wants to be the target of an attack,” Ebeid added. “But the terrorists tend to attack our symbols, opposed to just any plant or factory.”
Skyscrapers are indeed symbols. They are more than just tall buildings—they seem to reflect a sign of the times. According to Doherty, tall structures can be traced back to the time of the Renaissance when cathedrals were the prominent symbols. Before September 11, the World Trade Center served as a symbol of capitalism. Whether the towers will be rebuilt as grand and tall as the original, continuing to serve as a symbol of prosperity, or if the site will serve as a memorial to those who lost their lives, may not be answered for months to come.
Despite the events of 2001, those in the Big Apple are returning to business as usual as they plan for new projects and buildings throughout the city. The New York Times, for example, has unveiled the architectural model for its new headquarters—a transparent ceramic and glass 52-story skyscraper that will cover an entire block of Times Square. Renzo Piano Building Workshop designed the building in association with Fox & Fowle. Likewise, a few states away, Donald Trump is planning to build a 78-story skyscraper on Chicago’s riverfront. Adrian Smith of Chicago’s Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP is heading up the architectural team working on the project.
Trump had originally planned to build the world’s tallest building, but has scaled back his plan since September 11. Now, Trump is planning for the Trump Tower Chicago, a 1,073-foot glass-covered building—the city’s fourth tallest skyscraper.
Charles Reiss, senior vice president of development for the Trump Organization, said that the events of September 11 made the organization reconsider its attempt to build the world’s tallest building.
“Tragically, 9/11 telescoped a decision that probably would have been made anyway,” Reiss said. “There is just so much inefficiency in extremely tall buildings.”
Wired Glass Code Proposals Made at Recent ICC Meeting At the International Code Council's 2002 code development hearings, which took place April 8-19 in Pittsburgh, changes were proposed concerning the usage of wired glass that, if passed, will affect the glazing industry. At the hearings, the International Code Council (ICC) structural committee recommended approval code changes to eliminate the safety glazing exception from wired glass in educational facilities. In addition, it also recommended that glazing in gymnasiums and athletic facilities meet category two of the CPSC, meaning it is no longer dependent on the size of the glass. Code change proponents plan to challenge the structural committee's disapproval of the changes that proposed to eliminate the exception in all applications; proponents stand behind the belief that if wired glass is dangerous in a school, it is dangerous in all applications. All code bodies will vote in September to accept or reject the committee's recommendations. Those approvals will be considered final actions. In other ICC news, New York Gov. George E. Pataki announced recently that the state of New York has adopted the International Codes™. The announcement came after a meeting where the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council voted unanimously to adopt the International Codes, according to the ICC. "These comprehensive building and energy codes will ensure that our homes and workplaces are safe and energy efficient, while also spurring new construction and job opportunities across the state," said Pataki. "By reducing development costs and providing greater flexibility, these codes will provide a major incentive for new investment, construction and economic development in cities, towns and villages throughout New York. Likewise, New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen signed a statewide building code into law on March 18. Sponsored by State Senator Gary Francoeur and State Representative Robert Clegg, the legislation requires that all construction follow a new state building code that references the 2000 International Codes, according to the ICC. Prior to the law, New Hampshire jurisdiction followed the Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) National Building Code, but no edition was required specifically. "It's an important piece of legislation," said Mike Santa, C.B.O., president, New Hampshire Building Officials Association. "This is something our association supported because we believe there was a problem in the way we used to adopt codes. With every community able to adopt a different edition of the BOCA code, you had a lot of confusion in the building industry. It wasn't easy for the architects and builders. For the building officials this is going to make it a lot easier for training and enforcement." |
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