Post-9/11 WTC-Lower Manhattan Transportation Planning and Design
Developed by the Port Authority Engineering Department In-House Architecture Unit
Led by Bob Davidson, FAIA: Former Chief Architect
The events of 9/11 devastated critical Lower Manhattan transportation systems. Days after the attack, the Port’s Engineering Department leadership met to discuss what should be carried out regarding return of transportation to the WTC site and Lower Manhattan. The Architecture Unit would take the lead in developing both short and long-term solutions for transportation recovery. The following lists the accomplishments.
The Viewing Wall: For initial World Trade Center (WTC) site recovery, the Architecture Unit took the lead role in planning and developing an early-action reopening of Church St. through development of the ‘Viewing Wall’, defining a pedestrian circulation corridor ‘streetscape’ along the WTC site’s eastern edge. The Wall and ‘streetscape’ were illuminated for nighttime safety, while also providing street access to NYCT subways – in addition to serving as an interim memorial; where listings of those who perished were incorporated into the transparent stainless steel Wall design.
Temporary PATH Station: The Architecture Unit then proceeded to plan and design the Temporary PATH Station, which returned PATH service to Lower Manhattan in 2003. The Station, although ‘temporary’, was developed with a keen sensitivity towards recognizing that it was to be the first public facility to return to the WTC site. Station public space, from platforms, to an intermodal connection with NYCT Subways, to a weather-protected canopy entrance – ‘PATH Plaza’ – along Church St., was sensitively developed through large public space, a wall graphics program throughout the station illustrating Lower Manhattan, an art mural donated by an Italian student group, and the signature street Canopy defining the station entrance, making a statement that this would be the first time that the traveling public would be arriving back at the WTC site.
Lower Manhattan Transportation Master Plan, Including the Battery Park City (BPC) Ferry Terminal : The Architecture Unit then developed the Lower Manhattan Transportation Plan, featuring the ‘Downtown Concourse’, the framework for future construction that evolved into the WTC Transit Hub, connecting NYCT Broadway Subway service with the WTC site, PATH, the World Financial Center’s Brookfield Place - which was later realized due to benefits of the Concourse connection – and the Hudson River BPC Ferry Terminal – another innovative project developed by the in-house Architecture Unit.
In summary, after 25 years, early transportation planning and design implementation was proven to be the catalyst for urban development on the WTC site and its surrounding district. The lead role played by the Architecture Unit, with full supervision of Program Management, collaboration with engineering disciplines, Construction Management leadership and staff in effectively engaging multiple stakeholder organizations – including the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) – applying state-of-the art graphics, signage, as well as temporary and permanent solutions for post-disaster response, became the critical pathway for short and long-term WTC Site recovery, supporting the Site’s ultimately reimagined Commercial Development Program.
