Memorial News

Rebuilding the World Trade Center: Memorial Deadline Keeps 
Stakeholders Focus 
The rebuilding of the WTC site is one of the largest building projects 
in the world. The Port Authority is overseeing development and building 
of the Memorial and Museum, the Freedom Tower, and the Caltrava                                        
transit station. Silverstein Properties, which has already rebuilt 
WTC 7, is also developing Towers 2, 3 & 4. Below ground, the new site 
will connect the World Financial Center to the NJ PATH Station and to 
thirteen subway lines. In addition to rebuilding 10 million square feet of 
office space, the new complex will include restaurants, retail shopping 
and a performing arts center.

It recently came to light that timelines and cost escalations are 
plaguing development, along with the lagging economy. All parties have 
acknowledged that the Memorial will be the heart of the complex and 
that it should be insulated in a contemplative and reflective space. 
Christopher Ward, Executive Director of the Port Authority of NY and NJ, 
stated despite the challenges, “As the agency that built the World Trade 
Center and lost so many of our own colleagues on 9/11, we have been 
and remain extremely committed to the Memorial. What we’ve said very 
clearly is that we are committed to having the memorial publicly available 
by the 10th anniversary. Beyond that, we are working as hard as we can 
to advance the Memorial as quickly as possible and resolve all of the 
issues surrounding its design, construction, costs and fit with the rest of 
the site.” Pillars of the FreedomTower have recently surfaced above 
street level.  Infrastructure for the Freedom Tower, WTC complex, and 
the transit connection all surround and are incorporated below the 
Memorial complex.

In a recent statement, Joe Daniels, CEO of the Memorial Foundation, 
reiterated the importance of the Memorial opening on the 10th 
anniversary for families and the public. “We have heard from a broad 
range of stakeholders – including victims’ family members, the Memorial 
& Museum’s Board of Directors and the Lower Manhattan community –  
that it is imperative that there is a full public opening of the Memorial 
by September 11, 2011. As stewards of this historic project, we believe 
that it is both possible and essential that the Memorial be open 
permanently to the public by the 10th anniversary of the attacks. We 
are actively engaged in the Port Authority’s steering committee that is 
evaluating the project schedule and are advocating for the appropriate 
decisions to be made so that the Memorial remains on schedule to be 
open to families and visitors in 2011.”