From Stuart Pringle (Dyer, Nevada) 1/4/03
Dear Mr. Farr,
Please see enclosed letter. Is there anything your organization can do to help make LMDC honor its orginal intent about the memorial on the World Trade Center Site?
The same letter was forwarded to the L.A. Times and CNN.
Jan. 2nd 2003
The Editor.
60 Minutes
524 West 57th Str.
New York NY 10019
RE: WORLD TRADE CENTER MEMORIAL
Dear Sir,
We believe that the general pubic is being needlessly deprived of a priceless opportunity to display the creative architectural potential of the American people. After the tragedy of 9/11 almost two thousand architectural drawings, ideas and concepts were submitted to the LMDC for consideration. Hundreds of these designs, most of them amazingly imaginative were graphically displayed on the internet.
The LMDC initially ignored this public response and displayed six new models for the WTC site, designed by their own architects. There was an immediate outcry against the unimaginative designs. These ideas were subsequently withdrawn.
All of us who originally submitted our ideas, were then asked to sign a legal waver, allowing the LMDC to use them at their discretion, without obligation to the designers. Those who signed it, did so in good faith not expecting financial remuneration, simply thankful that we might be contributing to the common wealth of the nation. (Copy of waver is enclosed)
Subsequently we were informed that an open competition would be held and a panel of fair-minded experts would be selected to judge which one was the best it. The enclosed form letter, regarding this competition was sent to us by the LMDC.
During the months since, there has been several nationally televised news programs announcing that designs sent in by seven large architectural firms would be the only ones under consideration. The response from the LMDC to a phone call from us regarding clarification of the "open" competition was ambiguous. It seems that our ideas are now limited to a "memorial" only how and where that will fit in with the larger plan will be revealed later.
At the very least this matter conducted by the LMDC has been misleading. More importantly, it arbitrarily dismisses the idea that architectural genius might well reside outside the traditional field. This is unkind. Mankind and his buildings have been engaged in a love affair since the first straw shelter was fashioned. Michael Angelo never attended architectural schools and gave the world wonder of St. Peters basilica.
The tragedy of 9/11 was not simply a New York thing. It was international in scope. People from all over the world died there. As the financial center of the nation, every State in our union has invested heavily in Wall Street. The decision about what memorial should be built there impacts us all. With a Middle East war now in the offing, the WTC site is now far more spiritual than it is commercial. The final monument, should not be some little statue lost in a corner but the whole site. It should reflect to the world at large the cultural response of our national psyche to such a mind-altering tragedy. Just another tall building, no matter how fancy, will not make that magic.
In closing, we believe that the competition for the best design for the site should remain as we have been led to believe it would be. The LMDC should not be allowed to play around with this. The seven professional firms interested are at liberty to enter the competition themselves and have their ideas judged by a public panel along with the rest of us.
We hope you will give this argument national exposure.
Sincerely
Stuart Pringle
From Douglas A. Pierce (Santee, California) 1/11/03
I like it!
From Perry Pezzolanella (Utica, New York) 1/25/03
Warren, Until I came across your proposal I liked the Fosters & Partners design best. As a tourist, the World Trade Center was the place I always looked forward to visiting during my only 4 visits ever to NYC. I can never forget getting lost in the underground mall or the views from the 107th floor. Your design rekindled the hope that all of these memories can be relived again and at the same time show respect to those that died there.
I think the reason why proposal after proposal is getting rejected is because most people want the original style of the Twin Towers with the strong vertical lines and latticework. That is what captured my attention on your proposal. At the same time people do not want the exact WTC rebuilt as it was (although I did, but out of respect I accept we cannot rebuild on the footprints). Your design is an excellent compromise for what we all want to see and I could only wish yours was in the December proposals. If by fate yours was choosen, you got my vote. Your concept would draw me back to NYC for a 5th time. But at least Foster's Towers has an appeal and their's does not "look like Albany" as some had said about the July proposals. Perry
From Javiel Resto (Hartford, Connecticut) 3/5/03
Warren, this is the best proposal offered as of now. Its design makes it very unique and impressive. I strongly agree with you; build them bigger and stronger. This is the heart of New York City and if anything, I think of it as the new heart for New York.
Great design!
From Rick Weisenberger (Paducah, Kentucky) 12/7/03
Last night while we were both admiring the work you put into it, Stephen printed out the pages of your WTC tower proposal. About 2:30 AM last night I had a revelation; the same kind I got when I came up with my whistle and speaker designs.
I have never been wrong when I get these revelations and everything has always been found to work exactly the way I saw things at the time. Whenever I have failed to sketch them at the time all has been lost, as I can never recall them in the morning.
I feel that this attached cross sectional plan would strengthen your towers several times over and greatly help to eliminate the problem which may have caused the catastrophic collapse of the original twin towers.
The floors of the original towers were only supported by its outer steel skeleton and its inner core. When the affected floors buckled, due to the extreme heat, it tore the supports loose from the outer skeleton, allowing all the weight of the floors above them to come crashing down like a hammer. If only there had been more lateral support, reports say this may not have ever happened.
My concept of a triangle within a triangle, with the core at the center would result in a high rise structure of exceptional strength. Please feel free to incorporate this cross sectional drawing into your proposal, as I feel it may sway those who judge it in favor of your design. This, combined with my other proposal of a high capacity foam dispensing sprinkling system, with pumps and reservoirs and backup power located at all utility floors may prevent further collapses of any high rise structure so equipped. The triangle within a triangle concept would apply only to a structure of triangular cross section, such as the three towers of your WTC proposal.
The Sears Tower uses a cross section of nine square bundled tubes, which top off at predetermined heights to just two of the bundled tubes at the top. This, in my opinion is already a stronger design that the single square tube used by the original WTC.
An equilateral triangular cross section in itself would have superior resistance to wind loading, while the internal cross section that I propose may make it the strongest of all possible high rise designs. I would like to see your design win. Good luck!
From Bruno Volpacchio (Sleepy Hollow, New York) 5/13/05
Loved what I just saw an excellent idea and it should really be pushed... 119 stories... is perfect. NY needs to have the tallest again... for our psyche. What could be done to really have this come about... enough is enough... this is what we need!!!
From TJ (Brick Township, NJ) 7/22/06
Its a really amazing proposal i think it should be a little bit shorter though.
From Marcus Wright (Birmingham, Alabama) 8/16/06
I really like your proposal and I hope they decide to use this one. I love the way you positioned the towers to show America's strength, also being able to see the outline of the North tower traced by the new one. The memorial sounds so peaceful and filled with serenity. My first impression of rebuilding would be that we would come back taller and stronger 119 is a great way to show that strength.