Four years later, there are a host of unanswered questions about the events of 9/11, including the unexplained and unprecedented architectural collapses of three office towers, and the extent of toxicity in the air of Lower Manhattan.
"Why Did WTC 7 Fall? [WTC 7]was...probably the first steel skyscraper anywhere to collapse solely because of fire. We still don't know why...according to FEMA's report on the collapse [the fire hypothesis] "has only a low probability of occurrence."
"How did the twin towers fall? Many FDNY personnel who saw the south tower collapse reported explosions at the lower levels as the top began collapsing. These reports, as well as "squibs" of smoke seen on video of the collapses, have led to theories that the towers were brought down in controlled explosions."
"Conspiracy theorists aren't the only ones who dispute [the official]version: Some fire scientists also take issue with [it]...And the point isn't just historical. The lessons learned from the WTC collapse will inform decisions about the safety of other modern office towers."
Read the full story: Open and Shut
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
‘Going backwards:’ Baltimore mayor, students rally against state's transit funding plan
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Planned $2 billion courthouse in MA sparks tension with local government
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Californians can now transform balconies into power generators
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FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
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Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello