David W. Dunlap recounts how the slurry wall built around the World Trade Center's foundations prevented the devastation to Lower Manhattan from becoming much worse, and "became a symbol of resilience in the months and years after the attack."
After it was built over nine months beginning in 1967 "using jury-rigged tools, on a site that brimmed with uncharted obstacles and unhappy surprises", engineer Arturo Lamberto Ressi di Cervia never thought he'd see the retaining wall he helped construct again in his life. But the events of Sept. 11, 2001 changed that.
"Because the slurry wall held, the 70-foot-deep foundation did not fill with groundwater [when the towers fell]. And because of that, the PATH tubes were not submerged. And because of that, the subway tunnels below the PATH tubes were not inundated," explains Dunlap. "How much worse could Sept. 11 have been? Imagine if Hurricane Sandy had followed the terrorist attack by a few hours."
"Thirty-five years later, in 2002, the architect Daniel Libeskind drew the world’s attention to the symbolic significance of the wall, when he proposed its preservation and exposure as part of the redevelopment of the trade center."
FULL STORY: Looking to a Wall That Limited the World Trade Center’s Devastation
20 Years After 9/11: The 'Age of Skyscrapers' Is Nowhere Near Over
Despite predictions that the events of September 11, 2001 would be the end of skyscrapers, U.S. cities are building more tall buildings than ever.
World Trade Center Rebuild Almost Complete With Approval of 900-Foot Mixed-Use Tower
Plans have been approved for the development of 5 World Trade Center, in place of a building damaged on September 11 and eventually torn down.
How 9/11 Inspired Public Service as an Urban Planner
The account of how the terror and tragedy of 9/11 led an urban planner from working for a private consulting firm to working in the public sector.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.
Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.
Detroit Transit Agency Requests $20M Budget Increase
The Detroit Department of Transportation wants to boost ridership by hiring more drivers, buying new buses, and enhancing station infrastructure.
California Bill Aims to Boost TOD
A bill proposed by Sen. Scott Wiener would exempt transit agencies from zoning rules near ‘high-quality’ transit stops and allow denser transit-oriented development.
Report: One-Fifth of Seattle Households Are Car-Free
According to one local writer, the city’s low rate of car ownership should encourage officials to support public transit and reduce parking minimums.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Strategic Economics Inc
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service