Source: Daniel Libeskind Design Chosen For WTC Site (Big Embarrassment for New York Times!)

WABC-TV / Associated Press ^ | February 26, 2003

[Timesink]

Source: Daniel Libeskind Design Chosen For WTC Site

(New York-WABC, February 26, 2003) — The complex of angular buildings, complete with a 1,700-foot spire, designed by Daniel Libeskind, has been chosen for the World Trade Center site, a source told the Associated Press Wednesday evening.

PHOTOS:

Images Of The Two WTC Design Finalists ... | Images Of All Seven WTC Site Proposals ... | Photos From The Presentation Ceremony

POLL: What do you think of the committee picking the Libeskind design?FOR MORE: LMDC's Web Site, RenewNYC.org

Libeskind's design beat out the THINK team's "World Cultural Center" plan, which included two 1,600-foot latticework towers straddling the footprints of the original Twin Towers.

The choice was made by a committee with representatives from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, New York's governor and New York City's mayor. The committee met briefly on Wednesday afternoon and decided on the plan that was favored by Governor George Pataki and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a source close to the process told the AP.

The source said Libeskind recieved a phone call from LMDC Chairman John Whitehead, who said the architect's "vision has brought hope and inspiration to a city still recovering from a terrible tragedy."

Libeskind reportedly told the chairman that being selected was "a life changing experience."

[Timesink]

Boy, did the New York Times blow THIS one.

Anyway, NO LATTICEWORK! An actual World TRADE Center will be rebuilt! Actual BUILDINGS, not "art"!

[gaucho]

Tables are turned (haha). I hate this design.

[Texas_Jarhead]

good riddance to that stupid "world cultural center"

[Question_Assumptions]

I prefered the laticework. It put the museum and memorial up where it belonged, not down in a pit. Oh well.

[IronJack]

I almost think the wreckage looked better. But I'm not a suhfistuhcatered art guy.

[Cooter]

Choosing one of those two designs is like having to pick either Carter or Clinton as best U.S. President.

[LouD]

I hope they incorporate the two "columns of light" into the plan, at the exact locations of the two towers.

[NativeNewYorker]

Agree. Real towers, not skeletons.

[MississippiMan]

The more I look at the new design, the more I love it. I hope the final product maintains the overall feel.

MM

[RightWhale]

Good. Good for Libeskind and good for those who GET IT about America.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

I hope they incorporate the two "columns of light" into the plan, at the exact locations of the two towers.

Yes, I think that part of the design is what clinched it for me. That light effect at the exact times is really amazing.

Personally, I wanted them to build them exactly as they were before, as kind of big insult that we haven't changed a bit, but so many people are probably frightened by the old design as being unsafe that they couldn't get anyone in it. (Like new skyscrapers are going to have anti aircraft guns or something) Oh well, it was probably because no one really did like the original design.

[eleni121]

Actual BUILDINGS, not "art"!

Agreed. The latticework design was hideous as were the other competitors. What is going on in the schools of architecture these days?

The more I see Libeskind the better it feels.

[Linda Liberty]

I hate to defend the NY Times, but I don't think they
blew this one. There was a long article in Sunday's paper
about why the Libeskind design was vastly superior, and I
agree with this assessment.

[js1138]

The NYT is running both stories in the same on-line issue I just printed them before one goes into the memory hole.

[ffusco]

I put a lot of thought in bashing the 2 slinkies plan, and now...well I feel a bit cheated.

[commish]

I love this plan.. and especially the significance of the spire height. 1776 Feet. I can't think of a better height than 1776

[Ciexyz]

Build away, I'll never set foot inside.

[Caipirabob]

I like this design better than the ghostly erector set. It stand to the future, not to the past. The other design had me thinking of NYC as the "City Of Tears". Who wants to be completely depressed looking at a skyline anyway?