Today in Lower Manhattan, thousands of visitors are crossing a landscaped plaza of oak trees towards two black granite, sculptural voids, carved deep into the earth, to commemorate the victims of September 11, 2001. Designed by Michael Arad of Handel Architects, the National September 11 Memorial has transformed the last remnants of the former World Trade Center (WTC) towers into a power civic space for contemplation and healing. Here, the painful memory of 9/11 is preserved and honored, while the necessary bustle of everyday life is able to move forward.
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The design and construction of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center site is one of the most significant undertakings in the history of New York City. Following Daniel Libeskind’s winning masterplan proposal in 2003, Michael Arad – a young, Israeli-American architect who had resided in NYC for only five years – was selected from over 5,200 entrants from 63 nations in an international design competition for the memorial. Shortly after being announced as winner of the competition, Arad joined Handel Architects as a partner.
