# WTC Rebuilds: Nine New Designs Are Released **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 18, 2002, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623 "2002-12-18T19:08:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2002, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/61 "2002-12-22T21:16:35Z")
Foster: Harsh, angular. Ugly. Peterson/Littenberg: Not bad. Kinda bland, but the best of the bunch. Think: Are these guys kidding? A 9/11 memorial museum shaped like _a plane?!!!_ Whoever dreamed up this idea should be taken out to the Trade Center Site and buried under a ton of debris. United Architects: Just say no to drugs. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2002, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/62 "2002-12-22T22:20:39Z")
Here’s an idea. Just build the same buildings. (reinforced, of course). If they took out the White House, would the country want some stylish replacement, or the same building? I say build the WTC to look the same as it did… except one foot taller. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2002, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/63 "2002-12-22T23:24:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Earthling \* > \*\*It’s either the [Westin Bonaventure](http://www.glasssteelandstone.com/US/CA/LosAngelesWestinBonaventure.html) hotel in Los Angeles or Marriott’s [Renaissance Center](http://www.skyscrapers.com/english/file/0.9/143593/dim6/index.html) hotel in Detroit, both of which are designed by John Portman & Associates. > > \\*\* Best guess is the Westin Bonaventure (which I wouldn’t have known about if you hadn’t posted it). The shot’s a screen capture from _Koyaanisqatsi_, and the area surrounding the building appeared to be from the western US. ---
**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/64 "2002-12-23T01:09:49Z")
Confirmed: It is indeed the [Westin Bonaventure](http://tinyurl.com/3rkf) in L.A. I coulda sworn there is yet another (better?) satellite-photos website besides [Terraserver](http://terraserver.homeadvisor.msn.com/default.aspx) or [Earthviewer](http://www.earthviewer.com), but for the life of me can’t remember or find it (which is why I didn’t post the pic earlier today). I remember keying in the street address for the WTC at the time, and it showed a straight-on photo of a gaping, smoking hole. Tore me up. [hijack 1]Have you seen _Naqoyqatsi_ yet? It doesn’t come to my city until Jan. 31. The _Koyaanisqatsi_ DVD was a bit of a let-down; I thought the video looked much better on _Powaqqatsi_. [hijack 2]Just finished watching [_For All Mankind_](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0780022319/qid=1040605726/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/103-0800082-5524638?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846), which is a collection of footage from the NASA Apollo program. Loved it. Highly recommended. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/65 "2002-12-23T01:23:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Earthling \* > \*\*Confirmed: It is indeed the [Westin Bonaventure](http://tinyurl.com/3rkf) in L.A. > > I coulda sworn there is yet another (better?) satellite-photos website besides [Terraserver](http://terraserver.homeadvisor.msn.com/default.aspx) or [Earthviewer](http://www.earthviewer.com), but for the life of me can’t remember or find it (which is why I didn’t post the pic earlier today). I remember keying in the street address for the WTC at the time, and it showed a straight-on photo of a gaping, smoking hole. Tore me up. > > [hijack 1]Have you seen _Naqoyqatsi_ yet? It doesn’t come to my city until Jan. 31. The _Koyaanisqatsi_ DVD was a bit of a let-down; I thought the video looked much better on _Powaqqatsi_.\*\* No, **damn it**! And it looks like I’m going to have to drive to another freakin’ state to go see it, assuming I can get the cash up in time. (Frankly, I’m just happy to be able to get a copy of _Koyaanisqatsi_ for less than $200, though I wish that there was more commentary on the film. I would have liked to have known where some of the shots were from.) > [@](#): > > \*\* > [hijack 2]Just finished watching [_For All Mankind_](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0780022319/qid=1040605726/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/103-0800082-5524638?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846), which is a collection of footage from the NASA Apollo program. Loved it. Highly recommended. \*\* Ditto. Have you seen the book [Full Moon](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375414940/qid=1040606651/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/102-0673291-8576943)? Simply gorgeous photos of the Apollo missions. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/66 "2002-12-23T01:26:27Z")
> [@](#): > > I coulda sworn there is yet another (better?) satellite-photos website besides Terraserver or Earthviewer, but for the life of me can’t remember or find it (which is why I didn’t post the pic earlier today). Maybe you’re thinking of [http://globexplorer.com/](http://globexplorer.com/) ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/67 "2002-12-23T11:08:02Z")
I think pretty much all the designs are surprisingly ugly. Maybe the point is that they stand out from the cityscape, but I’d prefer a design that is integrated with the skyline. I remember watching the WTC go up. I though it was hideous, and never adapted to the shock of seeing what looked like two big chopsticks stuck into NYC. I’m not at all happy that WTC was destroyed (and I lost a college friend on 9/11), but I much prefer the pre- and post-WTC skyline, and would rather not see a huge, out-of-place Chex square or what have you dominating the city. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/68 "2002-12-23T15:52:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Earthling \* > \*\*Confirmed: It is indeed the [Westin Bonaventure](http://tinyurl.com/3rkf) in L.A. > > I coulda sworn there is yet another (better?) satellite-photos website besides [Terraserver](http://terraserver.homeadvisor.msn.com/default.aspx) or [Earthviewer](http://www.earthviewer.com), but for the life of me can’t remember or find it \*\* Mapquest. You need to be logged in, I think, but here is the difference: The house I lived in when I got married: From Terraserver: [http://tinyurl.com/3s1k](http://tinyurl.com/3s1k) From Mapquest: [http://tinyurl.com/3s1h](http://tinyurl.com/3s1h) Another Mapquest image: [http://tinyurl.com/3s1m](http://tinyurl.com/3s1m) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/69 "2002-12-23T16:43:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diff T \* > \*\*I assumed that the “Thing” in the THINK design was a reference to where the planes hit, connected to make a museum. I don’t think they MENT it to look like a plane crashing into the towers. \*\* I don’t think it looks like it’s crashing into the non-towers but it does resemble a plane. IMO that’s the real reason we have a problem with notTHINKing’s design. ---
**Author:** ![Adam\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Adam\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adam_P)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/70 "2002-12-23T20:52:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Michael Ellis \* > \*\*Good God, they just don’t get it, do they? > > We want two very tall, _impressive_ buildings. Suitably massive, but with enough style to avoid looking like giant boxes. Is that so much to ask? \*\* If “we” means New Yorkers then, actually, we don’t want any downtown skyscrapers whatsoever. That would be repeating a mistake made in the 60s when the originals were constructed. The original WTC was a horrible eyesore, despised by most NYers including myself until 9/10/01. After 9/11 suddenly people claimed they’d actually been quite fond of the buildings all along. They were perhaps the most hideous buildings ever built (“Human filing cabinets” as Lewis Mumford said). Sticking two huge bozes in the middle of a residential/business ditstrict and destroying a charming neighborhood in the process (“Radio Row”) went against every site-specific rule in the architectural book. And god, the inside of the WTC was even worse than the outside–a truly hideous example of function over form. In many ways the time of skyscrapers has passed. They were the product of a bygone era of economic boomtimes and an American/ Japanese mentality of boundless faith in technological progress and the global spread of corporate capitalism. Hardly the present state of things. No downtown skyscrapers please. ---
**Author:** ![c\_goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@c\_goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_goat)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/71 "2002-12-23T22:25:53Z")
I don’t understand why many of the designs have to have all those weird angles and floors jotting every which way. It’s very chaotic to me, and rather ugly. I think it’d be nice to have the originals back though. Everytime I see them in movies or old Friends episodes I wish they were there again. Although I’d build them in the opposite space, leaving the footprints of the originals. Maybe make them a little less box-like or something, but basically the same. I think that totally shows the spirit of America. You know, like we never give up and we’ll keep getting back up if you knock us down. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/72 "2002-12-24T08:21:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Adam P. \* > In many ways the time of skyscrapers has passed. They were the product of a bygone era of economic boomtimes and an American/ Japanese mentality of boundless faith in technological progress and the global spread of corporate capitalism. Hardly the present state of things. > \*\* That’s what they keep saying and yet every couple of years, a Petronas Towers or some other 100+ story building goes up somewhere in the world. Also, the skyscrapers of 50 years ago are barely noticeable today. How many 50 story skyscrapers do you find in Midtown Manhattan. There will always be a need for the skyscraper. The only diference now is that the maximum height we can technically reached has exceeded the capacity and practicality of the surrounding infrastructure. For example…what happens when the 50,000 occupants of Frank Lloyd Wrights proposed mile high skyscraper all exit the building at 5:00pm? ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/73 "2002-12-24T14:35:53Z")
If there’s not a pressing need for office space (and I don’t think there is), then it would be stupid to try and rebuild the twin towers to their previous specs. First, part of the space has already been committed as a memorial to those who died. To build something next to a garden of peace as a “fuck you” message is in bad form and invites bad karma. Secondly, just what company is going to sign up for the 100th floor? Do you think Cantor Fitzgerald is going to want their old location? What percentage of your employees would you lose if you signed a lease for office space on the 98th floor of the South tower? No. Were I given a vote, I’d be totally opposed another skyscraper. ---
**Author:** ![Blackeyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@Blackeyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackeyes)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/74 "2002-12-24T23:52:15Z")
**PunditLisa** , we need the space. That’s the most valuable 16 acres in the country. It’s just not economically practical to not use at least some of that land for business. 2nd: Security since 9/11 has grown exponentially. If an airplane were to devite off its course as much as those did on 9/11 it would be spotted, buildings evacuated, and possibly blown out of the sky. Plus, in Time Magazine’s recent edition of the coolest inventions for this year a building slide was featured, which allowed occupants of room several stories up to slide down to safety if need be. ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/75 "2002-12-25T04:17:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alphagene \* > \*\*I hope The Highest Exalted One, Rudy Guiliani doesn’t start lisping on again about how **nothing** at all should be built there. \*\* I thought I’d spoken too soon for a while there, since Rudy had recently blasted the plans because of insuffienct memorilization of the area. But he has apparently [backed off](http://www.ny1.com/ny/Search/SubTopic/index.html?&contentintid=26741&search_result=1) from the memorial-only opinion. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/76 "2002-12-25T04:38:41Z")
Blackeyes, I’m not opposed to building an office building or two (or four) next to the park. I’m opposed to building another monstrosity. And regardless of how security has improved, pyschologically I think it would be very difficult to lease the upper floors of the new WTC. I would think that would be the first target of terrorists. Perhaps I underestimate New Yorkers, but I know that I’d be extremely reticent to work on the upper floor of any skyscaper now given the political unrest in the world now, let alone one that had the unhappy history that the WTC has had. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/77 "2002-12-25T04:48:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by PunditLisa \* > \*\*Blackeyes, I’m not opposed to building an office building or two (or four) next to the park. I’m opposed to building another monstrosity. > > And regardless of how security has improved, pyschologically I think it would be very difficult to lease the upper floors of the new WTC. I would think that would be the first target of terrorists. Perhaps I underestimate New Yorkers, but I know that I’d be extremely reticent to work on the upper floor of any skyscaper now given the political unrest in the world now, let alone one that had the unhappy history that the WTC has had. \*\* I ain’t a New Yorker, but, hell, if I could afford it, I’d LIVE on the top floor! And yes, I _did_ go up to the top floor. Scared me fecalless, but I’d live there just to prove a point. (Namely that the odds of a group of whackos gaining control of a plane long enough to slam it into a building again are so slim as to not worry about.) ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/78 "2002-12-25T04:50:54Z")
Make that “And yes, I _did_ go up to the top floor when I visited the Towers in New York.” ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/79 "2002-12-25T16:06:21Z")
Tucker, I admire your spunk. While it’s one thing to make a personal decision to face your fear to prove a point, it’s quite another to be an owner of a business and expect your employees to face their fears. I would imagine the people who worked near Ground Zero before have scars more deeply ingrained than we can imagine. And I just think it’s insensitive and even reckless to put people back up 100 stories from the nearest exit. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/80 "2002-12-27T03:42:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DeadlyAccurate \* > \*\ ***Tuckerfan** , that is truly the best one of them all. I was thinking of that when I saw this thread and trying to remember where I saw it. \*\* [This](http://home.earthlink.net/~tuckerfan/_wsn/page2.html) isn’t the best version of it, but it’s the only one I saved. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623.md?page=5)