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Calatrava’s completed St Nicholas Church at 9/11 site features a translucent stone exterior that appears to ‘glow by the light of 10,000 candles’ at night

2022-12-07T10:39:00-05:00

Work has been completed on the Santiago Calatrava-designed St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine. The church is the second Calatrava-designed project to be completed at the World Trade Center Memorial site in New York City, following his World Trade Center Transportation Hub, which opened in 2016.

Image © Alan Karchmer for Santiago Calatrava

Calatrava’s church is steeped in symbolism, largely influenced by Byzantine architecture. The church’s dome features 40 windows and 40 ‘ribs’ to echo the 40 ribs of Saint Nicholas, visible from both the interior and exterior. Outside, the structure is constructed of Pentelic marble to reference the same marble used on the Parthenon in Athens, while the accentuated corner towers of the scheme are clad in bands of white and gray marble reminiscent of the Church of the Holy Savior in Chora, Turkey.

Image © Alan Karchmer for Santiago Calatrava

At night, the church’s dome is illuminated from within, creating what the design team calls ...

Calatrava-designed new St. Nicholas National Shrine lights up in ceremony honoring the lives lost during 9/11

2021-09-15T12:56:00-04:00

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church hasn't been open for two decades. The church was located steps way from the World Trade Center, and it was completely destroyed on September 11, 2001. But this week, just ahead of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church will be reborn.

The 80-year-old church has been rebuilt near the One World Trade Center, and last Friday, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11, it was lit up from within for the first time. The original church, located at 155 Cedar Street in Manhattan’s Financial District, was founded in 1916 by Greek immigrants who purchased a tavern as a community house. As noted on the church’s website, this location was one of the first stops for Greek immigrants in America after departing Ellis Island.

During the events of 9/11, the church was destroyed in the collapse of the south tower. In the years that followed, Ground Zero was transformed with the construction of One World Trade Center and a new transportation hub, and an agreement to rebuild St. Nicholas was made between the church and the Port Authority. The resulting decision was to construct the new church at 130 Liberty Street, a location nearby the original site and close to the 9/11 memorial.

Previously on Archinect: Santiago Calatrava's G...

Santiago Calatrava's Greek Orthodox church at World Trade Center site to restart construction

2020-01-07T16:26:00-05:00

Two years after a lack of funds halted construction of a marble-clad Greek Orthodox church at New York's World Trade Center site, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Greek Orthodox officials announced plans Thursday to resume construction with the goal of finishing the rebuilding by the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The troubled Santiago Calatrava-designed St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center appears to have received the blessing from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo after the project fell victim to acute cost overruns and had to eventually halt construction in December 2017.

Rendering of the proposed church. Image: Santiago Calatrava/Greek Orthodox Church in America

Under the leadership of the newly formed Friends of St. Nicholas organization, church leaders aim to finish the building by September 11, 2021, the twentieth anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

"The new entity has been formed to ensure that the sacred space is completed as expeditiously as possible and can begin welcoming visitors from around the world," explains a statement issued by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America after Cuomo's meeting with Archbishop Elpidophoros on Thursday. "The Friends of St. Nicholas will aim to resume construction with a two-year target to complete th...

Calatrava-designed Greek Orthodox church at World Trade Center site runs into funding issues, halts construction

2017-12-18T15:33:00-05:00

Construction at the site of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox National Shrine at Ground Zero in New York City has been halted by the main construction company because the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has defaulted on payments, according to a letter sent by the company to its subcontractors working at the site.

Image: Greek Orthodox Church in America

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America acknowledged the payment issues and responded in a statement: "In light of recent financial difficulties at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and in order to make certain that all operations and funds are being correctly managed, this difficult yet necessary step has been taken. The Archdiocese is confidently hopeful that construction will recommence in the very near future and has been assured by Skanska —the construction company responsible for building the church— that they are looking forward to the rescinding of this temporary suspension to continue working together in cooperation with the Archdiocese for the completion of the building project."

Image: Greek Orthodox Church in America

BBC talks to Santiago Calatrava about St Nicholas Church, the only non-secular building at Ground Zero

2015-01-09T13:21:00-05:00

After 13 years of negotiations with the region's Port Authority, work has begun on the Greek Orthodox church that will be the only non-secular building at Ground Zero. Many believe it will become one of the most visited churches in the US. It is planned to be completed by Easter 2017.