2007 - 2010

Design Architect:  Snohetta
Record Architect:  Adamson Associates

Structural Engineer:
Nathaniel M. Stanton SE AIA - Structural Engineer for the WTC VOEC Atrium Structure while working as the Group Leader of the Special Projects Group at Buro Happold in New York.


Design:  
The design of the Atrium was intended to create a three dimensional cage of primary steel members with an irregular assemblage of components in direct contrast to the regularity of the building and facade grid.  The geometry of the primary structure radiates from three nodes to form an intersecting framework of rectangular tube sections supporting the Atrium glass.  The intersections of the tubes are intended to be geometrically complex due to the orientations of the members and the connections are intentionally pulled away to offer visual clarity to the joint condition.  Components of the primary structure are assembled as a series of structural trees constructed from trunks and branches of rectangular tube members which incorporate the joint conditions.  Connections between the structural trees occur between joints and are accomplished with bolted sleeves that allow each component to be visually separate.  The complexity of the geometry and the harshness of the detailing pay respect to the history of the site and together with the enclosed Trident artifacts reminds the viewer of the event that the site memorializes.