Taking the 9/11 terrorist attack as a trigger event, this project aims to analyze and propose an alternative construction system for Fiterman Hall, a ghosted damaged civic building situated on the edge of the World Trade Center complex. On 9/11, the southern facade of Fiterman Hall was damaged by the collapsing WTC 7. While the WTC 7 tower was swiftly reconstructed and reopened in 2006, Fiterman Hall, a public university building, remained damaged and contaminated for 8 years due to conflicts over state funding. During this period, students and faculty had to utilize trailers along the streets as temporary accommodations. The disparity in the systematic construction process between the civic building and the commercial tower served as the catalyst for the intervention.
The proposition aims to design a construction system that extends the damaged facade, allowing for the efficient incorporation of modular components and quick recovery from the damage. This would provide students with additional classrooms and social gathering areas. In addition, the inclusion of sliding doors in multiple directions gives back students and faculty the agency to define their space, whether it be an enlarged classroom, a semi-open library, or a balcony for socializing. Furthermore, the movable folded doors on the first floor would encourage the surrounding community to participate in educational events tailored to different scales and requirements. Ultimately, this intervention seeks to address the disparities in the reconstruction process and provide Fiterman Hall with a renewed purpose, creating a dynamic and inclusive space that fosters learning, collaboration, and community engagement.
