ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Foremost, I am indebted to those interviewed for speaking candidly and often profoundly about the World Trade Center and its larger role in the life of the city. Their remarks are the lifeblood of this book. Of that large and generous group, some deserve particular thanks. Patrick Foye of the Port Authority proved the book’s bedrock, being the first to see its potential and, in all practical ways, make it a reality. Thank you, Pat. Steve Plate, who directs the efforts of everyone working at the Trade Center and is quite possibly the busiest person on earth, always made time to answer my questions. Scott Rechler, vice chairman of the authority’s Board of Commissioners, dissected with patience and good cheer the complex financial agreements that shaped the World Trade Center. Chris Ward, the Port Authority’s former executive director, blew a breath of fresh air into the entire enterprise. Many other Port Authority employees helped me in dozens of ways. I am grateful for Port spokesperson Erica Dumas’s skilled, timely, and generous editorial support. Architect Carla Bonacci read several chapters with her good, seasoned eye. Mike Donovan gave expert help, as did Chi Ling Moy, who tirelessly ferreted out photographs from the past decade. John Ma and Veronica Rodriguez lent their support and legal acumen. Rudy King, ostensibly my minder, became much more than that over the past years, and I am thankful for his integrity and friendship.

David Childs and T. J. Gottesdiener of SOM, along with Ken Lewis, Nicole Dosso, and their staff, assisted in accurately documenting their tower design. SOM provided multiple interviews, a careful reading of the text, and photographs. There simply are not enough words to thank David Childs, who is unfailingly helpful, wise, and kind. Jeff Holmes, formerly of SOM, enriched the text with his fine aesthetic sensibility and invaluable historical perspective. Another beautiful mind, Ahmad Rahimian of WSP USA, who directed One’s structural engineering, was a source of inspiration and ongoing assistance. Many thanks to Dave Checketts for his hospitality and for sharing his memories of his father, a World War II veteran. I’m lucky to have caught a bit of the magic dust that Phil Hettema spreads around the world. Santiago Calatrava was extraordinarily generous, sharing his singular vision and resources. Michael Arad, Steven Davis, Alice Greenwald, Tom Hennes, Lynn Rasic, and Peter Walker expanded my understanding of the design and premise of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and, beyond that, what it takes to engage the public imagination. I was gladly swept into Daniel Libeskind’s tornadic energy, and I thank him for his insights. Paul Marantz turned on quite a few light bulbs. The irreplaceable Larry Silverstein put this project into the greater context of Manhattan’s real estate history and extended, along with Dara McQuillan, hospitality and editorial support.

One summer day in 2014, a group of us gathered on the roof of One World Trade Center. Our number included my agent, Cathy Hemming, whose clear vision rivals the long vistas from the top of the tower, and, from Little, Brown, Reagan Arthur, Heather Fain, Carrie Neill, and Michael Sand, who championed my work from the start. Their willingness to don hard hats and boots that day and at other times since then is a good metaphor for their zest and devotion, which brought this book to life. I am grateful to my editor, collaborator, and friend, Michael Szczerban, for expertly shaping the text with a light but firm hand; to Garrett McGrath, for many wonderful and helpful conversations; to the eagle-eyed Kathryn Rogers; and to Peggy Freudenthal, for her generosity and precision. Matthew Bannister, Darren Tuozzoli, Johnny Petley, Gustav Liliequist, Gabor Cseh, and others at DBOX infused the book’s design with their unique gifts. I thank Ted Goodman for creating the index and for our camaraderie over the years. Gretchen Bank, Sarah Celentano, and Sherry Segers provided meticulous research assistance and interview transcriptions. Dale Wilhelm, dear friend and colleague, helped me select photographs and bolstered me with her unwavering belief in this book. My love and heartfelt thanks to Elizabeth Abbott, Leslie Cecil, Regina Clarkin, Laurie Foos, Danette Koke, Kerry Novick, and Lily Prigioniero for the wellspring of their friendship.

Milton Glaser, whose graphic genius changed the way we see the city, loaned his “I Love New York More Than Ever” poster, the first image I acquired for this book—a very good omen indeed. Many others followed, generously lending the imagery that enlivens these pages, notably Joe Woolhead, Nicola Evans, James Ewing, Evan Joseph, and Port Authority photographers Michael Mahesh and Victor Nordstrom. Marshall Gerometta and Daniel Kieckhefer, living databases of all things supertall, contributed facts, figures, and friendship. David W. Dunlap’s writings on the World Trade Center over the past decade have been both muse and benchmark. John McPhee reminded me that a notebook can surpass the talents of a tape recorder when conducting an interview. Roger Rosenblatt of capacious mind and heart provided decisive help. I acknowledge the support of SUNY Purchase and the New York State United University Professions. I also acknowledge a National Endowment for the Humanities Public Scholar award, which supported the completion of this book and a digital continuation and expansion of the book online. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this book do not necessarily reflect those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

This book is dedicated to my parents, Robert and Dolores Dupré, with thanks for their love, unstinting support, and abundant wisdom. My siblings kept it real and warm. If a book can be compared to a building, then my beloved sons, Brendan and Emmet, are surely the foundation, as well as the windows and doors, of this endeavor.

I owe thanks to many for their contributions, including these fine people: Mark Arey, The Hellenic Initiative; Alice Bloom; James Carpenter and Ben Colebrook, James Carpenter Design Associates; Marty Carver, CTBUH; Marc Colella, AECOM; Melissa Coley, Brookfield Properties; Brian Cury, Lisa Kelly, and the EarthCam team; Amanda de Beaufort and Zoë Seibel, Studio Libeskind | New York; Andrew S. Dolkart; Amy C. Dreher, National September 11 Memorial & Museum; Joan Falk; Ann Farrington; Caitlin Foye; Linda Figg; John Gallagher, Mercury; Eric Gelfand, Legends; Christy Gray; Dolores Hayden, Yale University; Anthony Hayes; Diana Horowitz; Ann Kilbourne; Yumi Kori; Carl Krebs, Lourdes Hazelton, and Andre Pause, Davis Brody Bond; Elizabeth Harrison Kubany, SOM; Raymond Lee; David Long; Frank Lorino and Danielle de Lopez, Santiago Calatrava New York; Mike Marcucci; Vasileios Marinis, Yale University; Christina Mathews, Beyer Blinder Belle; Beth and Ed Matthews; Cathleen Medwick; Creighton Michael; Dean Motter; Rebecca Oling, SUNY Purchase; Project Rebirth; Helen and Brian Rafferty; Kaya Sanan, Sanan Media; Slinkachu; Erica Stoller/ESTO; David Sundberg/ESTO; Father Nathanael Symeonides, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; John Treat; Eddie Walsh; Laura Wexler, Yale University; Carol Willis, The Skyscraper Museum; and, always, all the Wahines.