Austin J. Tobin Plaza | |
|---|---|
| Public square | |
| World Trade Center Plaza, Tobin Plaza | |
.jpg) The plaza, as seen in 1976.The Sphere can be seen at the center of the plaza, andIdeogram is visible to the upper right, located between1 and2 World Trade Center. | |
| Design | Minoru Yamasaki |
| Construction | 1966 |
| Completion | 1973 |
| Opening date | April 4, 1973 |
| Destroyed date | September 11, 2001 |
| Cost | $12 million (1999 USD) |
| Area | 5 acres (220,000 square feet) |
| Dedicated to | Austin J. Tobin |
| Owner | Port Authority of New York and New Jersey |
| Location | World Trade Center,Lower Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
 Interactive map of Austin J. Tobin Plaza | |
| Coordinates:40°42′42″N74°00′45″W / 40.71167°N 74.01250°W /40.71167; -74.01250 | |
TheAustin J. Tobin Plaza, also known as theWorld Trade Center Plaza, was a largepublic square that was located on theWorld Trade Center site inLower Manhattan, New York City, from 1966 until its destruction during theSeptember 11 attacks in 2001. It covered 5 acres (220,000 sq ft; 2.0 ha), making it the largest plaza in New York City by acreage at the time.
The plaza opened as part of the originalWorld Trade Center on April 4, 1973, and was renamed afterAustin J. Tobin in 1982. Several sculptures were located there, includingThe Sphere andIdeogram. The plaza was damaged during the1993 World Trade Center bombing and destroyed eight years later during the September 11 terrorist attacks, which saw over 1,000,000,000 pounds (450,000,000 kg) of debris fall onto the plaza's floor. Fires that erupted from the large pile of debris ended up destroying the plaza permanently.
At the center of the plaza wasThe Sphere, and rows of benches were arranged in a circular pattern around the sculpture. The plaza was made of smoothmarble andgranite.[1] The plaza was landscaped,[1] and flowerbeds located near the benches were changed out seasonally.[2] A total of 37 staircases led up to the plaza,[3] and a staircase that led up to the plaza from Vesey Street was used to get to the plaza from7 World Trade Center.[4][5]
Another building, designed by architectural firmWalker & Gillette, was to be built on the eastern edge of the plaza, but was later cancelled due to sizing issues.[6] Director Gary Beck called the plaza a "naturally perfect performing site" and "accidentally one of the best in America".[7] Author Virginia Dajani also gave remarks on the plaza, stating that it was "considerably larger than thePiazza San Marco in Venice and infinitely less memorable".[8]
The plaza was surrounded by all seven buildings of the World Trade Center Complex.1 World Trade Center was located on the west-facing side of the plaza adjacent toWest Street and2 World Trade Center was located on the south side of the plaza.Marriott World Trade Center (also known as 3 World Trade Center) was located on the southwestern corner of the plaza in between the towers.[9]
4 World Trade Center, adjacent to the South Tower, was positioned on the southeastern edge of the plaza bounded by Liberty and Church streets.[10]5 World Trade Center was located directly opposite of 4, bounded by Church and Vesey Street, and6 World Trade Center was located on the northwestern edge of the plaza bounded by Vesey Street.[9]
7 World Trade Center was located on an adjacent street, and was connected to the plaza via theVesey Street stairs.[11] TheWorld Financial Center (now known as Brookfield Place)[12] was also adjacent to the plaza's west side.[13] TheMillennium Downtown New York Hotel, located on the corner ofFulton Street across the street from the eastern edge of the plaza,[14] was heavily damaged in the September 11 attacks.[9]
In early 1961, the plan for the originalWorld Trade Center was released to the public, and the site was to be located along theEast River. Due to heavy backlash, that December the project was relocated to a 16-acre (700,000 sq ft; 6.5 ha) plot in Lower Manhattan.[15] The plaza was brought into design in January 1964, when architectMinoru Yamasaki released a model for the complex at a press conference.[15][16] The original plans called for a reflecting pool at the center of the plaza.[16][17] In addition, the plaza would have been accessed through a single large entrance onChurch Street to the east.[18] By May 1966, thePort Authority of New York and New Jersey, the site's developer, had revised the plans for the plaza; there would be entrances on all four sides, as well as an 80-foot-wide (24 m) fountain at the center of the plaza.[18]
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Development of the plaza began on August 5, 1966, as the construction of other buildings that were part of the World Trade Center took place.[19] The plaza was constructed to be supported by large steel columns that reached into the "Bathtub" below,[20][21] and the foundations for the towers were also built into the plaza. These foundations reached into the bedrock below. The Bathtub, which helped hold the plaza, took up an underground space that reached to theWest Side Highway and theIRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line.[20]
The plaza was inaugurated on April 4, 1973. In 1982, thePort Authority of New York and New Jersey decided to rename the plaza in honor of its former executive director,[15]Austin J. Tobin, who promoted the construction of the towers.[22][23]
The plaza was renovated between 1998 and 1999.[1][24] Themarble paving stones were replaced with gray and pink granite stones, newbenches, planters, restaurants, food kiosks and outdoor eating areas were added. Trees were also planted, and lined the plaza entrances.[25] The total cost was $12 million (1999 USD).[24] The plaza covered 5 acres (220,000 sq ft; 2.0 ha),[2] and was the largest plaza in New York City.[2][26] Below the plaza was theMall at the World Trade Center and a concourse.[27]
On February 26, 1993, avan bomb planted byal-Qaeda terrorists was detonated in the underground garage directly under the plaza, killing six and injuring over 1,000. The plaza was heavily damaged, and the communications center near the plaza was destroyed.[28] After the bombing, security was increased at the complex, and fire safety improvements were implemented.[29]
On February 26, 1995,a memorial fountain made ofgranite was dedicated in the Plaza to honor the victims of the 1993 bombing.[30] The fountain was designed by sculptorElyn Zimmerman, and placed above the site of the explosion. It included an inscription with the names of the six victims of the attack, as well as a message that read: "On February 26, 1993, a bomb set by terrorists exploded below this site. This horrible act of violence killed innocent people, injured thousands, and made victims of us all."[31]
The plaza was heavily monitored, and security cameras were placed on the rooftops of surrounding buildings to deter a potential terrorist attack. The cameras operated constantly, and more were installed facing the streets adjacent to the plaza. After the 1993 bombing, up to 300 security personnel were at the complex and plaza at any given time.[32] Crowds would often gather in the plaza for various events, although security prevented people from sitting on planters in between the benches that circled the plaza.[33]
Located on the plaza were several sculptures and art pieces.[34] TheWorld Trade Center Plaza Sculpture, designed byMasayuki Nagare, was commissioned in 1970 and was dedicated on the plaza in 1972. The sculpture was composed of a set of two black granite pyramids that were 34 feet long, 17 feet wide and 14 feet high.[35][36] The1993 World Trade Center Bombing Memorial byElyn Zimmerman was dedicated in 1995;[37] it was a granite fountain dedicated to the 1993 bombing victims.[38]Fritz Koenig's bronze sculptureThe Sphere, measuring 25 feet (7.6 m) high,[39][40] was dedicated in 1972.[41]Ideogram, a stainless-steel sculpture designed byJames Rosati, was located on the plaza near theMarriott World Trade Center.[42][43]
On September 11, 2001, a terrorist attack unfolded at the World Trade Center site, and the plaza became an evacuation route for civilians attempting to escape the area.[11] Firefighters directed a majority of the people who were evacuating to the mall located beneath the plaza via the lobby in the North Tower.[44] Many people also evacuated the area by using theVesey Street staircase, which connected the plaza toVesey Street.[11]
When1 and2 World Trade Center collapsed, about 600,000 tons of debris fell onto the plaza, crushing it. The plaza sustained heavy damage and was destroyed as a result of fires inside of the rubble in the hours after the attack.The Sphere andCloud Fortress were recovered, but the latter was demolished in recovery efforts at the site.[45]The Sphere is currently located inLiberty Park.[40]
The 1993 bombing memorial was heavily damaged during the September 11 attacks, and only a small segment of the fountain survived.[38]The Sphere was heavily damaged and was relocated toBattery Park in 2002;[46] it was moved to Liberty Park at the World Trade Center site in 2016.[47]The Sphere is the only artwork from the original World Trade Center to survive the September 11 attacks and subsequent recovery effort.[48]
The plaza was surrounded by all seven buildings of the World Trade Center Complex.1 World Trade Center was located on the west-facing side of the plaza adjacent toWest Street and2 World Trade Center was located on the south side of the plaza.Marriott World Trade Center (also known as 3 World Trade Center) was located on the southwestern corner of the plaza in between the towers.[9]
4 World Trade Center, adjacent to the South Tower, was positioned on the southeastern edge of the plaza bounded by Liberty and Church streets.[10]5 World Trade Center was located directly opposite of 4, bounded by Church and Vesey Street, and6 World Trade Center was located on the northwestern edge of the plaza bounded by Vesey Street.[9]
7 World Trade Center was located on an adjacent street, and was connected to the plaza via theVesey Street stairs.[11] TheWorld Financial Center (now known as Brookfield Place)[12] was also adjacent to the plaza's west side.[13] TheMillennium Downtown New York Hotel, located on the corner ofFulton Street across the street from the eastern edge of the plaza,[14] was heavily damaged in the September 11 attacks.[9]
Media related toAustin J. Tobin Plaza at Wikimedia Commons
