Solution

National September 11 Memorial and Museum

New York, NY

Service: Structural Investigation, Structural Rehabilitation
Market: Cultural
Keywords: Award Winning, Foundation, Geotechnical, Monumental Buildings, Museum, Retaining Wall, Signature Project, Structural Strengthening

Client

Davis Brody Bond LLP

Completion

2014

Awards

2016 Engineering Excellence Award: National Recognition, American Council of Engineering Companies
2016 Engineering Excellence Award, Diamond Award for Special Projects, American Council of Engineering Companies of New York
2015 Institute Honor Award for Interior Architecture, American Institute of Architects
2013 Honor Award for Urban Design, American Institute of Architects
2012 Architecture Honor Award, AIA New York Chapter
National September 11 Memorial and Museum New York
National September 11 Memorial and Museum New York
National September 11 Memorial and Museum New York

The “bathtub” slurry wall at the World Trade Center (WTC) site survived when the WTC towers collapsed in 2001, making it a symbol of endurance. WTC site redevelopers wanted a section of the wall incorporated and exposed within the National September 11 Museum. SGH evaluated, analyzed, and designed strengthening for a portion of the existing slurry wall.

Scope | Solutions

As the structural engineer of record for the slurry wall resupport project, SGH collaborated with Davis Brody Bond Architects, Guy Nordenson Associates, and Langan. We investigated the existing wall conditions, analyzed expected future performance, and designed structural strengthening for resupporting the slurry wall in the 60 ft tall subterranean museum space. Highlights of our work include the following:

  • Evaluated a 270 ft long section of the original slurry wall, including a 90 ft long section remaining in place and exposed with no visible structural support

  • Designed a system of tied-back, concrete counterforts and infill walls on the backside (soil side) of the 90 ft section of exposed slurry wall to provide permanent support

  • Designed a new 4 ft to 7 ft thick tied-back, concrete liner wall to reinforce the remaining length of slurry wall

Project Contact(s)

Bill Konicki

William Konicki

Nathaniel Smith

Milan Vatovec