As contractors started carting away an estimated 1.2 million tons of rubble and debris from Ground Zero and surrounding areas at the World Trade Center disaster site (which could take up to a year to untangle and remove), plans started forming for a relief commission to oversee reconstruction. Called the NYC Rebuild Task Force (RTF), this coalition brings together the American Institute of Architects, the New York City Partnership, and the Real Estate Board of New York.
The RTF’s executive committee includes representatives from prominent architecture firms, including Skidmore Owings & Merrill, Fox & Fowle, HOK and Kohn Pederson Fox. This committee plans to assemble and coordinate a broad range of private sector resources that will:
1. Advocate a vision for rebuilding the area.
2. Inform and assist elected leaders, legislators, and public officials.
3. Provide professional advice and counsel on key matters including the rebuilding process, resource availability, liability and jurisdiction issues, emergency response procedures, codes, energy, and utilities.
Photo courtesy of Luke Mata.