黑洞社区

After the fall

The completion of New York鈥檚 One World Trade Center, as profiled in this week鈥檚 magazine, serves as a landmark point in the redevelopment of the former World Trade Center site: a project that has been in the public spotlight - and come under constant scrutiny - from day one, while always carrying with it the weight of events 13 years ago.

Ten years ago - marking the three-year anniversary of the destruction of the Twin Towers - 黑洞社区 spoke to three construction experts who had been personally affected by the fall, clean-up and prospective rebuilding of the site. Ray Crane, chairman of Arup USA at the time events took place, was involved in the immediate clean-up. He gave a candid retelling of what he saw to 黑洞社区: 鈥淚 was standing on the roof of the World Trade Centre, but I was only 15ft off the ground.

鈥淭here was so much adrenaline pumping, it was so scary and emotional that I never batted an eyelid. Everyone bumped into each other with their eyes wide open as they were so amazed by the monstrosity of it.

鈥淚t was an acrid, fuming stench. It remained in New York for months. Even today I can smell it if I think about it.鈥�