The two terrifying attacks on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s home at the World Trade Center were inextricably linked. Life safety measures that were introduced as a result of the February 26, 1993 bombing helped save thousands of lives during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Working on adrenaline, Port Authority and PATH staff worked around the clock to rescue, recover and rebuild. With this same passion, two retirees prepared these videos. During the first attack, Joseph Englot was the Chief Structural Engineer and, during 9/11, he was the Assistant Chief Engineer for Design; Robert Davidson was the Chief Architect during both attacks.
In his three hour-long videos, Joe covers the building of the World Trade Center, the attacks on it and how the Twin Towers fell.
Bob covers the post-9/11 transportation planning and design efforts in which he, as the Chief Architect of the Port Authority, and his staff were so intimately involved. These were the first projects that served as a reopening of the World Trade Center site to daily commuters and to the Lower Manhattan streetscape.
Both retirees were interested in documenting the Port Authority’s role, making sure that those lost souls were not forgotten. They have contributed their vast experience and knowledge to educate retirees and new generations of employees so that they would feel proud to be part of a great family of professional public servants.
Robert Davidson, FAIA
Chief Architect from 1991 to 2004, Port Authority of NY & NJ
Frank Lombardi
Chief Engineer from 1995 to 2010, Port Authority of NY & NJ
Downloadable Presentation to the June 2018 AIA Conference on Architecture
Robert Davidson, FAIA
Chief Architect from 1991 to 2004, Port Authority of NY & NJ
