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 A Site for Sore Eyes: World Trade Center Looking Good Photographs by Alex Jagendorf
It was a sunny chilly, late Fall day when I showed up at the construction site for the new World Trade Center. Justine Karp from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
invited me for a tour. I was honored by the opportunity to walk the sacred ground of past and future.
She introduced me to Alex Jagendorf, a photographer from
the Washington Square News, the newspaper of New York University, where I happen to have attended, long ago.
We all had to wear hard hats; I do believe it was my first time ever wearing one and it fit just right. The elevator going up made me nervous.
As it chugged along, higher and higher, I started to remember that 1) I'm a little bit afraid of heights and 2) oh
yeah, they're right in the
midst of building it so you're out in the open air. I
attempted to appear undaunted but had thoughts of turning back.
"Don't worry," he said. "This is this the safest elevator in the city. I come here every day and it's fine." His kind eyes and warm smile were so reassuring that I believed
his words. His name is Duane and he loves his work.
"This is the greatest job. I wouldn't work anywhere else," he said.
Duane is one of 2,000 workers hired to build new life and commerce in the sky, and a peaceful plaza on the ground with waterfalls and trees.
I shook the thought from my mind and focused instead on all the vitality and healing that is already expanding in this
wonderful space. A rebirth of hope and work and creativity.
It's a brilliant idea for environmental design. Waterfalls have always been the favorite habitat of mystics, artists, and all kinds of folks.
People tend to feel relaxed and in a special mood when near them.
As science explains it, falling water creates thousands of negative hydrogen ions by splitting water molecules. Fortunately, human
serotonin levels can increase as the result of these waves of negative ions coming from the
spray of water.
Reactions have been known to include feeling
positive about yourself and the world around you.
Here's a 31-second video of how the waterfalls look when they are turned on. |
Inside this grey steel box of an elevator, a nice big construction worker noticed my
uncomfortable face.
We visited the 20th and the 39th floor on 1 World Trade Center (when completed, it will be 104 floors).
I tried to stick close the the center so I could take my mind off the height. Alex the
bold photographer ventured
right out to the edge to take pictures of the stunning view, with bright light reflecting off the River. I admired his bravery. I tried to look casual and not think about my shaking
knees, while we strolled around asking questions of Justine.
Gazing out onto our beautiful city in all directions, I imagined being on the
100th-something
floor, like at Cantor Fitzgerald, looking up
from your desk and thinking, "What the ...?"
Justine took us next to see the Reflection Pool, which will have waterfalls all around it. It's part of the 8-acre Memorial Plaza,
which will be ready next year in time for the 10th
anniversary ceremony on 9/11/11. 