Vinoly adds to tower visions

One of the architect's proposals for the World Trade Center is reminiscent of his Tampa Museum of Art design.

By BABITA PERSAUD, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published December 20, 2002

TAMPA -- Wondering what Rafael Vinoly has been up to lately?

The internationally known architect, who is creating a new Tampa Museum of Art downtown, has been playing a lead role in Think, one of the architectural teams competing to design the new World Trade Center site.

Vinoly's influence is evident in Think's plans, which were unveiled Wednesday along with others.

Recall that dramatic roof, the urban canopy, Vinoly proposes for the Tampa Museum of Art? One of Think's designs calls for enclosing 13 acres of the World Trade Center site under an enormous glass and steel ceiling. The Great Room, it is being called.

And remember Vinoly's penchant for latticework? One design calls for two towers to be built with open latticework that surrounds a museum, performing arts center and memorial.

Vinoly's team presented three different designs for the World Trade Center site:

SKY PARK: A 10-block, 16-acre rooftop park that floats above the WTC site. Below the park are cultural facilities, retail, a transportation center, hotel and convention center and office space. The park gradually climbs to a height of 10 stories and culminates in a cantilevered 3-acre lawn with sweeping views of the Hudson River and New York harbor. On the park's perimeter are three huge office towers.

THE GREAT ROOM: A public plaza under an enormous glass ceiling that covers 13 acres. The roof can be used to produce solar energy. Two glass cylinders protect the original footprints of the twin towers. Buildings on the perimeter will support the roof and be used as offices, a hotel and transmission tower.

TOWERS OF CULTURE: Built above and around the footprints of the WTC towers, the two open latticework structures soar over the rest of the lower Manhattan skyline. Inside are a memorial, museum, performing arts center and amphitheater. The towers rise from large glass reflecting pools. Two large-scale turbines harvest wind to power the elevators.

Vinoly isn't the only WTC architect with a Tampa connection.

Skidmore Owings and Merrill, a national firm that designed the master plan for Tampa's cultural affairs district, also was selected to submit a WTC design. Skidmore's proposal features a 16-acre sky garden and 16 acres of cultural space. A reflecting pool and bridge link the site of the two original towers.

Skidmore's design for downtown Tampa included a lagoon on the Hillsborough River and a footbridge to the University of Tampa. Both ideas have been scrapped. Think's and Skidmore's plans can be viewed online at www.LowerManhattan.info.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright