With yesterday’s topping off of 4 World Trade Center, praise finally flooded Fumihiko Maki’s understated design for the structure. But according to the New York Post, admirers also owe thanks to David Childs for the tower’s appearance.
Silverstein Properties President Larry Silverstein had originally offered Skidmore Owings & Merrill partners David Childs and TJ Gottesdiener the opportunity to design the entire seven-building development site. Silverstein said Childs was grateful but told him he thought that would be a mistake.
“I got what David was saying,” Silverstein said. “When you have one architect, you have the same language in all the buildings.” Silverstein wanted the more diverse site Childs envisioned.
While Childs designed 1 and 7 WTCs — and later disparaged the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and the Durst Organization’s revision to it — Maki designed 4 WTC, Norman Foster planned 2 WTC and Richard Rogers was commissioned for 3 WTC. [Post, 1st item]