Forum on the Technical Implications
of the World Trade Center Collapses

GreatBuildings.com Photo (c) Lawrence A. Martin

 

Schedule

Speakers

Webcast

Submissions for Proceedings

Directions

Poster

Date: Monday, November 12, 2001
Location: Lerner Hall, Columbia University
RSVP: Register via the online form below
Organizer: Professor Rene B. Testa

This one-day forum is intended to gather and disseminate technical information from practitioners directly involved in the World Trade Center collapses to serve as a primer for subsequent efforts that will lead to recommendations for research and design.

Panels will discuss:

Sponsored by the
Department of Civil Engineering & Engineering Mechanics at Columbia University

through the

Center for Hazards and Risk Research at Columbia University

together with the
Institute for Civil Infrastructure Systems (ICIS) at New York University

Schedule:

9:00 a.m. Introduction
Leslie Robertson
Kenneth Holden
10:00 a.m. Structural and 
Geotechnical Assessment
Richard Tomasetti
Ivan S. Sandler
George Tamaro
Ramond E. Sandiford
Guy Nordenson
 
11:30 a.m. Lunch
12:30 p.m. The Collapse Mechanisms
Francis J. Lombardi
Charles Thornton
Matthys Levy
.
2:00 p.m. Managerial and Technical Aspects
of Emergency Response Operations
Richard Scheirer
Andrew Feeney
Brad Gair
Daniel A. Cuoco
John W. Norman
3:30 p.m. Hazards and Risk Implications
Diana Chapin
Arthur Kressner
David Davidowitz
Stephen A. Watson, III
5:00 p.m. Closing Remarks
 
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Speakers:

 

Diana Chapin
First Deputy Commissioner
NYC Department of 
         Environmental Protection; 
Executive Director, NYC Water Board		 Daniel A. Cuoco
President, LZA Technology
Thornton-Tomasetti Group, Inc.
David Davidowitz
Vice President of Gas Engineering
Consolidated Edison Company
Gas Group
Brad Gair
Federal Emergency Management
Agency, Special Assistant to the
Federal Coordinating Officer for the 
WTC Disaster Declaration
 
Kenneth Holden
Commissioner
New York City 
Department of Design 
         and Construction		 Andrew Feeney
Deputy Director, 
New York State Emergency
         Management Office
 
Authur Kressner
Director, Power Supply
Consolidated Edison Company
Research Division		 Matthys Levy
Weidlinger Associates, Inc.
Mr. Levy is a principal in the firm Weidlinger 
Associates, Inc., and author of the book Why 
Buildings Fall Down.
Francis Lombardi
Chief Engineer
Port Authority of New York and
New Jersey (PANYNJ)		 Guy Nordenson
Guy Nordenson and Associates
This firm has been actively involved in 
assessment of structural damage to the
buildings near the World Trade Center.
 
John W. Norman
Chief of Special Operations
Fire Department of New York City		 Leslie Robertson
Leslie E. Robertson Associates
Mr. Robertson is the engineer of record for 
the World Trade Center Towers.
Raymond E. Sandiford
Chief Geotechnical Engineer
PANYNJ 		Ivan S. Sandler
Principal
Weidlinger Associates, Inc.
This firm is a leader in blast resistant design.
Richard Scheirer
Director, New York City
Office of Emergency Management		 George Tamaro
Senior Partner
Mueser Rutledge
Consulting Engineers
Mr. Tamaro has been the leading geotechnical
engineer involved with the widely reported retaining 
wall concerns.
Charles Thornton
Chairman
Thornton-Tomasetti Group, Inc.
This is the structural design firm for the Petronas 
Towers - the world's tallest buildings.
Richard Tomasetti
President
Thornton-Tomasetti Group, Inc.
Mr. Tomasetti's firm is the designated lead firm in
assessment of damaged buildings in the vicinity of
Ground Zero.
Stephen A. Watson, III
Senior Consultant
Risk Engineering
Zurich RE		  

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Webcast information :

This forum was webcast live via the internet and Internet2. The webcasts utilize the RealPlayer software from Real Networks. This software for the Macintosh, Windows and UNIX platforms can be obtained by clicking here. Internet2 Multicast sites can view higher quality video via IPTV. IPTV players are available here.

To archived webcast footage of this forum, please click the "View Webcast" button below.

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Directions :

Five bus lines (M4, M5, M11, M60, M104) and one subway line (the No.1 local) serve the Columbia neighborhood. The M60 bus is a direct link between campus and LaGuardia Airport. The Columbia stop is 116th Street. Do not use IRT express 3 train, which follows a different route and does not stop at Columbia University; if you do, be certain to transfer at 96th Street to the local subway lines.

Lerner Hall is located on the lower right corner of the main Columbia campus on Broadway between 114th and 115th Streets. The forum registration desk is on the Broadway entrance of Lerner Hall.

For more information on how to reach Columbia University, please refer to this website.

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