ENGINEERING INVESTIGATION OF TOWERS COLLAPSE

Speculation and concern continues in professional and lay circles alike regarding the terrible progressive collapse of the World Trade Center Towers. Next week, ArchitectureWeek will look at the data collection efforts, mapping, and other current aspects of the post-disaster engineering investigations. In the words of the National Science Foundation, which has awarded eight special investigation grants, "The data will be used in engineering studies to help improve the structural integrity of the nation's buildings, utilities and other infrastructure during fires, earthquakes, explosions and other hazards."

OLD WINE IN NEW BUILDINGS

He's not as well-known as Santiago Calatrava, but Spanish architect Jesus Manzanares is definitely a rising star of contemporary architecture. He has carved out a career specializing in wineries and has built his professional reputation during a decade of dramatic change in the Spanish wine business. Manzanares has demonstrated a particular talent for creating lyrical designs that communicate corporate identity. Next week Madrid writer Rachel E. Grossman will guide us through the Enate Winery, located in northeastern Spain, and explain how it serves both its wine-making function and the client's commitment to the visual arts.

RESTORING DOO-WOP IN WILDWOOD

Visitors to Wildwood, New Jersey cross a bridge to the island beach resort and step back into the 1950s. They face rows of small multicolored motels set under large, brightly colored neon signs and rows of bright green plastic palm trees. This blue-collar resort reached its pinnacle of popularity when Cadillacs had fins and television was novel. It is receiving new attention from architects interested in saving what some consider the "tacky." The late architect Steven Izenour, a principal with Venturi Scott Brown Associates, had led the preservation struggle. Next week Philadelphia writer Diane M. Fiske will explain the appeal of "Doo Wop architecture" and what's at stake.