by Jerry Fireman
Like other contemporary architects, Daniel Libeskind — designer of the new World Trade Center — and his firm use computer-aided modeling tools extensively during schematic design. But the firm also relies on physical models. As the new World Trade Center design develops in the public limelight, a look back at its schematic beginnings reveals a process in which physical and computer models evolved in parallel.
"Everything starts with a physical model at Studio Daniel Libeskind," says Stefan Blach, an associate with the firm now based in New York City. "But computer modeling also played a very important role from the earlier phases in the World Trade Center project."
This work began long before Libeskind won the design competition for the World Trade Center reconstruction. He was chosen by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) for his treatment of the site that included office towers, a train station, park space, a memorial, and cultural facilities.
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