Following the collapse of the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001, Hudson Meridian Construction Group was hired by the City of New York Department of Design and Construction to provide project management services for the rescue and recovery operations at the World Trade Center’s six-acre site.  Hudson Meridian initially filled critical project staff roles, managing the projects’ four construction managers, and eventually took a lead role, on behalf of the City of New York, in the completion of this $550 million project. Hudson Meridian’s role included not only the oversight of the technical debris removal efforts and the management as well as tracking of associated costs, but also coordination with local communities and government agencies to restore the surrounding neighborhoods.

During the initial debris removal effort, Hudson Meridian worked closely with local authorities to quickly prepare and open both Pier 6 and Pier 25 as key debris marine transfer sites in order to expeditiously and safely move the debris out of Lower Manhattan.  Hudson Meridian managed the marine components of removal of obstacles and dredging, reconfiguration of the Lower Manhattan Battery area’s traffic patterns and mobilization of two waterborne cranes, as well as staging for multiple debris barges.  Our staff was also responsible for managing this site’s operation during the 10 months that it was in use, including continuous monitoring of the pier’s structure, site safety and operation efficiency.

In the transferring of temporary staging sites back to the local communities, Hudson Meridian managed the restoration of Pier 6’s landscaping along Manhattan’s east side as well as the $4.4 million restoration of the park at Pier 25 with new railings, fences, decking, volleyball courts and miniature golf facilities. The esplanade area along Pier 25 was also restored, including pre-fabricated stonewalls, walking/jogging paths, bicycling paths, signage, railings and curbs to match the existing esplanade.

For the six-month anniversary of the September 11, 2001 tragedy, a signature sculpture, recovered from the World Trade Center Plaza, was relocated to nearby Battery Park for its unveiling at the event.  With only weeks to complete this project, Hudson Meridian managed the process from agency review through design to contractor installation.