World Trade Center Transit Hub Investigation

2011–2012 | New York NY

Client ADF Group
Project Lead and Structural Engineer Expert Guy Nordenson and Associates

The investigation of World Trade Center (WTC) Transit Hub located in Lower Manhattan focused on the design, documentation and construction process of the approximately 100,000 square foot underground PATH Hall providing connection of the transit train platforms to the main Transit Hall and above grade World Trade Center site.

The construction documents of several large-scale fabricated steel plate trusses, steel plate girders, and a steel plate box girder supporting the PATH Hall and the WTC Memorial Pavilion above were reviewed for clarity and conformance to industry codes and standards for designating fracture critical members that require heightened material and fabrication criteria. Detailed finite element analyses were performed to evaluate the structural behavior of the fabricated steel members and to assess the validity of fracture critical designation indicated in the contract documents.