Editor's note: The essay that follows represents the opinions of its author only. Gregory Gargiso wrote a letter to the editors of Architectural Record, and he was invited to expand on his thoughts for In the Cause of Architecture. His ideas have proven to be somewhat controversial and possibly impractical, but the perspective of a working New York City firefighter may open up new lines of discussion about building design and construction, and In the Cause of Architecture supports Lieutenant Gargiso's right to express his views. At the same time, we invite responses to his ideas from design and construction professionals or anyone with informed ideas on the subject.
Okay, where do we begin here? The editors of Architectural Record asked me to write a piece because of a letter I wrote through email about what I thought should be done with the World Trade Center site. It was an open forum where people were weighing in about whether it should be built, shouldn't be built; make it a park, et cetera, et cetera. I weighed in with my personal experience of the building. As a firefighter in downtown Manhattan, I had responded to calls at the buildings (WTC and others) numerous times, too numerous to count, even. Also, I wrote that for promotion purposes, the New York City Fire Department rigorously tests its members on the types of buildings to which they most respond and fight fires in, high-rise office buildings included.
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