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9/11 Memorial architect Michael Arad detailed what inspired him to design a national tribute to the nearly 3,000 people killed in the World Trade Center terror attacks in 2001 and 1993 as part of the “9/11, Today and Tomorrow” speakers series. Arad shared early designs of the memorial in a the speakers series event on Nov. 10.  

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Arad, a partner of Handel Architects, was working as an architect for the New York City Housing Authority when he entered and won the 9/11 Memorial design competition.

His design for the memorial, which is called “Reflecting Absence,”was picked by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation in early 2004. Two years after winning the design contest, Arad was one of six recipients of the American Institute of Architect’s Young Architects Award.

 RSVP  for the next event in the series on Dec. 8, which will explore 9/11 and the spirit of volunteerism.

By Michael Frazier, Sr. Communications Manager for the 9/11 Memorial

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