Weakened core, not floor trusses, triggered WTC collapse (2014)

Thornton Tomasetti played a crucial role in the response, recovery, and analysis efforts at the World Trade Center following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. They provided engineering services, coordinated with multiple firms, assessed over 400 buildings, and conducted deconstruction engineering. The focus shifted from rescue to recovery as few survivors were found. Thornton Tomasetti was involved in repairing or replacing structures like the Robert Douglas Bridge and the Deutsche Bank building. They conducted forensic investigations to understand the collapse of the Twin Towers and provided protective design for new construction at the World Trade Center site. Their work included detailed analysis of the tower cores, impact of fires on structural capacity, and failure mechanisms leading to collapse. Additionally, they managed the deconstruction of the Deutsche Bank building floor by floor. Thornton Tomasetti's expertise in emergency response, structural design, and forensic investigations was instrumental in the comprehensive study and reconstruction efforts at the World Trade Center site.