City Tech Architectural Technology Students Are Helping Make History at Ground Zero Site of Famed St. Nichols Greek Orthodox Church

Architectural technology students at New York City College of Technology are playing an invaluable role in the work of rebuilding New York City following the tragic events of September 11 and their aftermath. This fall, the Reverend John Romas of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church asked John Bourotoglou, a longtime member of the congregation and an adjunct in the program, if his students could develop options for rebuilding the church, which was completely destroyed in the collapse of the World Trade Center. Constructed in 1832, the historic building became a Greek Orthodox church in 1916.

St. Nicholas Church in actual scale to the twin towersEnergized by the prospect of being a part of history, students from the program's model making class constructed a large-scale replica of the area surrounding the World Trade Center, including removable scale models of the twin towers and the other buildings that were destroyed. On this model, 30 students from the architectural design course superimposed their designs for a new St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in a way that would conform to current municipal building codes. The students prepared both drawings and scale models of their proposals.

Discussing design details In December, the students presented their work to a jury of professional architects who critiqued each of the designs. The design that seemed to receive the most unanimous praise was by second-year student William Perez, 21. "He represented the traditional interior special requirements with a very successful contemporary exterior architectural treatment that related very well to the site," said Professor Tim Maldonado, chair of City Tech's Department of Architectural Technology. Perez displayed two models-a large-scale cut-away section clearly illustrating the nave, choir and other interior spaces, and an exterior model showing how the church would appear to observers during both the daytime and nighttime. His presentation also included computer-generated drawings showing plans, sections and elevations.

All students were required to do extensive research on Greek Orthodox churches, including visiting several in the New York area. They also did Internet research to find classic examples as well as contemporary interpretations of Greek Orthodox churches. A final research paper was required that delineated spatial relationships among the different areas of the church and relevant religious requirements.

William Perez, Manching Cheung Felix BaezIn order to rebuild the church in its previous location, the property owner of the adjacent site would have to sell some land to the church in order for church officials to get a green light to build a new structure. The archdiocese will use the City Tech students' work in its negotiations with the landowner. The best of the City Tech student designs will be posted on the Greek Orthodox Church's website, and the Foundation for Hellenic Culture in Manhattan and the Hellenic Cultural Center in Chicago will display the models