At Ground Zero, a Green Memorial to the Victims of 9/11

Many are gathering throughout the country to remember the 9/11 terrorist attacks eight years ago today, including a memorial service at Ground Zero, where a memorial plaza and museum are under construction.

Once completed, the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center  will commemorate about 3,000 victims of both the 2001 and 1993 attacks while adding a bit of green to NYC: The Memorial Plaza will include some 400 Swamp Oak trees surrounding two square pools where the towers stood. The museum will illustrate the many stories of the victims and their families.

The entire project is aiming for gold LEED certification; the Memorial Plaza, slated for completion in 2011, will conserve water through storm-drainage collection, integrate pest-management systems for sustainablility, and incorporate many other planet-preserving features.

(Photo credit: Visualization by Squared Design Lab/Provided by the National September 11 Memorial & Museum)

--Julie Littman