Michael Arad

Michael Arad
Michael Arad
Born	1969; London, United Kingdom
Occupation	Architect
Years active	1999–present
Known for	National September 11 Memorial & Museum
Notable work	National September 11 Memorial & Museum

Michael Arad (Hebrew: מיכאל ארד) is an Israeli-American architect recognized primarily for his role in creating the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. He emerged as the winner of the World Trade Center Site Memorial Competition in 2004.

Early life and education

Born in London in 1969, Arad holds Israeli citizenship and is the son of Moshe Arad, who served as Israel's ambassador to both the United States and Mexico. He spent nine years living in Jerusalem, where he attended Hebrew University Secondary School and completed military service with the Golani Brigade commando unit.

Arad obtained his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and later earned a master's degree from the College of Architecture at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Since 1999, he has been based in New York.

Career

Arriving in New York City in 1999, Arad worked for three years at Kohn Pedersen Fox as an architect, followed by a short period at Leclere Associate Architects. During his work designing police stations for the New York City Housing Authority, he entered the competition for the World Trade Center memorial. Currently, he is employed by Handel Architects, which operates offices in both New York and San Francisco.

Design concepts

Arad’s concept involved placing unidentified human remains recovered from the World Trade Center site at the lowest point within the North Tower’s foundation, approximately 70 feet beneath ground level. At street level, he collaborated with landscape architect Peter Walker to create a plaza paved with cobblestones and surrounded by eastern white pine trees.

Arad described his vision as "a space that reflects the emotions of loss and absence resulting from the devastation and fatalities at the World Trade Center."

The original proposal was met with criticism due to its minimalistic approach and its failure to distinguish between civilian casualties and those who perished in service. In response, Arad worked alongside Walker to modify the design. Additionally, discussions arose regarding the project’s substantial estimated cost, initially projected at nearly $1 billion.

Personal life

Residing in Douglaston, Queens, New York, Arad lives with his wife Melanie Arad Fitzpatrick and their three children: Nathaniel, Ariel, and Daniella.

External links

Michael Arad 9/11 Memorial Papers at N-YHS

References