Lessons from Tragedy: How September 11th Changed the Way We Build

The buildings we design today carry lessons learned from the failures of yesterday. But how well are we putting those lessons into practice? Marking the 25th anniversary of September 11, David Stutzman and Steve Gantner welcome Sal Verrastro of Spillman Farmer Architects to discuss the World Trade Center collapse and the changes in building codes, fire protection, and emergency egress that followed. The conversation reaches beyond September 11 to explore lessons from other construction failures, the importance of shop drawing review, and the challenges of coordinating specifications and digital models. Drawing on decades of architectural practice, service on AIA’s national Documents Committee, and work as an expert witness, Sal shares how investigating what went wrong continually informs his approach to making buildings safer and the industry better. Throughout the episode, one question connects the discussion: How do we put what we’ve learned into everyday practice?