Record's 9/11 Diary

Before Architectural Record had this blog, it had “From the Field,” an online journal for the editors to “jot our experiences and thoughts down, even from the road,” according to former editor in chief Robert Ivy. Basically, it was a blog before we had the technology available to really have one.

Below I have included links to that section, now buried on our site, that will direct you to the stories of the Record editors who were home (Record’s editorial offices are based in Manhattan) or away on 9/11, including Ivy’s harrowing description of witnessing the second plane hit the towers while on a high floor of a nearby office building. The stories simply serve as a snapshot of that day from the perspective of architectural journalists.

A bit of background.

Ten years ago, on the morning of September 11th, then Editor in Chief Robert Ivy, along with several members of the Record editorial staff and outside guests, were attending a meeting at 55 Water Street in the Standard & Poors conference center. The rest of the editorial staff were to arrive around 10:00, but never made it downtown. Later that day, the entire team was going to visit the Statue of Liberty together and end with a meal at South Street Seaport. 

The accounts:

Debris flies toward the 37th floor conference room of 55 Water Street, where several members of the Record staff were meeting. Photo by former managing editor Ingrid Spencer.

The view after Record staff watched the second plane hit. Photo by former managing editor Ingrid Spencer.

A view of the smoke from Ground Zero while walking over the 59th St. bridge after the attacks. Photo by Rita Catinella Orrell.