A pop-up exhibit, “What We Build,” will be held at the AIA New York Center for Architecture to display milestone moments of the building and development of New York City. The exhibit, open in tandem with the 20th anniversary of 9/11, celebrates the legacy of the building industry workers who returned to Ground Zero to rebuild Lower Manhattan into the thriving district it is today. Hosted by the New York Building Congress as part of its Centennial Year celebrations, “What We Build” chronicles how New York built itself back stronger in the wake of tragedy thanks to robust federal and local investments in infrastructure, along with the grit of hardworking New Yorkers.

The exhibit features a replica beam that transports visitors to high above 1930s Manhattan, where they can recreate the famous Lunch atop a Skyscraper photo alongside cutouts of real-life builders. Visitors can also venture through the exhibit to see a 3D model of the World Trade Center brought to life through their smartphones.

When: September 9 – 18, 2021; Monday – Friday: 9am – 8pm, Saturday: 11am – 5pm

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