With the deaths of thousands of people at this site in the original World Trade Center bombing and the aerial attack eight years later, it was inevitable that a memorial would be established at this location. But what kind of memorial? In April, 2003 a global contest was launched to solicit the best ideas available. With thousands of entries from around the world submitted, a panel of judges whittled them down and declared "Reflecting Absence" the winner.

It is a memorial that takes the observer both to the site of the Twin Towers and below it. The footprints of the World Trade Center's Twin Towers are preserved through the memorial. It is a logical step that satisfies the deep emotional attachment many people have to the area. To millions of people this is sacred ground, especially considering that the remains of so many people were never found or identified. Some of those remains have been preserved and will be encased in a stone container in the footprint of the north tower. This container will touch the bedrock and at the same time have an opening to the sky. It will be in a private chamber where the families of those killed in the attacks will be able to mourn in solitude.

The more public areas below ground feature sheets of falling water that outline the locations of the twin towers. This subterranean element is intentionally sparse and gray to evoke a sense of mourning, while being open to the sky above as a symbol of hope for the future. This is in contrast to the area above ground. Before the attacks, this was a large plain of concrete. Now it will be transformed into a living space of trees, flowers, and grass. The landscaping is interrupted by the footprints of the twin towers, which are represented as waterfalls, recessed pools and ramps leading to the exhibition space below the surface. The descent below ground leads to a transformation of senses from the bright, loud, colorful city above to the solemn, dark, quiet area below the surface.

An ordinary memorial of this description would be magnificent enough. Consider that the twin towers were massive structures, so the footprints and the memorial is likewise massive. It helps convey the enormity of the sorrow the nation and the world felt that September morning.

Connecting the two footprints is a passageway. At its midpoint will be a place for reflection, gatherings, and memorial services. Its exact composition is still being determined, as are the artifacts that will be on display on the western edge of the site. This is an area known as the "slurry wall" which is part of the foundation of the original World Trade Center. Items being considered for this space include twisted steel beams, and a crushed fire truck.