WTC architects set aside differences.

After months of much-talked about clashes of opinion between World Trade Center developer Larry Silverstein and chief architect Daniel Libeskind, the two seemed to have put aside their creative differences--at least, publicly.

After a marathon session that was closed to the public and media, representatives from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey emerged with an agreement regarding the design of the World Trade Center.

At a July 16 photo shoot at Ground Zero directly across the street from the LMDC headquarters at One Liberty Place, Libeskind, Silverstein, LMDC president Kevin Rampe, Port Authority president Edmond Schorno, and architect David Childs gathered to pose for photos, arm-in-arm, smiling and joking.

Silverstein said they all felt "terrific" after a meeting the group had had the night before, which was closed to the public and lasted eight hours. The purpose of the meeting was to come to an agreement on the design of the new Word Trade Center, which will be called the Freedom Towers.

Impeding the progress of the project were problems Silverstein had with Libeskind's design for the main building, a 1,760-foot structure which would feature an off center spire. Silverstein also said there was too little office space, which prompted him to hire architect David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill as "design architect and project manager."

Childs is an experienced designer of high-rise buildings, unlike Libeskind, known for designing several museums. Libeskind will continue to serve as a "master plan architect" and the building designs will remain "tree to Libeskind's vision" said LMDC's Rampe.

Although the development team wouldn't discuss details about what changes are being made to the design, or by whom they'd be made, the smiling group said that Libeskind and Childs would be "working collaboratively" and that they were "looking at all the options."

When asked about what the change in staff says about Libeskind's integrity, Rampe said, "I think this says great things about his integrity. The site will stand for architectural excellence."

In a prepared statement, the LMDC said, "We are confident that Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Studio Daniel Libeskind will produce a world class icon in the Lower Manhattan skyline and a powerful symbol of our nation's resilience in the aftermath of the tragedy."

Despite the disagreements, development of the site has stayed within its schedule and LMDC's goal is to have the master design plan completed over the next few months.