Silverstein Properties Inc., acquired control of the entire World Trade Center complex, and an insurance policy to cover it, in the summer of 2001. As part of its insurance claim, it commissioned a study by Weidlinger Associates Inc. ¹

The Weidlinger study contrasts with the truss failure theory popularized by NOVA and the Discovery Channel by blaming fireproofing of columns instead of the floor trusses. By exonerating the flooring system, Silverstein's study avoids charges that faulty construction played a role in the collapses.

Because of the role of the Weidlinger study in Silverstein's insurance litigation, details of the study's findings remain hidden from the public. ²

Weidlinger Associates

The name Weidlinger Associates popped up in the immediate aftermath of the attack, since Weidlinger's Tod Rittenhouse gave an interview to CNN.com about the collapses of the Twin Towers that was the subject of a September 13, 2001 article. ³ The article contains this description of Rittenhouse:

Tod Rittenhouse is an expert in blast engineering from the international consulting engineering firm Weidlinger Associates and has been the blast engineer for a number of embassies and government buildings. He has been called to discuss such problems as the Oklahoma City bombing and the previous World Trade Center calamity.

In January of 2006, Dr. Jeremy Isenberg was succeeded by Dr. Raymond Daddazio as Chief Executive Officer of Weidlinger Associates, Inc. A WAI.com press release described Daddazio as follows:

Since 1996, Daddazio has been director of the Applied Science Division at Weidlinger, responsible for significant contracts with the Department of Defense in the areas of shock and vibration, extreme loadings on structures and risk assessment.

Daddazio is Weidlinger's principal liaison with the U.S. government's Technical Support Working Group's Physical Security Program, which identifies, prioritizes, and coordinates interagency and international research and development requirements for combating terrorism. Nationally, he is working with the Department of Defense to develop and test new strategies for protection of military and civilian facilities. ⁴

References

1. Study Absolves Twin Tower Trusses, Fireproofing, 11/04/02 [cached]
2. Vast Detail on Towers' Collapse May Be Sealed, New York Times, 9/30/02 [cached]
3. Tod Rittenhouse: Why the World Trade Center collapsed, 9/13/01 [cached]
4. In The News at WAI, wai.com, [cached]

page last modified: 2009-09-11