Deal Reached to Rebuild Ground Zero

Officials early this morning hammered out a deal allowing design work to get under way on the 1,776-foot tall Freedom Tower planned for Ground Zero.

After more than seven hours of exhausting negotiations, the agreement broke a deadlock between Ground Zero developer Larry Silverstein and the site's master planner, Daniel Libeskind.

Under the accord, Silverstein's architect, David Childs, will become the "design architect and project manager" for the world's tallest building.

Libeskind will have a more limited role as "collaborating architect during the concept and schematic design phases," said Lower Manhattan Development Corp. President Kevin Rampe in a brief 12:45 a.m. press conference.

He stressed that Libeskind will be "a full member of the project team," and called the deal a "historic collaboration."

Rampe refused to say who would have the final say if disagreements arise over the design or appearance of the tower - but a written statement makes it clear that Childs will be in charge and "leading the project team."

Typically, on a project of this size, the "design architect" and his client would make the final decisions.

Libeskind and Silverstein have been at odds for weeks over who will control the building's design and how much it will look like the sketch presented in Libesknid's site plan - an angular building with a needle-like, 1,776-foot spire attached to one side.

In contrast, Childs has been working on drawings that place the skyscraping structure directly on top of the building, rather than beside it.

The two sides met at the LMDC's offices, adjacent to Ground Zero, with officials from the LMDC and the Port Authority brokering the compromise.

Much of the negotiating took place directly between Libeskind and Childs, a partner in Skidmore Owings & Merrill. Silverstein did not attend.

Both sides appeared to give a little and gain a little. Libeskind was given a place on the design team, although he gets no guarantee the building will look like the one he envisioned. Silverstein, who will pay for the tower with insurance proceeds, allows Libeskind to take part, but retains apparent control for his own architect.

"This collaboration will facilitate the development of the Freedom Tower in a manner consistent with the Libeskind vision," the LMDC statement said.

Childs has designed several skyscrapers, but Libeskind has no experience with tall buildings.