9-11 Memorial Trident, Terrorist Screening Center

The trident is an architectural feature from the North Tower of the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City, NY, which was destroyed on September 11, 2001. It was installed outside the rear entrance of the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) in 2011 and stands as a memorial to the disaster in the center of a small circular plaza paved with concrete pavers and surrounded by polished granite blocks with inscriptions relating to the WTC.

In 2015, our conservators were hired to carryout the restoration. Work consisted of cleaning the Trident’s surface of corrosion and mineral crust areas. Original stencils and marks left on the surface by metalworkers were consolidated for surface adhesion and preservation. Concrete washes were installed in the areas where the prongs converge to pitch water drainage away from the Trident. Several vertical cracks were prepared and filled with matching tinted silicone building sealant. Screens were installed at the top of each of the three prongs, preventing debris collection. Three layers of metal conditioner were applied to all metal surfaces to inhibit future corrosion. The base was painted matte black and rust stains were removed from surrounding paving stones.

Maintenance recommendations were presented to reduce future deterioration and increase the longevity of the conservation treatment.