WTC Campus Becomes Greener this Spring

The World Trade Center is always looking for ways to beautify and operate the campus sustainably. Below Liberty Park is part of the campus’ vehicle infrastructure, whose northern wall has been softened by a large living wall since 2016. Highly visible to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum visitors, the living wall helps to maintain the tranquil grounds. This spring, this wall will transform into a colorful, dynamic living wall, that will be even more sustainable.  

Living walls are innovative vertical structures with greenery. The replacement living wall system, was tested in a small location on the existing wall in 2022 and 2023 and was a success. The new living wall is being pre-grown in a greenhouse in Virginia so that when it arrives on the WTC campus, it will have partially established seedlings. The panels were planted in December 2023 and are expected to arrive in early spring 2024.

When the permanent wall is installed, the 3,300 square-foot wall will feature a palette of over 20,000 plants of evergreen groundcovers and flowering perennials. The plants will be grown in felt covered mineral wool panels. These will protect the plant roots and allow them to spread and thrive.

The living wall can be enjoyed year-round with four seasons of interest – from partial dormancy in the winter to a vibrant display of green foliage in the summer. A small selection of new flowering plants will provide seasonal blooms for pollinators to enjoy as well.

The wall will be fed nutrients and water through a drip irrigation system at its top. The water and nutrients trickle down to the wall base by gravity, and any small excess is collected by a continuous gutter system.

In addition to further beautifying the campus, living walls also benefit the environment as these plants act as natural air purifiers and contribute to urban biodiversity. On your next visit to the WTC campus this spring, be sure to stop by and enjoy the improvement to the campus!