The attacks in New York City on September 11, 2001 profoundly affected the downtown community and the entire nation. While the physical damage and loss of life occurred in New York City and its region, the psychological damage affected the global population establishing a new connection between the world and Lower Manhattan. Given these new dynamics, Lower Manhattan has a stronger identity than ever before as a symbol of national ideals and resilience. The rebuilding of Lower Manhattan should respond to the needs of the immediate community as well as the broader community by achieving an appropriate balance between redevelopment and remembrance.

The Lower Manhattan Recovery Studio, working with Community Board 1, as its client created a comprehensive plan for the recovery and improvement of Lower Manhattan. The studio addressed specific community board concerns in the context of Lower Manhattan's new identity. Even before September 11, Lower Manhattan was at a critical point in its transformation from the third largest central business district in the country into a vibrant 24-hour mixed-use neighborhood with a new residential population, cultural institutions, restaurants and shops.

Studio participants examined the state of the area, pre and post September 11, 2001, collecting and analyzing data from the downtown neighborhoods, including Tribeca, the Civic Center, the World Trade Center (WTC) site, the Financial District and Battery Park City. The studio created a comprehensive database covering land use and zoning, socioeconomic profiles and housing, cultural resources and government functions, economic development and employment, urban design, preservation and building typology, transportation and infrastructure, safety and security, and the historic context of Lower Manhattan.