“The Sphere“ by Fritz Koenig - From Artwork to 9/11 Memorial

In 1966 - upon WTC architect Minoru Yamasaki’s recommendation - Fritz Koenig of Landshut (Germany) was commissioned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to create a massive sculpture as the center piece for Manhattan’s new World Trade Center. Created in Fritz Koenig’s work shop on his ’Ganslberg’ farm outside Landshut, ’The Sphere’ (Große Kugelkaryatide) was placed on top of Austin J. Tobin Plaza Fountain, where it kept rotating from 1969 until September 11, 2001. It miraculously survived - though heavily damaged - the collapse of the Twin Towers as one of only a few recognizable objects. Rescued from Ground Zero, ’The Sphere’ was initially stored inside a JFK Airport hangar and later moved to Battery Park as a temporary location, while the World Trade Center area was being reconstructed. On August 16, 2017 - thanks to a 16 year campaign by Michael Burke and many passionate supporters, ’The Sphere’ was finally brought home to stand as a permament monument in the newly created ’Liberty Par