Governor George E. Pataki and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced that Frank Sciame will lead the effort to ensure a buildable World Trade Center memorial. Sciame will convene the Memorial and Master Plan Design Committee of Michael Arad, Peter Walker, Max Bond and Daniel Libeskind and work in coordination with the LMDC, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the WTC Memorial Foundation to ensure the memorial is brought in line with the $500 million budget. The Governor and Mayor have set the end of June as the deadline for resolution.

“Frank Sciame has graciously agreed to lead this very important process,” Governor Pataki said. “Frank has an acute appreciation for architecture, is an established New York builder, and a great supporter of Lower Manhattan and I have the greatest confidence that we will have a resolution that we all can be proud of by the end of June.”

“The creation of a fitting memorial to all those we lost of September 11, 2001 is the centerpiece of our collective rebuilding efforts and we remain committed to adhering to the vision of Michael Arad and Peter Walker’s ‘Reflecting Absence’, to maintaining the long established budget of $500 million, and to keeping our promise to open the memorial by September 11, 2009,” the Governor added.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said, “We will never forget what happened on September 11, 2001 and it is paramount that we make sure we are able to build a memorial that captures the depth of those attacks while honoring the memory of those lost.  Frank Sciame’s breadth of experience building in Lower Manhattan and restoring some of New York City’s most historic landmarks speaks for itself and we are fortunate that he has agreed to join this important effort to ensure we have a project we can be proud of that is built on time and within the budget set by the Governor and myself.”

Frank Sciame said, “I am privileged to be chosen by Governor Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg to serve in this very important role. Our ambitious vision can be realized and I look forward to working with the design team to ensure the success of this process. Honoring the heroes and innocent victims of September 11, whose lives, actions and ultimate sacrifices were displayed to the world is our nation’s responsibility and I am humbled to do my part.”

LMDC Chairman Kevin M. Rampe said, “Frank Sciame has been a long time supporter of Lower Manhattan and the rebuilding process. He has made tremendous contributions both downtown and throughout the city and I am confident he will bring the same level of energy, insight and dedication to this very important process. I have the highest respect for Frank Sciame and I look forward to working with him to ensure the Arad/Walker vision is realized.”  

World Trade Center Memorial Foundation President and CEO Gretchen Dykstra said, “I have known Frank Sciame for many years. Frank has a great aesthetic sense, a practical approach to projects, and an unwavering commitment to the public good. He’s a great choice. The Foundation is pleased that the Governor and the Mayor have chosen Frank to lead this effort and outlined a clear timeframe for a resolution.”

To ensure a fitting memorial that is consistent with the Arad/Walker vision and the Libeskind Master Plan, Sciame will lead a process to bring the memorial vision in line with the established budget. Sciame will first review the cost reconciliation conducted by cost estimators from the Memorial Foundation, LMDC, Port Authority and the Memorial and Master Plan Design Committee, and work to further identify opportunities through traditional value engineering methods to both reduce costs and create additional efficiencies.

Sciame and the Design Committee will develop a set of design refinement options that are to be evaluated as to their consistency with ‘Reflecting Absence’ and the Master Plan, Security Implications, Construction Costs, and Operation Costs. By June 15, Sciame will present to the Governor and Mayor, the design refinements for consideration and the LMDC will solicit public input on the proposed design refinements. Upon consideration of public input and consultation with the Governor, Mayor and Memorial Foundation, the refinements will be submitted to the LMDC Board for their consideration and adoption at their July board meeting.

Frank Sciame established F. J. Sciame Construction Co., Inc. (Sciame) in 1975. In the years since, he has led the firm to its current position as one of the tri-state's leading construction management firms. 
 
Sciame has built some of the metropolitan area's most notable projects for prestigious cultural, educational, commercial and retail clients. Completed projects include the restoration of Central Synagogue on Lexington Avenue, the oldest synagogue in Manhattan, the restoration of the New Victory Theater in Times Square, New York's oldest theatre and megastores for Virgin Records, Toys "R" Us, as well as Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum and the new 42 Studio Building. In addition, Sciame recently completed the expansion of the Morgan Library.

The firm has an established history of projects in Lower Manhattan including the award winning Seamen's Church Institute in the South Street Seaport, Millennium High School, and the revitalization of Historic Front Street, a mixed-use project in the South Street Seaport Historic District. He also served as pro-bono advisor to the Tribute Center and provided cost and construction consultation for the New Jersey September 11th memorial. 
        
Frank Sciame received the Ernst & Young NYC Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Construction Category in 1996, and, in 1997 the Construction Management Association of America named his firm Construction Manager of the Year.

For his dedication to preserving the City's treasures, Mr. Sciame received the 1997 Chairman's Award from the New York Landmarks Conservancy and a 2003 "Pillar of New York" award from the Preservation League of New York State. Mr. Sciame, a former Public Director for the Board of the New York City Chapter of the American Institute of Architects was made an Honorary Member of the New York City and State Chapters in 2004. He currently serves as Chairman of the New York Building Congress, and serves on the Boards of the City College Fund, the Actor's Center, the South Street Seaport Museum, and the New York Landmarks Conservancy. He also serves as Chairman of the Seaport North Community Business Association, which he helped organize to represent property and business owners in the Seaport Historic District. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the City College of New York Alumni Association and is Past-President.

Mr. Sciame holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Architecture from City College of New York and received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts in 2004.