The Pappas Post received the following official statement by Skanksa USA Executive Vice President and General Manager Tomm Webb on Skanksa’s termination of its contract to construct St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center in New York City.
As reported earlier today, the construction company sent a letter to its subcontractors instructing them to cease work and vacate the premises, due to the Archdiocese’s failure to pay.
The complete statement from Skanksa follows:
“In light of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s ongoing funding challenges, Skanska regrets that we must cease construction on the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center.
Skanska is proud of our long history of work at the World Trade Center site, which ranges across half a century from the construction of the original towers to the recently completed Oculus. This site is important to us—as it is to many people—and we have worked with the Archdiocese throughout its well-documented, recent financial difficulties to extend payment deadlines and discuss alternatives, all while continuing to construct the Shrine.
We regret that stopping work was the only viable option at this point in time. Skanska will remain available to the Archdiocese as they continue to evaluate how to proceed at the site. We are confident that they will find the funding to complete this work at some point in the future.”
Skanska USA has had a continued presence at the World Trade Center site for more than half a century, both on the original construction of the Twin Towers and in the revitalization and rebuilding of the area in the aftermath of the 1993 and 2001 terrorist attacks.
Skanska played a key role in developing the infrastructure necessary to erect the original Twin Towers in the 1960s. Later, Skanska repaired the damage inflicted on the World Trade Center following the 1993 car bombing attack. Most recently, Skanska has led recent projects including the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, Oculus, PATH Hall and East-West Connector.
Skanska began construction on the St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine, which was destroyed in the collapse of World Trade Center Tower Two during the September 11 terrorist attacks, in 2015, when the first concrete was poured and the formwork for the base of the drum-shaped sanctuary was completed.
In 2016, Skanska hosted a topping out ceremony to commemorate the completion of the structural steel erection at the site. During the ceremony, a temporary cross was placed at the top of the structure.
Skanska USA is one of the largest, most financially sound construction and development companies in the U.S., serving a broad range of clients including those in transportation, power, industrial, water/wastewater, healthcare, education, sports, data centers, government, aviation and commercial.
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