As part of the interview that I had with Walker Lee Evey, we talked extensively
about the human side of the events of September 11th. He spoke in great detail
about how the escalators helped people evacuate the building more easily and
quickly; and how the sprinkler system installed in Wedge 1 stopped the fire
(with comparisons to the damage to pre-renovated Wedge 2).
Additionally, certain materials - such as the steel-reinforced framework installed
against the exterior walls and the Kevlar mesh installed to control brick fragmentation
in the event of an explosion - all aided in controlling the loss of life, as
well as limiting the structural devastation.
"I am getting so many personal telephone calls, e-mails, and notes from
people who survived … from people who were directly above where the aircraft
hit the building," explains Evey. "[They] write me an e-mail and say,
'I don't have a scratch, not a scratch.'
"One person turned in time to see through the window this explosion and
fireball emanating from the building right below - talking about the walls shaking,
the windows shaking, the fireball hitting the window with this physical blast.
And the window survived. It didn't even crack. [The individual tells me] how
pleased and thankful they are that the building was renovated the way it was."
Products Used at the Pentagon
Building Automation: Johnson Controls
Elevators/Escalators: Schindler Elevator
Fire Sprinkler System: Viking Corp.
Windows and Kevlar Mesh: Masonry Arts
List is not all-inclusive; items reflect Wedge 1 renovation.
Back to Business
As part of the recovery efforts at the Pentagon, companies such as Carlsbad,
CA-based Holocom Networks have been called to assist in emergency operations
to restore secure desktop networks to relocated Pentagon workers. "Holocom
received a call at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, following the September 11th
attack, requesting that we attend an emergency meeting," says Tom Mitchell,
Holocom executive vice president. "We were asked to provide 1,000 secured
desktop network systems … [and] were able to complete delivery within 15
days of that meeting. Over 300 of the systems have been installed to-date."
Mitchell, a retired Marine with 23 years of service, is proud to be a part
of the team of contractors and suppliers working to restore and rebuild structures
and services in the Pentagon. "It was fortunate that the Wedge 1 renovation
had used a zone architecture network distribution. This minimized the loss of
network connectivity, isolating it to only those areas most directly affected
by the attack," he explains. Mitchell refers to the company's decision
to reduce the cost to below its standard GSA pricing during the emergency renovation
program as "being part of the team. It just seemed like the right thing
to do under the circumstances."