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{{short description|Conspiracy theory organization}}
{{Infobox organization {{Infobox organization
| name = Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth | name = Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth, Inc.
| logo = ] | logo = ]
| type = Nonprofit corporation<ref>Incorporated in ] on .</ref> with ] tax exemption<ref>] tax exemption determination letter of .</ref>
| type = Political advocacy
| founded_date = November 13, 2007<ref>Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth, Inc. was formed on .</ref>
| founded_date = 2006
| founder = Richard Gage | founder = Richard Gage
| location = ], U.S.<ref>The corporation's is located in Lafayette, California.</ref>
| location = <!-- this parameter modifies "Headquarters" -->
| origins = | origins =
| key_people = | key_people =
| area_served = United States | area_served = United States
| mission = | mission =
| focus = ]<br />Promoting the ]
| focus = ]
| method = | method =
| num_members = 3,136 architects & engineers<br>22,850 members of the public (May 2019) <ref>(website homepage)</ref> | num_members = 4 board members, 1 staff members<ref>AE911Truth website . Retrieved August 22, 2023.</ref>
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.ae911truth.org/}} | homepage = {{URL|http://www.ae911truth.org/}}
| footnotes = | footnotes =
}} }}
'''Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth''' ('''AE911Truth''') is an American ] organization promoting a ], disputing accepted conclusions around the ], including the ],<ref>{{cite news|last=Blatchford|first=Andy|publisher=Canadian Press|title=U.S. skeptics to speak of 9-11 cover-up at three Canadian universities|date=April 30, 2010|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/803231--u-s-skeptics-to-speak-of-9-11-cover-up-at-three-canadian-universities|accessdate=May 1, 2010 | location=Toronto| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100504143115/http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/803231--u-s-skeptics-to-speak-of-9-11-cover-up-at-three-canadian-universities| archivedate= 4 May 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref><ref name="KGO">{{cite news|publisher=KGO Newstalk|title=Architects and Engineers Seek 9/11 Truth|date=June 3, 2009|url=http://www.kgoam810.com/Article.asp?id=1353865|accessdate=June 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802192109/http://www.kgoam810.com/Article.asp?id=1353865|archive-date=2009-08-02|dead-url=yes|df=}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Slate|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/trutherism/2011/09/the_theory_vs_the_facts.html|title=9/11 "Truth": How believers in the 9/11 conspiracy theory respond to refutations|date=September 7, 2011|first=Jeremy|last=Stahl|quote=All the same, some conspiracy theorists have actually retreated from their more difficult-to-prove claims, such as the argument that no commercial plane hit the Pentagon. 'They are focusing most of their attention on the World Trade Center stuff, where they're clinging to a few of these now pretty well-rebutted engineering hypotheses,' Zelikow says. The most successful purveyor of these hypotheses is Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth founder Richard Gage.|accessdate=August 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811201342/http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/trutherism/2011/09/the_theory_vs_the_facts.html|archive-date=August 11, 2018|dead-url=no|df=mdy-all}}</ref> as well as ] "WTC Building Performance Study" (2002). '''Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth, Inc.''' ('''AE911Truth''') is an American ] organization promoting the ] that the ] was destroyed in a ], disputing accepted conclusions around the ], including the '']'',<ref>{{cite news|last=Blatchford|first=Andy|publisher=Canadian Press|title=U.S. skeptics to speak of 9-11 cover-up at three Canadian universities|date=April 30, 2010|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/803231--u-s-skeptics-to-speak-of-9-11-cover-up-at-three-canadian-universities|access-date=May 1, 2010 | location=Toronto| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100504143115/http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/803231--u-s-skeptics-to-speak-of-9-11-cover-up-at-three-canadian-universities| archive-date= 4 May 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="KGO">{{cite news|publisher=KGO Newstalk|title=Architects and Engineers Seek 9/11 Truth|date=June 3, 2009|url=http://www.kgoam810.com/Article.asp?id=1353865|access-date=June 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802192109/http://www.kgoam810.com/Article.asp?id=1353865|archive-date=2009-08-02|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=]|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/trutherism/2011/09/the_theory_vs_the_facts.html|title=9/11 'Truth': How believers in the 9/11 conspiracy theory respond to refutations|date=September 7, 2011|first=Jeremy|last=Stahl|quote=All the same, some conspiracy theorists have actually retreated from their more difficult-to-prove claims, such as the argument that no commercial plane hit the Pentagon. 'They are focusing most of their attention on the World Trade Center stuff, where they're clinging to a few of these now pretty well-rebutted engineering hypotheses,' Zelikow says. The most successful purveyor of these hypotheses is Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth founder Richard Gage.|access-date=August 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811201342/http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/trutherism/2011/09/the_theory_vs_the_facts.html|archive-date=August 11, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> as well as ] "WTC Building Performance Study" (2002). Their claims and theories lack support among the relevant professional communities.<ref name="bazant07">{{Cite journal |last1=Bažant |first1=Zdeněk P. |first2=Mathieu |last2=Verdure |author-link=Zdeněk Bažant |title=Mechanics of Progressive Collapse: Learning from World Trade Center and Building Demolitions |date=March 2007 |journal=Journal of Engineering Mechanics |volume=133 |issue=3 |pages=308–319 |doi=10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9399(2007)133:3(308) |url=http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant/PDFs/Papers/466.pdf | access-date=August 22, 2007 |quote=As generally accepted by the community of specialists in structural mechanics and structural engineering (though not by a few outsiders claiming a conspiracy with planted explosives), the failure scenario was as follows | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070809030224/http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant/PDFs/Papers/466.pdf |archive-date =August 9, 2007}}</ref><ref name="Chronicle">{{cite journal|last=Gravois|first=John|date=June 23, 2006|url=http://chronicle.com/free/v52/i42/42a01001.htm|title=Professors of Paranoia? Academics give a scholarly stamp to 9/11 conspiracy theories|journal=Chronicle of Higher Education| volume=52|issue=42|page=A10|access-date=January 24, 2007|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141224144417/http://chronicle.com/article/Professors-of-Paranoia-/9095|archive-date=December 24, 2014|url-status=dead|quote=Thomas W. Eagar is one scientist who has paid some attention to the demolition hypothesis — albeit grudgingly. A materials engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mr. Eagar wrote one of the early papers on the buildings' collapses, which later became the basis for a documentary on PBS. That marked him for scrutiny and attack from conspiracy theorists. For a time, he says, he was receiving one or two angry e-mail messages each week, many accusing him of being a government shill. When Mr. Jones's paper came out, the nasty messages increased to one or two per day.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last = Walch|first = Tad|year = 2006|url = http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,645200098,00.html|title = Controversy dogs Y.'s Jones|work = Utah news|publisher = Deseret News Publishing Company|access-date = September 9, 2006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070302104135/http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,645200098,00.html|archive-date = March 2, 2007|url-status = dead|df = mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Asquith |first=Christina |date=September 7, 2006 |title=Conspiracies continue to abound surrounding 9/11: on the eve of the fifth anniversary, a group of professors say the attacks were an "inside job." |journal=Diverse Issues in Higher Education |page=12 |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WMX/is_15_23/ai_n27000635/pg_1?tag=artBody;col1 |access-date=October 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709210146/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WMX/is_15_23/ai_n27000635/ |archive-date=July 9, 2012 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>


== Activities ==
Founded in 2006, the group calls for "a truly independent investigation" into the September 11 attacks as they believe government agency investigations into the ] have not addressed what it calls "massive evidence for explosive demolition."<ref name="metroactive" />
]
] in New York on September 11, 2010]]
'''Richard Gage''', a ] architect,<ref name="Moskowitz">{{cite news|last=Moskowitz|first=Eric|journal=The Boston Globe|title=Airing of 9/11 film ignites debate|date=November 29, 2007|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/11/29/airing_of_911_film_ignites_debate|access-date=May 23, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090604101255/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/11/29/airing_of_911_film_ignites_debate| archive-date= 4 June 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> founded Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth in 2006.<ref name="Rudin">{{cite news|last=Rudin|first=Mike|publisher=BBC|title=The evolution of a conspiracy theory|date=July 4, 2008|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/uk_news/magazine/7488159.stm|access-date=May 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918155229/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/uk_news/magazine/7488159.stm|archive-date=September 18, 2009|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Gage's website states that he is a member of the ] and that he worked as an architect for 20 years and was involved in the construction of numerous "fireproof" steel-frame buildings.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.ae911truth.org/signatures/#/AE |title=The AE911Truth Petition| work = AE911truth.org | access-date = 2019-06-02}}</ref> He became convinced of the need to create an organization that brings together architects and engineers after listening to an independent radio station interview with theologian ].<ref name="Rudin"/>


Gage has given speeches at conferences organized by supporters of the ]<ref>"9/11 Truth movement" is the collective name of individuals and organizations that are questioning the veracity of the results of the investigations by United States government agencies into the September 11 attacks. See {{cite journal |last=Barber |first=Peter |date=June 7, 2008 |journal=] |title=The truth is out there |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/8d66e778-3128-11dd-ab22-000077b07658.html |access-date=May 23, 2009 |quote=an army of skeptics, collectively described as the 9/11 Truth movement |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603164130/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/8d66e778-3128-11dd-ab22-000077b07658.html |archive-date=3 June 2009 |url-status=live }}; {{cite news |last=Powell |first=Michael |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 8, 2006 |title=The Disbelievers |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/07/AR2006090701669_pf.html |access-date=May 30, 2009 |quote=The loose agglomeration known as the '9/11 Truth Movement' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007155734/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/07/AR2006090701669_pf.html |archive-date=October 7, 2008 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}; {{cite journal |last=Barry |first=Ellen |date=September 10, 2006 |title=9/11 Conspiracy Theorists Gather in N.Y |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-sep-10-na-conspiracy10-story.html |access-date=May 30, 2009 |quote=a group known as the 9/11 Truth Movement |journal=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617183636/http://articles.latimes.com/2006/sep/10/nation/na-conspiracy10 |archive-date=17 June 2009 |url-status=live }}; {{cite news |last=Hunt |first=H.E. |journal=The Daily Telegraph |date=November 19, 2008 |title=The 30 greatest conspiracy theories&nbsp;— part 1 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3483477/The-30-greatest-conspiracy-theories-part-1.html |access-date=May 30, 2009 |quote=A large group of people&nbsp;— collectively called the 9/11 Truth Movement |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228054035/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3483477/The-30-greatest-conspiracy-theories-part-1.html |archive-date=February 28, 2009 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}; {{cite journal |last=Kay |first=Jonathan |journal=National Post |date=April 25, 2009 |title=Richard Gage: 9/11 truther extraordinaire |url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=f54cf9ee-4637-44de-8819-19d918b3241b |access-date=October 14, 2010 |quote=The '9/11 Truth Movement,' as it is now commonly called }}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}.</ref> in various locations in the United States<ref name="Abel">{{cite web | url = http://www.hartfordadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=5546 | title = Theories of 9/11 | access-date = 2010-08-09 | last = Abel | first = Jennifer | date = January 29, 2008 | work = Hartford Advocate | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080430203236/http://www.hartfordadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=5546 | archive-date = 2008-04-30}}</ref> and Canada,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Kay|first=Jonathan|journal=National Post|date=April 25, 2009|title=Richard Gage: 9/11 truther extraordinaire|url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=f54cf9ee-4637-44de-8819-19d918b3241b|access-date=September 26, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|publisher=]|title=9/11 skeptics launch Canadian speaking tour|date=April 30, 2010|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/9-11-skeptics-launch-canadian-speaking-tour-1.901390|access-date=May 1, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100504134343/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/9-11-skeptics-launch-canadian-speaking-tour-1.901390| archive-date= 4 May 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> and has presented his multimedia talk "9/11 Blueprint for Truth&nbsp;– The Architecture of Destruction" in 14 countries.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Ravensbergen |first=Jan |journal=Montreal Gazette |title=9/11 skeptics to speak at UQAM |date=May 2, 2010 |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/skeptics+speak+UQAM/2976659/story.html |access-date=May 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504062139/http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/skeptics%2Bspeak%2BUQAM/2976659/story.html |archive-date=4 May 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> His presentations focus on the sequence of events leading to the destruction of the three World Trade Center buildings and include videos of their collapses alongside footage of controlled demolitions.<ref name="Abel" /> He went on a tour of European countries in 2008<ref name="telecinco-europe">{{cite web|publisher=Telecinco|title=Un arquitecto estadounidense presenta en Madrid su versión alternativa al&nbsp;11-S|date=November 8, 2008|url=http://www.telecinco.es/informativos/internacional/noticia/51928/Un+arquitecto+estadounidense+presenta+su+version+alternativa+al+11S+en+Madrid|access-date=May 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309183324/http://www.telecinco.es/informativos/internacional/noticia/51928/Un+arquitecto+estadounidense+presenta+su+version+alternativa+al+11S+en+Madrid|archive-date=2009-03-09|url-status=dead}}</ref> and gave speeches in Australia, New Zealand and Japan in 2009.<ref name="Schroeder">{{cite journal|last=Schröder|first=Sophie|title=Did Bush knock down the towers?|journal=]|date=November 18–24, 2009}}</ref> In 2009, Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth had a booth at the annual convention of the American Institute of Architects.<!-- The blog is written by the staff of the journal. --><ref>{{cite journal|last=McKnight|first=Jenna|journal=Architectural Record|date=May 1, 2009|title=AIA 2009: Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth|url=http://archrecord.construction.com/community/blogs/ARBlog.asp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3aac946cd0-ba4a-4e0e-8da4-47c9e7c5d923Post%3af3ce7d52-88e2-4fa5-bd97-098db5424b81|access-date=May 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803021623/http://archrecord.construction.com/community/blogs/ARBlog.asp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3Aac946cd0-ba4a-4e0e-8da4-47c9e7c5d923Post%3Af3ce7d52-88e2-4fa5-bd97-098db5424b81|archive-date=August 3, 2009|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref><!-- <ref>{{cite web|author=American Institute of Architects|title=AIA EXPO 2009|url=http://aia09.mapyourshow.com/2_1/exhibitor_details.cfm?exhid=archi56|access-date=May 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802233439/http://aia09.mapyourshow.com/2_1/exhibitor_details.cfm?exhid=archi56|archive-date=August 2, 2009|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> backup reference for AIA booth --> AIA media relations director Scott Frank has stated that "We don't have any relationship with his organization whatsoever."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.architectmagazine.com/design/architects-shy-from-trutherism_o|title=Architects Shy From Trutherism|date=2012-07-19|work=]|access-date=2017-04-20|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415135138/http://www.architectmagazine.com/design/architects-shy-from-trutherism_o|archive-date=2017-04-15|url-status=live}}</ref>
Their theories lack support among the relevant professional communities.<ref name="bazant07">{{Cite journal |last1=Bažant |first1=Zdeněk P. |author2=Mathieu Verdure |authorlink=Zdeněk Bažant |title=Mechanics of Progressive Collapse: Learning from World Trade Center and Building Demolitions |date=March 2007 |journal=J Engrg Mech |volume=133 |issue=3 |pages=308–319 |doi=10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9399(2007)133:3(308) |url=http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant/PDFs/Papers/466.pdf | accessdate=August 22, 2007 |quote=As generally accepted by the community of specialists in structural mechanics and structural engineering (though not by a few outsiders claiming a conspiracy with planted explosives), the failure scenario was as follows | archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20070809030224/http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant/PDFs/Papers/466.pdf |archivedate =August 9, 2007}}</ref><ref name="Chronicle">{{cite journal|last=Gravois|first=John|date=June 23, 2006|url=http://chronicle.com/free/v52/i42/42a01001.htm|title=Professors of Paranoia? Academics give a scholarly stamp to 9/11 conspiracy theories|journal=Chronicle of Higher Education| volume=52|issue=42|page=A10|accessdate=January 24, 2007|archiveurl=https://archive.li/20141224144417/http://chronicle.com/article/Professors-of-Paranoia-/9095|archivedate=December 24, 2014|deadurl=yes|quote=Thomas W. Eagar is one scientist who has paid some attention to the demolition hypothesis — albeit grudgingly. A materials engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mr. Eagar wrote one of the early papers on the buildings' collapses, which later became the basis for a documentary on PBS. That marked him for scrutiny and attack from conspiracy theorists. For a time, he says, he was receiving one or two angry e-mail messages each week, many accusing him of being a government shill. When Mr. Jones's paper came out, the nasty messages increased to one or two per day.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last = Walch|first = Tad|year = 2006|url = http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,645200098,00.html|title = Controversy dogs Y.'s Jones|work = Utah news|publisher = Deseret News Publishing Company|accessdate = September 9, 2006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070302104135/http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,645200098,00.html|archive-date = March 2, 2007|dead-url = no|df = mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Asquith |first=Christina |date=September 7, 2006 |title=Conspiracies continue to abound surrounding 9/11: on the eve of the fifth anniversary, a group of professors say the attacks were an "inside job." |journal=Diverse Issues in Higher Education |page=12 |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WMX/is_15_23/ai_n27000635/pg_1?tag=artBody;col1 |accessdate=October 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20120709210146/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WMX/is_15_23/ai_n27000635/ |archive-date=July 9, 2012 |dead-url=no |df=mdy-all }}</ref>


The controversial two-hour movie ''9/11 Blueprint for Truth'', popular among members of the 9/11 Truth movement, is based on a presentation given by Richard Gage in Canada.<ref name="Moskowitz" /> Gage was also interviewed for an episode of the BBC television program '']'',<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite news|last=Rudin|first=Mike|publisher=BBC|title=Controversy and conspiracies II|date=June 27, 2008|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2008/06/controversy_and_conspiracies_2.html|access-date=May 25, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090414220151/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2008/06/controversy_and_conspiracies_2.html| archive-date= 14 April 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> an episode of the ]'s series ''History'',<ref>{{cite news|publisher=ZDF|title=Die lange Nacht der Verschwörungstheorien. Eine andere Sicht auf 9/11|date=September 12, 2010|url=http://www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/beitrag/video/578660/Das-Geheimnis-des-dritten-Turms|access-date=September 18, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100915230941/http://www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/beitrag/video/578660/Das-Geheimnis-des-dritten-Turms| archive-date= 15 September 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> based on a co-production of the ] and the ZDF,<ref>{{cite news|publisher=ZDF |title=Die lange Nacht der Verschwörungstheorien. Eine andere Sicht auf 9/11 |date=September 12, 2010 |url=http://history.zdf.de/ZDFde/inhalt/4/0,1872,8108324,00.html |access-date=September 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100913053733/http://history.zdf.de/ZDFde/inhalt/4/0%2C1872%2C8108324%2C00.html |archive-date=13 September 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> as well as for a documentary produced by the Canadian television news magazine '']''.<ref name="Unofficial Theory">{{cite web|publisher=]|date=November 27, 2009|title=The Unofficial Theory|url=http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/2009-2010/the_unofficial_story/|format=Flash video, only available in Canada, no transcript|access-date=November 30, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091129081638/http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/2009-2010/the_unofficial_story/| archive-date= 29 November 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Ryan|first=Andrew|journal=Globe and Mail|title=Was 9/11 a conspiracy? 'Truthers' make their case|date=November 27, 2009|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/was-911-a-conspiracy-truthers-make-their-case/article1378976/|access-date=November 30, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091130184321/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/was-911-a-conspiracy-truthers-make-their-case/article1378976/| archive-date= 30 November 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Lisée|first=Jean-François|journal=L'Actualité|title=9/11: CBC à la rescousse de Richard Bergeron|date=November 29, 2009|url=http://www2.lactualite.com/jean-francois-lisee/911-cbc-a-la-rescousse-de-richard-bergeron/695/|access-date=December 1, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091202182242/http://www2.lactualite.com/jean-francois-lisee/911-cbc-a-la-rescousse-de-richard-bergeron/695/|archive-date=2009-12-02|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Activities ==
]
]
Richard Gage, a ] architect,<ref name="Moskowitz">{{cite journal|last=Moskowitz|first=Eric|journal=The Boston Globe|title=Airing of 9/11 film ignites debate|date=November 29, 2007|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/11/29/airing_of_911_film_ignites_debate|accessdate=May 23, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090604101255/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/11/29/airing_of_911_film_ignites_debate| archivedate= 4 June 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> founded Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth in 2006.<ref name="Rudin">{{cite news|last=Rudin|first=Mike|publisher=BBC|title=The evolution of a conspiracy theory|date=July 4, 2008|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/uk_news/magazine/7488159.stm|accessdate=May 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918155229/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/uk_news/magazine/7488159.stm|archive-date=September 18, 2009|dead-url=no|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Gage, who is a member of the ], has worked as an architect for 20 years and was involved in the construction of numerous fireproof steel-frame buildings. {{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed to back up claims about Gage's architectural career, preferably giving examples. Previous citation did not even mention Gage. |date=August 2017}} He became convinced of the need to create an organization that brings together architects and engineers after listening to an independent radio station interview with theologian ].<ref name="Rudin"/>


The organization is the main constituent of the ''ReThink911 coalition'', which ran an advertising campaign putting up signs and billboards in seven U.S. cities, as well as in Vancouver, Toronto, London, and Sydney in 2013.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Rawlings|first=Nate|magazine=]|title=Sept. 11 'Truthers' Mark Anniversary|date=September 11, 2013|url=https://nation.time.com/2013/09/11/sept-11-truthers-mark-anniversary/|access-date=October 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929004821/http://nation.time.com/2013/09/11/sept-11-truthers-mark-anniversary/|archive-date=September 29, 2013|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
Gage has given speeches at conferences organized by supporters of the ]<ref>"9/11 Truth movement" is the collective name of individuals and organizations that are questioning the veracity of the results of the investigations by United States government agencies into the September 11 attacks. See {{cite journal |last=Barber |first=Peter |date=June 7, 2008 |journal=Financial Times |title=The truth is out there |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/8d66e778-3128-11dd-ab22-000077b07658.html |accessdate=May 23, 2009 |quote=an army of skeptics, collectively described as the 9/11 Truth movement |postscript= |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603164130/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/8d66e778-3128-11dd-ab22-000077b07658.html |archivedate=3 June 2009 |deadurl=no |df= }}; {{cite journal |last=Powell |first=Michael |journal=The Washington Post |date=September 8, 2006 |title=The Disbelievers |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/07/AR2006090701669_pf.html |accessdate=May 30, 2009 |quote=The loose agglomeration known as the '9/11 Truth Movement' |postscript= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007155734/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/07/AR2006090701669_pf.html |archive-date=October 7, 2008 |dead-url=no |df=mdy-all }}; {{cite journal |last=Barry |first=Ellen |date=September 10, 2006 |title=9/11 Conspiracy Theorists Gather in N.Y |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2006/sep/10/nation/na-conspiracy10 |accessdate=May 30, 2009 |quote=a group known as the 9/11 Truth Movement |postscript= |journal=The Los Angeles Times |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617183636/http://articles.latimes.com/2006/sep/10/nation/na-conspiracy10 |archivedate=17 June 2009 |deadurl=no |df= }}; {{cite journal |last=Hunt |first=H.E. |journal=The Daily Telegraph |date=November 19, 2008 |title=The 30 greatest conspiracy theories&nbsp;— part 1 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3483477/The-30-greatest-conspiracy-theories-part-1.html |accessdate=May 30, 2009 |quote=A large group of people&nbsp;— collectively called the 9/11 Truth Movement |postscript= |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228054035/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3483477/The-30-greatest-conspiracy-theories-part-1.html |archive-date=February 28, 2009 |dead-url=no |df=mdy-all }}; {{cite journal |last=Kay |first=Jonathan |journal=National Post |date=April 25, 2009 |title=Richard Gage: 9/11 truther extraordinaire |url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=f54cf9ee-4637-44de-8819-19d918b3241b |accessdate=October 14, 2010 |quote=The '9/11 Truth Movement,' as it is now commonly called }}.</ref> in various locations in the United States<ref name="Abel">{{cite web | url = http://www.hartfordadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=5546 | title = Theories of 9/11 | accessdate = 2010-08-09 | last = Abel | first = Jennifer | date = January 29, 2008 | work = Hartford Advocate | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080430203236/http://www.hartfordadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=5546 | archivedate = 2008-04-30}}</ref> and Canada,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Kay|first=Jonathan|journal=National Post|date=April 25, 2009|title=Richard Gage: 9/11 truther extraordinaire|url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=f54cf9ee-4637-44de-8819-19d918b3241b|accessdate=September 26, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|publisher=]|title=9/11 skeptics launch Canadian speaking tour|date=April 30, 2010|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/04/30/911-skeptics.html|accessdate=May 1, 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100504134343/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/04/30/911-skeptics.html| archivedate= 4 May 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> and has presented his multimedia talk "9/11 Blueprint for Truth&nbsp;– The Architecture of Destruction" in 14 countries.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Ravensbergen |first=Jan |journal=Montreal Gazette |title=9/11 skeptics to speak at UQAM |date=May 2, 2010 |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/skeptics+speak+UQAM/2976659/story.html |accessdate=May 3, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504062139/http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/skeptics%2Bspeak%2BUQAM/2976659/story.html |archivedate=4 May 2010 |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref> His presentations focus on the sequence of events leading to the destruction of the three World Trade Center buildings and include videos of their collapses alongside footage of controlled demolitions.<ref name="Abel" /> He went on a tour of European countries in 2008<ref name="telecinco-europe">{{cite web|publisher=Telecinco|title=Un arquitecto estadounidense presenta en Madrid su versión alternativa al&nbsp;11-S|date=November 8, 2008|url=http://www.telecinco.es/informativos/internacional/noticia/51928/Un+arquitecto+estadounidense+presenta+su+version+alternativa+al+11S+en+Madrid|accessdate=May 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309183324/http://www.telecinco.es/informativos/internacional/noticia/51928/Un+arquitecto+estadounidense+presenta+su+version+alternativa+al+11S+en+Madrid|archive-date=2009-03-09|dead-url=yes|df=}}</ref> and gave speeches in Australia, New Zealand and Japan in 2009.<ref name="Schroeder">{{cite journal|last=Schröder|first=Sophie|title=Did Bush knock down the towers?|journal=Capital Times|date=November 18–24, 2009}}</ref> In 2009, ''Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth'' had a booth at the annual convention of the American Institute of Architects.<!-- The blog is written by the staff of the journal. --><ref>{{cite journal|last=McKnight|first=Jenna|journal=Architectural Record|date=May 1, 2009|title=AIA 2009: Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth|url=http://archrecord.construction.com/community/blogs/ARBlog.asp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3aac946cd0-ba4a-4e0e-8da4-47c9e7c5d923Post%3af3ce7d52-88e2-4fa5-bd97-098db5424b81|accessdate=May 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803021623/http://archrecord.construction.com/community/blogs/ARBlog.asp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3Aac946cd0-ba4a-4e0e-8da4-47c9e7c5d923Post%3Af3ce7d52-88e2-4fa5-bd97-098db5424b81|archive-date=August 3, 2009|dead-url=no|df=mdy-all}}</ref><!-- <ref>{{cite web|author=American Institute of Architects|title=AIA EXPO 2009|url=http://aia09.mapyourshow.com/2_1/exhibitor_details.cfm?exhid=archi56|accessdate=May 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802233439/http://aia09.mapyourshow.com/2_1/exhibitor_details.cfm?exhid=archi56|archive-date=August 2, 2009|dead-url=no|df=mdy-all}}</ref> backup reference for AIA booth --> AIA media relations director Scott Frank has that "We don't have any relationship with his organization whatsoever."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.architectmagazine.com/design/architects-shy-from-trutherism_o|title=Architects Shy From Trutherism|date=2012-07-19|work=Architect|access-date=2017-04-20|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415135138/http://www.architectmagazine.com/design/architects-shy-from-trutherism_o|archive-date=2017-04-15|dead-url=no|df=}}</ref>


Gage left Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth in September 2021,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://richardgage911.org/why-im-going-independent/|title=Why I am Going Solo|last=Gage|first=Richard|date=Oct 20, 2021|access-date=Nov 19, 2021|archive-date=November 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119183307/https://richardgage911.org/why-im-going-independent/|url-status=dead}}</ref> after being criticised for remarks he made suggesting vaccines were poisonous and allegations of antisemitism. <ref>{{cite magazine|last=Stahl|first=Jeremy|magazine=Slate|title=Spike Lee Has Fallen Down the 9/11 Truther Rabbit Hole|date=August 24, 2021|url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/08/spike-lee-hbo-documentary-richard-gage.html|access-date=Nov 19, 2021}}</ref>
The controversial two-hour movie ''9/11 Blueprint for Truth'', popular among members of the 9/11 Truth movement, is based on a presentation given by Richard Gage in Canada.<ref name="Moskowitz" /> Gage was also interviewed for an episode of the BBC television program '']'',<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite news|last=Rudin|first=Mike|publisher=BBC|title=Controversy and conspiracies II|date=June 27, 2008|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2008/06/controversy_and_conspiracies_2.html|accessdate=May 25, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090414220151/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2008/06/controversy_and_conspiracies_2.html| archivedate= 14 April 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref><ref name="bbc.co.uk"/> an episode of the ]'s series ''History'',<ref>{{cite news|publisher=ZDF|title=Die lange Nacht der Verschwörungstheorien. Eine andere Sicht auf 9/11|date=September 12, 2010|url=http://www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/beitrag/video/578660/Das-Geheimnis-des-dritten-Turms|accessdate=September 18, 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100915230941/http://www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/beitrag/video/578660/Das-Geheimnis-des-dritten-Turms| archivedate= 15 September 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> based on a co-production of the ] and the ZDF,<ref>{{cite news|publisher=ZDF |title=Die lange Nacht der Verschwörungstheorien. Eine andere Sicht auf 9/11 |date=September 12, 2010 |url=http://history.zdf.de/ZDFde/inhalt/4/0,1872,8108324,00.html |accessdate=September 18, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100913053733/http://history.zdf.de/ZDFde/inhalt/4/0%2C1872%2C8108324%2C00.html |archivedate=13 September 2010 |deadurl=no }}</ref> as well as for a documentary produced by the Canadian television news magazine '']''.<ref name="Unofficial Theory">{{cite web|publisher=]|date=November 27, 2009|title=The Unofficial Theory|url=http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/2009-2010/the_unofficial_story/|format=Flash video, only available in Canada, no transcript|accessdate=November 30, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091129081638/http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/2009-2010/the_unofficial_story/| archivedate= 29 November 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Ryan|first=Andrew|journal=Globe and Mail|title=Was 9/11 a conspiracy? 'Truthers' make their case|date=November 27, 2009|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/was-911-a-conspiracy-truthers-make-their-case/article1378976/|accessdate=November 30, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091130184321/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/was-911-a-conspiracy-truthers-make-their-case/article1378976/| archivedate= 30 November 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Lisée|first=Jean-François|journal=L'actualité|title=9/11: CBC à la rescousse de Richard Bergeron|date=November 29, 2009|url=http://www2.lactualite.com/jean-francois-lisee/911-cbc-a-la-rescousse-de-richard-bergeron/695/|accessdate=December 1, 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091202182242/http://www2.lactualite.com/jean-francois-lisee/911-cbc-a-la-rescousse-de-richard-bergeron/695/|archivedate=2009-12-02|deadurl=yes|df=}}</ref>

The organization is the main constituent of the ''ReThink911 coalition'', which ran an advertising campaign putting up signs and billboards in seven U.S. cities, as well as in Vancouver, Toronto, London, and Sydney in 2013.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Rawlings|first=Nate|journal=TIME|title=Sept. 11 'Truthers' Mark Anniversary|date=September 11, 2013|url=http://nation.time.com/2013/09/11/sept-11-truthers-mark-anniversary/|access-date=October 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929004821/http://nation.time.com/2013/09/11/sept-11-truthers-mark-anniversary/|archive-date=September 29, 2013|dead-url=no|df=mdy-all}}</ref>


== Advocacy == == Advocacy ==
{{See also|World Trade Center controlled demolition conspiracy theories|Collapse of the World Trade Center#Investigations}} {{See also|World Trade Center controlled demolition conspiracy theories|Collapse of the World Trade Center#Investigations}}
] ] speaking in support of Richard Gage and Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth at an event in Los Angeles]]
Members of the organization argue that the buildings of the World Trade Center could not have collapsed only because of the impact of the planes,<ref name="Beam-Slate">{{cite journal|last=Beam|first=Christopher|date=April 8, 2009|title=Heated Controversy|journal=Slate|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2215703|accessdate=May 23, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090518074848/http://www.slate.com/id/2215703| archivedate= 18 May 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Reuters|date=November 8, 2008|title=Arquitectos estadounidenses piden a Obama que reabra la investigación sobre el 11-S|url=http://www.atlas-news.com/noticias/libre/internacional/2008/11/08/noticia_33909.shtml|accessdate=May 27, 2009|quote=Aseguran que las Torres Gemelas no fueron derribadas por el choque de los aviones.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802191415/http://www.atlas-news.com/noticias/libre/internacional/2008/11/08/noticia_33909.shtml|archive-date=2009-08-02|dead-url=yes|df=}} (Press agency report. Translation: "They argue that the Twin Towers were not destroyed by the impact of the planes.")</ref> or as a result of the fires that had been caused by them.<ref name="La Presse Tour 7">{{cite journal|last=Lachapelle|first=Judith|journal=La Presse|title=Le "mystère" de la Tour 7|date=May 1, 2010|url=http://www.cyberpresse.ca/international/en-vedette/201005/01/01-4276172-le-mystere-de-la-tour-7.php|accessdate=May 1, 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100503003859/http://www.cyberpresse.ca/international/en-vedette/201005/01/01-4276172-le-mystere-de-la-tour-7.php| archivedate= 3 May 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> On the one hand Gage has said that avoiding speculation on the attacks on the Pentagon or on the involvement of the Bush administration is critical to the mission of the organization.<ref name="Kay Destiny">{{cite journal|journal=Maclean's|last=Kay|first=Jonathan|title=This is my destiny|date=May 16, 2011|url=http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/05/16/this-is-my-destiny/|accessdate=June 12, 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110524150815/http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/05/16/this-is-my-destiny/| archivedate= 24 May 2011 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> But on the other hand, Gage has said that if the destruction of the World Trade Center was the result of a controlled demolition, this would mean that part of what happened on September 11, 2001, would have been planned by "some sort of an inside group".<ref name=WSFM>{{cite news|publisher=WSFM 107.1|title=Jonesy & Amanda Jamcast|date=November 19, 2009|url=http://www.wsfm.com.au/podcasts/wsfm/191109.mp3|accessdate=November 19, 2009}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> According to Gage, an elevator modernization program that had taken place before the attacks would have provided an opportunity to get access to the core areas of the WTC towers without creating suspicion.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Television New Zealand|date=November 27, 2009|title=Terrorist attack or controlled demolition?|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/terrorist-attacks-controlled-demolitions-3198472|accessdate=November 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201002217/http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/terrorist-attacks-controlled-demolitions-3198472|archive-date=December 1, 2009|dead-url=no|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Members of the organization argue that the buildings of the World Trade Center could not have collapsed only because of the impact of the planes,<ref name="Beam-Slate">{{cite journal|last=Beam|first=Christopher|date=April 8, 2009|title=Heated Controversy|journal=Slate|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2215703|access-date=May 23, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090518074848/http://www.slate.com/id/2215703| archive-date= 18 May 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|agency=Reuters|date=November 8, 2008|title=Arquitectos estadounidenses piden a Obama que reabra la investigación sobre el 11-S|url=http://www.atlas-news.com/noticias/libre/internacional/2008/11/08/noticia_33909.shtml|access-date=May 27, 2009|quote=Aseguran que las Torres Gemelas no fueron derribadas por el choque de los aviones.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802191415/http://www.atlas-news.com/noticias/libre/internacional/2008/11/08/noticia_33909.shtml|archive-date=2009-08-02|url-status=dead}} (Press agency report. Translation: "They argue that the Twin Towers were not destroyed by the impact of the planes.")</ref> or as a result of the fires that had been caused by them.<ref name="La Presse Tour 7">{{cite journal|last=Lachapelle|first=Judith|journal=La Presse|title=Le "mystère" de la Tour 7|date=May 1, 2010|url=http://www.cyberpresse.ca/international/en-vedette/201005/01/01-4276172-le-mystere-de-la-tour-7.php|access-date=May 1, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100503003859/http://www.cyberpresse.ca/international/en-vedette/201005/01/01-4276172-le-mystere-de-la-tour-7.php| archive-date= 3 May 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> On the one hand Gage has said that avoiding speculation on the attacks on the Pentagon or on the involvement of the Bush administration is critical to the mission of the organization.<ref name="Kay Destiny">{{cite journal|journal=Maclean's|last=Kay|first=Jonathan|title=This is my destiny|date=May 16, 2011|url=http://www.macleans.ca/2011/05/16/this-is-my-destiny/|access-date=June 12, 2011}}</ref> But on the other hand, Gage has said that if the destruction of the World Trade Center was the result of a controlled demolition, this would mean that part of what happened on September 11, 2001, would have been planned by "some sort of an inside group".<ref name=WSFM>{{cite news|publisher=WSFM 107.1|title=Jonesy & Amanda Jamcast|date=November 19, 2009|url=http://www.wsfm.com.au/podcasts/wsfm/191109.mp3|access-date=November 19, 2009|archive-date=October 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002030322/https://www.wsfm.com.au/podcasts/wsfm/191109.mp3|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to Gage, an elevator modernization program that had taken place before the attacks would have provided an opportunity to get access to the core areas of the WTC towers without creating suspicion.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Television New Zealand|date=November 27, 2009|title=Terrorist attack or controlled demolition?|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/terrorist-attacks-controlled-demolitions-3198472|access-date=November 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201002217/http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/terrorist-attacks-controlled-demolitions-3198472|archive-date=December 1, 2009|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>


Investigations by the ] and the ] (NIST) have concluded that the buildings collapsed as a result of the impacts of the planes and of the fires that resulted from them.<ref name="Lipton">{{cite journal|last=Lipton|first=Eric|date=August 22, 2008|title=Fire, Not Explosives, Felled 3rd Tower on 9/11, Report Says|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/22/nyregion/22wtccnd.html|accessdate=May 23, 2009 | journal=The New York Times| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110309235941/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/22/nyregion/22wtccnd.html| archivedate=March 9, 2011<!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref><ref name="Dwyer">{{cite journal|last=Dwyer|first=Jim|title=2 U.S. Reports Seek to Counter Conspiracy Theories About 9/11|date=September 2, 2006|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/02/nyregion/02conspiracy.html|accessdate=April 30, 2009 | journal=The New York Times| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110512221337/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/02/nyregion/02conspiracy.html| archivedate=May 12, 2011<!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> In 2005, a report from NIST concluded that the destruction of the World Trade Center towers was the result of ] initiated by the jet impacts and the resultant fires. A 2008 NIST report described a similar progressive collapse as the cause of the destruction of the third tallest building located at the ], the ]. Many mainstream scientists choose not to debate proponents of 9/11 conspiracy theories, saying they do not want to lend them unwarranted credibility.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pope|first=Justin|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/06/AR2006080600393_pf.html|title=9/11 Conspiracy Theories Persist, Thrive|publisher=Washington Post|agency=Associated Press|date=August 6, 2006|accessdate=August 27, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112104935/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/06/AR2006080600393_pf.html|archive-date=November 12, 2012|dead-url=no|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The NIST explanation of collapse is universally accepted by the structural engineering, and structural mechanics research communities.<ref name="Bazant2008Q1">{{Cite journal | last1 = Bažant | first1 = Z. K. P. | authorlink1 = Zdeněk Bažant | last2 = Le | first2 = J. L. | last3 = Greening | first3 = F. R. | last4 = Benson | first4 = D. B. | title = What Did and Did Not Cause Collapse of World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York? | doi = 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9399(2008)134:10(892) | journal = Journal of Engineering Mechanics | volume = 134 | issue = 10 | pages = 892 | year = 2008 | url = http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant/PDFs/Papers/00%20WTC%20Collapse%20-%20What%20Did%20%26%20Did%20Not%20Cause%20It.pdf | publisher = ] | access-date = 2015-09-03 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923204407/http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant/PDFs/Papers/00%20WTC%20Collapse%20-%20What%20Did%20%26%20Did%20Not%20Cause%20It.pdf | archive-date = 2015-09-23 | dead-url = no | df = }} "Universally though has the foregoing explanation of collapse been accepted by the communities of structural engineers and structural mechanics researchers, some outside critics have nevertheless exploited various unexplained observations to disseminate allegations of controlled demolition."</ref> Investigations by the ] and the ] (NIST) have concluded that the buildings collapsed as a result of the impacts of the planes and of the fires that resulted from them.<ref name="Lipton">{{cite journal|last=Lipton|first=Eric|date=August 22, 2008|title=Fire, Not Explosives, Felled 3rd Tower on 9/11, Report Says|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/22/nyregion/22wtccnd.html|access-date=May 23, 2009 | journal=]| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110309235941/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/22/nyregion/22wtccnd.html| archive-date=March 9, 2011| url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="Dwyer">{{cite journal|last=Dwyer|first=Jim|title=2 U.S. Reports Seek to Counter Conspiracy Theories About 9/11|date=September 2, 2006|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/02/nyregion/02conspiracy.html|access-date=April 30, 2009 | journal=The New York Times| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110512221337/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/02/nyregion/02conspiracy.html| archive-date=May 12, 2011| url-status= live}}</ref> In 2005, a report from NIST concluded that the destruction of the World Trade Center towers was the result of ] initiated by the jet impacts and the resultant fires. A 2008 NIST report described a similar progressive collapse as the cause of the destruction of the third tallest building located at the ], the ]. Many mainstream scientists choose not to debate proponents of 9/11 conspiracy theories, saying they do not want to lend them unwarranted credibility.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pope|first=Justin|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/06/AR2006080600393_pf.html|title=9/11 Conspiracy Theories Persist, Thrive|newspaper=Washington Post|agency=Associated Press|date=August 6, 2006|access-date=August 27, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112104935/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/06/AR2006080600393_pf.html|archive-date=November 12, 2012|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The NIST explanations of the collapses are universally accepted by the structural-engineering and structural-mechanics research communities.<ref name="Bazant2008Q1">{{Cite journal | last1 = Bažant | first1 = Z. K. P. | author-link1 = Zdeněk Bažant | last2 = Le | first2 = J. L. | last3 = Greening | first3 = F. R. | last4 = Benson | first4 = D. B. | title = What Did and Did Not Cause Collapse of World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York? | doi = 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9399(2008)134:10(892) | journal = Journal of Engineering Mechanics | volume = 134 | issue = 10 | pages = 892 | year = 2008 | url = http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant/PDFs/Papers/00%20WTC%20Collapse%20-%20What%20Did%20%26%20Did%20Not%20Cause%20It.pdf | publisher = ] | access-date = 2015-09-03 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923204407/http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant/PDFs/Papers/00%20WTC%20Collapse%20-%20What%20Did%20%26%20Did%20Not%20Cause%20It.pdf | archive-date = 2015-09-23 | url-status = live }} "Universally though has the foregoing explanation of collapse been accepted by the communities of structural engineers and structural mechanics researchers, some outside critics have nevertheless exploited various unexplained observations to disseminate allegations of controlled demolition."</ref>


=== World Trade Center towers === === World Trade Center towers ===
Gage criticized NIST for not having investigated the complete sequence of the collapse of the World Trade Center towers,<ref name="Potocki">{{cite journal|last=Potocki|first=P. Joseph|journal=Bohemian|title=Down the 9-11 Rabbit Hole|date=August 27, 2008|url=http://www.bohemian.com/bohemian/08.27.08/cover-911.truth-0835.html|accessdate=May 25, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090604091229/http://www.bohemian.com/bohemian/08.27.08/cover-911.truth-0835.html| archivedate= 4 June 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> and claims that "the official explanation of the total destruction of the World Trade Center skyscrapers has explicitly failed to address the massive evidence for explosive demolition."<ref>{{cite journal|last=Beam|first=Alex|title=The truth is out there . . . Isn't it?|date=Jan 14, 2008|journal=The Boston Globe|url=http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2008/01/14/the_truth_is_out_there____isnt_it|accessdate=May 23, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090603232630/http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2008/01/14/the_truth_is_out_there____isnt_it| archivedate= 3 June 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> In particular, Gage argues that the buildings of the World Trade Center could not have collapsed at the speed that has been observed without tearing apart several columns of their structures with the help of explosives.<ref name="La Presse Tour 7" /> To support its position, Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth points to the "free fall" acceleration of ] during part of the collapse,<ref name=WAN/> to "lateral ejection of steel," and to "mid-air pulverization of concrete."<ref name="Beam-Slate" /> Gage also said that the absence of "large gradual deformations" associated with the collapse would indicate that the buildings have been destroyed by controlled demolition.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=KMPH FOX 26|title=Great Day Talks to Architect Richard Gage|date=May 28, 2009|url=http://www.kmph.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=3804709|accessdate=May 28, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> That the three buildings of the World Trade Center "fell through what should have been the path of greatest resistance" would, according to the organization, require "precisely timed removal of critical columns, which office fires cannot accomplish".<ref name=WAN/> As the mass of the top of the North Tower had been blown outward during the collapse, there was "nothing left to drive this building to the ground," Gage says.<ref name=Levin-McKenzie>{{cite journal|last1=Levin|first1=Jay|last2=McKenzie|first2=Tom|title=Twin Towers, Twin Myths|journal=Santa Barbara Independent|date=September 17, 2009|url=http://www.independent.com/news/2009/sep/17/twin-towers-twin-myths/|accessdate=September 17, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091028201041/http://www.independent.com/news/2009/sep/17/twin-towers-twin-myths/| archivedate= 28 October 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> Gage criticized NIST for not having investigated the complete sequence of the collapse of the World Trade Center towers,<ref name="Potocki">{{cite journal|last=Potocki|first=P. Joseph|journal=Bohemian|title=Down the 9-11 Rabbit Hole|date=August 27, 2008|url=http://www.bohemian.com/bohemian/08.27.08/cover-911.truth-0835.html|access-date=May 25, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090604091229/http://www.bohemian.com/bohemian/08.27.08/cover-911.truth-0835.html| archive-date= 4 June 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> and claims that "the official explanation of the total destruction of the World Trade Center skyscrapers has explicitly failed to address the massive evidence for explosive demolition."<ref>{{cite news|last=Beam|first=Alex|title=The truth is out there . . . Isn't it?|date=Jan 14, 2008|journal=The Boston Globe|url=https://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2008/01/14/the_truth_is_out_there____isnt_it|access-date=May 23, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090603232630/http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2008/01/14/the_truth_is_out_there____isnt_it| archive-date= 3 June 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> In particular, Gage argues that the buildings of the World Trade Center could not have collapsed at the speed that has been observed without tearing apart several columns of their structures with the help of explosives.<ref name="La Presse Tour 7" /> To support its position, Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth points to the "free fall" acceleration of ] during part of the collapse,<ref name=WAN/> to "lateral ejection of steel," and to "mid-air pulverization of concrete."<ref name="Beam-Slate" /> Gage also said that the absence of "large gradual deformations" associated with the collapse would indicate that the buildings have been destroyed by controlled demolition.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=KMPH FOX 26|title=Great Day Talks to Architect Richard Gage|date=May 28, 2009|url=http://www.kmph.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=3804709|access-date=May 28, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> That the three buildings of the World Trade Center "fell through what should have been the path of greatest resistance" would, according to the organization, require "precisely timed removal of critical columns, which office fires cannot accomplish".<ref name=WAN/> As the mass of the top of the North Tower had been blown outward during the collapse, there was "nothing left to drive this building to the ground," Gage says.<ref name=Levin-McKenzie>{{cite journal|last1=Levin|first1=Jay|last2=McKenzie|first2=Tom|title=Twin Towers, Twin Myths|journal=Santa Barbara Independent|date=September 17, 2009|url=http://www.independent.com/news/2009/sep/17/twin-towers-twin-myths/|access-date=September 17, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091028201041/http://www.independent.com/news/2009/sep/17/twin-towers-twin-myths/| archive-date= 28 October 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref>


Gage maintains that the "sudden and spontaneous" collapse of the towers would have been impossible without a controlled demolition, that pools of molten iron found in the debris of the buildings were evidence of the existence of ],<ref name="telecinco-thermite">{{cite web|publisher=Telecinco|title=Un arquitecto estadounidense presenta en Madrid su versión alternativa al&nbsp;11-S|date=November 8, 2008|url=http://www.telecinco.es/informativos/internacional/noticia/51928/Un+arquitecto+estadounidense+presenta+su+version+alternativa+al+11S+en+Madrid|accessdate=May 23, 2009|quote=El ingeniero estructural del complejo WTC, advierte Gage, llama la atención sobre la piscina de magma que ardió durante semanas tras el atentado. Una evidencia que demuestra la existencia del agente incendiario 'Thermite', empleado para "fundir y cortar columnas y vigas de acero.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309183324/http://www.telecinco.es/informativos/internacional/noticia/51928/Un+arquitecto+estadounidense+presenta+su+version+alternativa+al+11S+en+Madrid|archive-date=2009-03-09|dead-url=yes|df=}}</ref> and that researchers had found unignited ] in the dust produced by the collapse of the World Trade Center.<ref name="Unofficial Theory"/><ref name=WAN/><ref name=Levin-McKenzie/><ref>{{cite journal|last=Rogenau|first=Olivier|date=September 5, 2008|journal=Le Vif|title=11 Septembre, le mystère de la 3e&nbsp;tour|url=http://www.levif.be/actualite/monde/72-58-22270/11-septembre---le-mystere-de-la-3e-tour.html|accessdate=May 25, 2009|quote=On aurait, selon 430 architectes et ingénieurs regroupés au sein de l'association AE911 Truth, retrouvé des résidus d'explosifs militaires de type thermate dans les débris de Ground Zero .|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617072329/http://www.levif.be/actualite/monde/72-58-22270/11-septembre---le-mystere-de-la-3e-tour.html|archivedate=2009-06-17|deadurl=yes|df=}} (Translation: "According to 430 architects and engineers belonging to the group AE911Truth, residues of the military explosive themate would have been found in the debris of Ground Zero .")</ref> Gage argues that this material "is not made in a cave in Afghanistan".<ref>{{cite journal|last=Nicholls|first=Sean|title=Utzon's son signs up for September 11 conspiracy theory|journal=Sydney Morning Herald|date=November 25, 2009|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/utzons-son-signs-up-for-september-11-conspiracy-theory-20091124-jhf7.html|accessdate=November 30, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091127073851/http://www.smh.com.au/world/utzons-son-signs-up-for-september-11-conspiracy-theory-20091124-jhf7.html| archivedate= 27 November 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> Iron-rich micro-spheres, which, according to the organization, have been found in the dust of the World Trade Center buildings by independent laboratory analyses, would indicate temperatures during the collapses much higher than temperatures that would result from hydrocarbon fires.<ref name=WAN/> A DVD produced by the group contains eyewitness accounts of claimed explosions and flashes seen in the buildings.<ref name="Stratford Gazette">{{cite journal|last=Sutton|first=Tori|title=Seeking the truth about 9/11|journal=Stratford Gazette|date=February 18, 2010|url=http://www.stratfordgazette.com/stratford/article/86274|accessdate=February 19, 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100324192812/http://www.stratfordgazette.com/stratford/article/86274| archivedate= 24 March 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> Gage maintains that the "sudden and spontaneous" collapse of the towers would have been impossible without a controlled demolition, that pools of molten iron found in the debris of the buildings were evidence of the existence of ],<ref name="telecinco-thermite">{{cite web|publisher=Telecinco|title=Un arquitecto estadounidense presenta en Madrid su versión alternativa al&nbsp;11-S|date=November 8, 2008|url=http://www.telecinco.es/informativos/internacional/noticia/51928/Un+arquitecto+estadounidense+presenta+su+version+alternativa+al+11S+en+Madrid|access-date=May 23, 2009|quote=El ingeniero estructural del complejo WTC, advierte Gage, llama la atención sobre la piscina de magma que ardió durante semanas tras el atentado. Una evidencia que demuestra la existencia del agente incendiario 'Thermite', empleado para "fundir y cortar columnas y vigas de acero.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309183324/http://www.telecinco.es/informativos/internacional/noticia/51928/Un+arquitecto+estadounidense+presenta+su+version+alternativa+al+11S+en+Madrid|archive-date=2009-03-09|url-status=dead}}</ref> and that researchers had found unignited ] in the dust produced by the collapse of the World Trade Center.<ref name="Unofficial Theory"/><ref name=WAN/><ref name=Levin-McKenzie/><ref>{{cite journal|last=Rogenau|first=Olivier|date=September 5, 2008|journal=Le Vif|title=11 Septembre, le mystère de la 3e&nbsp;tour|url=http://www.levif.be/actualite/monde/72-58-22270/11-septembre---le-mystere-de-la-3e-tour.html|access-date=May 25, 2009|quote=On aurait, selon 430 architectes et ingénieurs regroupés au sein de l'association AE911 Truth, retrouvé des résidus d'explosifs militaires de type thermate dans les débris de Ground Zero .|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617072329/http://www.levif.be/actualite/monde/72-58-22270/11-septembre---le-mystere-de-la-3e-tour.html|archive-date=2009-06-17|url-status=dead}} (Translation: "According to 430 architects and engineers belonging to the group AE911Truth, residues of the military explosive themate would have been found in the debris of Ground Zero .")</ref> Gage argues that this material "is not made in a cave in Afghanistan".<ref>{{cite journal|last=Nicholls|first=Sean|title=Utzon's son signs up for September 11 conspiracy theory|journal=Sydney Morning Herald|date=November 25, 2009|url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/utzons-son-signs-up-for-september-11-conspiracy-theory-20091124-jhf7.html|access-date=November 30, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091127073851/http://www.smh.com.au/world/utzons-son-signs-up-for-september-11-conspiracy-theory-20091124-jhf7.html| archive-date= 27 November 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> Iron-rich micro-spheres, which, according to the organization, have been found in the dust of the World Trade Center buildings by independent laboratory analyses, would indicate temperatures during the collapses much higher than temperatures that would result from hydrocarbon fires.<ref name=WAN/> A DVD produced by the group contains eyewitness accounts of claimed explosions and flashes seen in the buildings.<ref name="Stratford Gazette">{{cite journal|last=Sutton|first=Tori|title=Seeking the truth about 9/11|journal=Stratford Gazette|date=February 18, 2010|url=http://www.stratfordgazette.com/stratford/article/86274|access-date=February 19, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100324192812/http://www.stratfordgazette.com/stratford/article/86274| archive-date= 24 March 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>


In 2008, ], professor of ] and ] at ], published with three coauthors a paper to examine whether allegations of controlled demolition might be scientifically justifiable. They found that the available video records are not consistent with the free fall hypothesis, that the size of the concrete particles is consistent with ] caused by impact, and that the high velocity of compressed air explains why material from the towers were ejected to a distance of several hundred meters from the tower. The authors conclude that the allegations of controlled demolition do not have any scientific merit.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Bažant|first1=Zdeněk P.|last2=Le|first2=Jia-Liang|last3=Greening|first3=Frank R.|last4=Benson|first4=David B.|title=What Did and Did Not Cause Collapse of WTC Twin Towers in New York|journal=Journal of Engineering Mechanics|volume=134|issue=10|pages=892–906|date=October 2008|url=http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant/PDFs/Papers/00%20WTC%20Collapse%20-%20What%20Did%20&%20Did%20Not%20Cause%20It.pdf|doi=10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9399(2008)134:10(892)|access-date=2015-09-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923204407/http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant/PDFs/Papers/00%20WTC%20Collapse%20-%20What%20Did%20%26%20Did%20Not%20Cause%20It.pdf|archive-date=2015-09-23|dead-url=no|df=}}</ref> A spokesman for NIST said that any sightings of molten metal, including metal seen pouring from the South tower, were likely molten aluminum from the airplane, an explanation disputed by Gage who stated that the color of the molten metal rules out aluminum.<ref name=metroactive/> "Basically, gravity and the utter force of the upper floors forced the towers down," said NIST spokesperson Michael Newman.<ref name=Levin-McKenzie/> In 2008, ], professor of ] and ] at ], published with three coauthors a paper to examine whether allegations of controlled demolition might be scientifically justifiable. They found that the available video records are not consistent with the free fall hypothesis, that the size of the concrete particles is consistent with ] caused by impact, and that the high velocity of compressed air explains why material from the towers were ejected to a distance of several hundred meters from the tower. The authors conclude that the allegations of controlled demolition do not have any scientific merit.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Bažant|first1=Zdeněk P.|last2=Le|first2=Jia-Liang|last3=Greening|first3=Frank R.|last4=Benson|first4=David B.|title=What Did and Did Not Cause Collapse of WTC Twin Towers in New York|journal=Journal of Engineering Mechanics|volume=134|issue=10|pages=892–906|date=October 2008|url=http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant/PDFs/Papers/00%20WTC%20Collapse%20-%20What%20Did%20&%20Did%20Not%20Cause%20It.pdf|doi=10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9399(2008)134:10(892)|access-date=2015-09-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923204407/http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant/PDFs/Papers/00%20WTC%20Collapse%20-%20What%20Did%20%26%20Did%20Not%20Cause%20It.pdf|archive-date=2015-09-23|url-status=live}}</ref> A spokesman for NIST said that any sightings of molten metal, including metal seen pouring from the South Tower, were likely molten aluminum from the airplane, an explanation disputed by Gage who stated that the color of the molten metal rules out aluminum.<ref name=metroactive/> "Basically, gravity and the utter force of the upper floors forced the towers down," said NIST spokesperson Michael Newman.<ref name=Levin-McKenzie/>


=== 7 World Trade Center === === 7 World Trade Center ===
According to Richard Gage, ] (7 WTC), a 47-story high-rise building that was part of the World Trade Center complex and collapsed in the afternoon on September 11, 2001, is the "smoking gun" of September 11,<ref name=WAN>{{cite journal|journal=World Architecture News|title=Conspiracy theory or hidden truth? The 9/11 enigmas..|last1=Gage|first1=Richard|last2=Roberts|first2=Gregg|last3=Chandler|first3=David|url=http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.commentview&comment_id=158|accessdate=September 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912052953/http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.commentview&comment_id=158|archive-date=September 12, 2009|dead-url=no|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Bowden" /> providing the most compelling evidence that something was suspect about the building's collapse that had not been told to the public.<ref name="Röckerath-7WTC">{{cite news|last=Röckerath|first=Christoph|publisher=Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen|title=Das Geheimnis des dritten Turms|url=http://www.zdf.de/ZDFde/inhalt/18/0,1872,7378002,00.html|accessdate=May 25, 2009|quote=Ist World Trade Center 7 wirklich die "Smoking Gun" des 11. September, der Beweis, das etwas "faul" ist, wie es der prominente Architekt Richard Gage formulierte?|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802184820/http://www.zdf.de/ZDFde/inhalt/18/0,1872,7378002,00.html|archive-date=2009-08-02|dead-url=yes|df=}} (Translation: "Is 7 World Trade Center really the "smoking gun" of September 11, as Richard Gage, the prominent architect says?")</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Molinari|first=Maurizio|journal=La Stampa|title=Il crollo della Torre Sette? "Fu solo colpa delle fiamme"|date=July 6, 2009|url=http://www.lastampa.it/_web/cmstp/tmplRubriche/giornalisti/grubrica.asp?ID_blog=43&ID_articolo=927|accessdate=May 26, 2009|quote=La teoria di Gage è che il video del crollo è «la pistola fumante dell'11 settembre» ovvero la prova incontrovertibile che qualcosa è stato nascosto al pubblico.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804013209/http://www.lastampa.it/_web/cmstp/tmplRubriche/giornalisti/grubrica.asp?ID_blog=43&ID_articolo=927|archive-date=August 4, 2009|dead-url=no|df=mdy-all}} (Translation: "Gage's theory is that video of the collapse is "the smoking gun of September 11" and offers compelling evidence that something is being hidden from the public.")</ref> Gage also described 7 WTC as "the most obvious example of controlled demolition."<ref name="BBC-2008">{{cite news|title=Q&amp;A: The Collapse of Tower 7|publisher=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/conspiracy_files/7434230.stm|date=July 4, 2008|accessdate=May 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911163908/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/conspiracy_files/7434230.stm|archive-date=September 11, 2008|dead-url=no|df=mdy-all}}</ref> According to Gage, the only way to bring a building down with free-fall acceleration would be to remove its columns, which provide resistance to the force of gravity.<ref name=NZRadio>{{cite news|publisher=Radio New Zealand|date=November 21, 2009|title=Richard Gage: architecture of destruction|url=http://static.radionz.net.nz/assets/audio_item/0011/2137592/sat-20091121-0910-Richard_Gage_architecture_of_destruction-m048.asx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526154053/http://static.radionz.net.nz/assets/audio_item/0011/2137592/sat-20091121-0910-Richard_Gage_architecture_of_destruction-m048.asx|dead-url=yes|archive-date=May 26, 2010|accessdate=November 21, 2009}}</ref> Scott Grainger, a ] and member of the group, told the BBC that the evidence he had seen indicated the fires in 7 WTC were scattered about on the floors and would have moved on as they would have found no more combustibles. He thus claims that the fires could not have developed enough heat to cause the collapse of the building.<ref name="BBC-2008" /> According to Richard Gage, ] (7 WTC), a 47-story high-rise building that was part of the World Trade Center complex and collapsed in the afternoon on September 11, 2001, is the "smoking gun" of September 11,<ref name=WAN>{{cite journal|journal=World Architecture News|title=Conspiracy theory or hidden truth? The 9/11 enigmas...|last1=Gage|first1=Richard|last2=Roberts|first2=Gregg|last3=Chandler|first3=David|url=http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.commentview&comment_id=158|access-date=September 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912052953/http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.commentview&comment_id=158|archive-date=September 12, 2009|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Bowden" /> providing the most compelling evidence that something was suspect about the building's collapse that had not been told to the public.<ref name="Röckerath-7WTC">{{cite news|last=Röckerath|first=Christoph|publisher=Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen|title=Das Geheimnis des dritten Turms|url=http://www.zdf.de/ZDFde/inhalt/18/0,1872,7378002,00.html|access-date=May 25, 2009|quote=Ist World Trade Center 7 wirklich die "Smoking Gun" des 11. September, der Beweis, das etwas "faul" ist, wie es der prominente Architekt Richard Gage formulierte?|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802184820/http://www.zdf.de/ZDFde/inhalt/18/0,1872,7378002,00.html|archive-date=2009-08-02|url-status=dead}} (Translation: "Is 7 World Trade Center really the "smoking gun" of September 11, as Richard Gage, the prominent architect says?")</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Molinari|first=Maurizio|journal=La Stampa|title=Il crollo della Torre Sette? "Fu solo colpa delle fiamme"|date=July 6, 2009|url=http://www.lastampa.it/_web/cmstp/tmplRubriche/giornalisti/grubrica.asp?ID_blog=43&ID_articolo=927|access-date=May 26, 2009|quote=La teoria di Gage è che il video del crollo è «la pistola fumante dell'11 settembre» ovvero la prova incontrovertibile che qualcosa è stato nascosto al pubblico.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804013209/http://www.lastampa.it/_web/cmstp/tmplRubriche/giornalisti/grubrica.asp?ID_blog=43&ID_articolo=927|archive-date=August 4, 2009|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} (Translation: "Gage's theory is that video of the collapse is "the smoking gun of September 11" and offers compelling evidence that something is being hidden from the public.")</ref> Gage also described 7 WTC as "the most obvious example of controlled demolition."<ref name="BBC-2008">{{cite news|title=Q&A: The Collapse of Tower 7|publisher=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/conspiracy_files/7434230.stm|date=July 4, 2008|access-date=May 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911163908/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/conspiracy_files/7434230.stm|archive-date=September 11, 2008|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> According to Gage, the only way to bring a building down with free-fall acceleration would be to remove its columns, which provide resistance to the force of gravity.<ref name=NZRadio>{{cite news|publisher=Radio New Zealand|date=November 21, 2009|title=Richard Gage: architecture of destruction|url=http://static.radionz.net.nz/assets/audio_item/0011/2137592/sat-20091121-0910-Richard_Gage_architecture_of_destruction-m048.asx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526154053/http://static.radionz.net.nz/assets/audio_item/0011/2137592/sat-20091121-0910-Richard_Gage_architecture_of_destruction-m048.asx|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 26, 2010|access-date=November 21, 2009}}</ref> Scott Grainger, a ] and member of the group, told the BBC that the evidence he had seen indicated the fires in 7 WTC were scattered about on the floors and would have moved on as they would have found no more combustibles. He thus claims that the fires could not have developed enough heat to cause the collapse of the building.<ref name="BBC-2008" />


Gage dismisses the explanation of the collapse of 7 World Trade Center given by the ] (NIST), according to which uncontrolled fires and the buckling of a critical support column caused the collapse, and argues that this would not have led to the uniform way the building actually collapsed. "The rest of the columns could not have been destroyed sequentially so fast to bring this building straight down into its own footprint," he says.<ref name="Unofficial Theory"/> Gage argues that skyscrapers that have suffered "hotter, longer lasting and larger fires" have not collapsed.<ref name="Bowden">{{cite journal|last=Bowden|first=Rich|date=August 21, 2008|title=Twin towers mystery resolved, fire brought down WTC7|journal=The Tech Herald|url=http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/200834/1828/Twin-towers-mystery-resolved-fire-brought-down-WTC7|accessdate=May 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803013959/http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/200834/1828/Twin-towers-mystery-resolved-fire-brought-down-WTC7|archive-date=2009-08-03|dead-url=yes|df=}}</ref> "Buildings that fall in natural processes fall to the path of least resistance," says Gage, "they don't go straight down through themselves."<ref>{{cite news|last=Rudin|first=Mike|publisher=BBC|title=9/11 third tower mystery 'solved'|date=July 4, 2008|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7485331.stm|accessdate=May 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090726100717/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7485331.stm|archive-date=July 26, 2009|dead-url=no|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth also questions the computer models used by NIST, and argues that evidence pointing to the use of explosives had been omitted in its report on the collapse of 7 WTC.<ref name="PhillyBurbs">{{cite news|publisher=phillyBurbs.com |last=Wagh |first=Manasee |title=Group's 9/11 theories draw controversy and indignation |date=March 25, 2011 |url=http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/courier_times_news/group-s-theories-draw-controversy-and-indignation/article_01d72cec-5573-59e8-9890-57edac492d37.html |accessdate=March 27, 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501042246/http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/courier_times_news/group-s-theories-draw-controversy-and-indignation/article_01d72cec-5573-59e8-9890-57edac492d37.html |archivedate=1 May 2011 |deadurl=yes }}</ref> Gage dismisses the explanation of the collapse of 7 World Trade Center given by the ] (NIST), according to which uncontrolled fires and the buckling of a critical support column caused the collapse, and argues that this would not have led to the uniform way the building actually collapsed. "The rest of the columns could not have been destroyed sequentially so fast to bring this building straight down into its own footprint," he says.<ref name="Unofficial Theory"/> Gage argues that skyscrapers that have suffered "hotter, longer lasting and larger fires" have not collapsed.<ref name="Bowden">{{cite journal|last=Bowden|first=Rich|date=August 21, 2008|title=Twin towers mystery resolved, fire brought down WTC7|journal=The Tech Herald|url=http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/200834/1828/Twin-towers-mystery-resolved-fire-brought-down-WTC7|access-date=May 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803013959/http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/200834/1828/Twin-towers-mystery-resolved-fire-brought-down-WTC7|archive-date=2009-08-03|url-status=dead}}</ref> "Buildings that fall in natural processes fall to the path of least resistance," says Gage, "they don't go straight down through themselves."<ref>{{cite news|last=Rudin|first=Mike|publisher=BBC|title=9/11 third tower mystery 'solved'|date=July 4, 2008|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7485331.stm|access-date=May 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090726100717/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7485331.stm|archive-date=July 26, 2009|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth also questions the computer models used by NIST, and argues that evidence pointing to the use of explosives had been omitted in its report on the collapse of 7 WTC.<ref name="PhillyBurbs">{{cite news|publisher=phillyBurbs.com |last=Wagh |first=Manasee |title=Group's 9/11 theories draw controversy and indignation |date=March 25, 2011 |url=http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/courier_times_news/group-s-theories-draw-controversy-and-indignation/article_01d72cec-5573-59e8-9890-57edac492d37.html |access-date=March 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501042246/http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/courier_times_news/group-s-theories-draw-controversy-and-indignation/article_01d72cec-5573-59e8-9890-57edac492d37.html |archive-date=1 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


The community of experts in ] and ] generally supports the explanation of the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings provided by the investigation conducted by NIST.<ref name="Bazant-Generally-Accepted">{{cite journal|last1=Bažant |first1=Zdeněk P. |last2=Verdure |first2=Mathieu |title=Mechanics of Progressive Collapse: Learning from World Trade Center and Building Demolitions |date=March 2007 |journal=Journal of Engineering Mechanics |volume=133 |issue=3 |pages=308–319 |url=http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant/PDFs/Papers/466.pdf |accessdate=2007-08-22 |quote=As generally accepted by the community of specialists in structural mechanics and structural engineering (though not by a few outsiders claiming a conspiracy with planted explosives), the failure scenario was as follows |doi=10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9399(2007)133:3(308) |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809030224/http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant/PDFs/Papers/466.pdf |archivedate=2007-08-09 |deadurl=no |df= }} (continues with a four-part scenario of progressive structural failure).</ref> The appearance of a controlled demolition can be explained by an interior failure of the building, which is suggested by the sequence of the collapse of 7 WTC that shows roof elements sinking into the building while the façade remained intact.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Gilsanz|first1=Ramon|last2=Ng|first2=Willa|journal=Structure magazine|title=Single Point of Failure|date=November 2007|pages=42–45|url=http://www.structuremag.org/Archives/2007-11/SF-WTC7-Gilsanz-Nov07.pdf|accessdate=May 26, 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419050714/http://www.structuremag.org/Archives/2007-11/SF-WTC7-Gilsanz-Nov07.pdf|archivedate=2009-04-19|deadurl=yes|df=}}</ref> The community of experts in ] and ] generally supports the explanation of the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings provided by the investigation conducted by NIST.<ref name="Bazant-Generally-Accepted">{{cite journal|last1=Bažant |first1=Zdeněk P. |last2=Verdure |first2=Mathieu |title=Mechanics of Progressive Collapse: Learning from World Trade Center and Building Demolitions |date=March 2007 |journal=Journal of Engineering Mechanics |volume=133 |issue=3 |pages=308–319 |url=http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant/PDFs/Papers/466.pdf |access-date=2007-08-22 |quote=As generally accepted by the community of specialists in structural mechanics and structural engineering (though not by a few outsiders claiming a conspiracy with planted explosives), the failure scenario was as follows |doi=10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9399(2007)133:3(308) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809030224/http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant/PDFs/Papers/466.pdf |archive-date=2007-08-09 |url-status=live }} (continues with a four-part scenario of progressive structural failure).</ref> In the case of 7 WTC, the appearance of a controlled demolition can be explained by an interior failure of the building, which is suggested by the sequence of the collapse of 7 WTC that shows roof elements sinking into the building while the façade remained intact.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Gilsanz|first1=Ramon|last2=Ng|first2=Willa|journal=Structure Magazine|title=Single Point of Failure|date=November 2007|pages=42–45|url=http://www.structuremag.org/Archives/2007-11/SF-WTC7-Gilsanz-Nov07.pdf|access-date=May 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419050714/http://www.structuremag.org/Archives/2007-11/SF-WTC7-Gilsanz-Nov07.pdf|archive-date=2009-04-19|url-status=dead}}</ref>


=== Criticism of the official investigations === === Criticism of the official investigations ===
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{{See also|Collapse of the World Trade Center#Investigations}} {{See also|Collapse of the World Trade Center#Investigations}}


''Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth'' has expressed concerns that evidence related to the destruction of the World Trade Center could have been distorted and covered up by the ] (NIST), which conducted a ], one of the official investigations into the event. According to the group, and NIST themselves who considered it unnecessary, NIST did not look for physical evidence of explosives<ref name="Unofficial Theory"/><ref name=WAN/> and did not include the eyewitness accounts from first responders and from people who escaped the buildings in their investigation.<ref name=metroactive/> The organization also alleges that much of the physical evidence, apart from a few selected samples of the steel, would have been destroyed.<ref name=WAN/> Gage says that taped eyewitness interviews that were released to the ''New York Times'' in August 2005 had been "hidden by the city of New York".<ref name=metroactive/> Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth has expressed concerns that evidence related to the destruction of the World Trade Center could have been distorted and covered up by the ] (NIST), which conducted a ], one of the official investigations into the event. According to the group, and NIST themselves who considered it unnecessary, NIST did not look for physical evidence of explosives<ref name="Unofficial Theory"/><ref name=WAN/> and did not include the eyewitness accounts from first responders and from people who escaped the buildings in their investigation.<ref name=metroactive/> The organization also alleges that much of the physical evidence, apart from a few selected samples of the steel, would have been destroyed.<ref name=WAN/> Gage says that taped eyewitness interviews that were released to ''The New York Times'' in August 2005 had been "hidden by the city of New York".<ref name=metroactive/>

After the publication of the results of NIST's inquiry into the collapse of 7 WTC, Gage called a news conference,<ref name="trembath">{{cite news|last=Trembath|first=Brendan|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|title=Sept 11 building downed by fire, not explosives: inquiry|date=August 22, 2008|url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2344116.htm|accessdate=May 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802214146/http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2344116.htm|archive-date=August 2, 2009|dead-url=no|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and leaders of ''Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth'' dismissed NIST's investigation as flawed. When told of the claims, Shyam Sunder, lead investigator from NIST, responded: "I am really not a psychologist. Our job was to come up with the best science."<ref name="Lipton" /> A spokesperson for NIST said the agency's computer models were highly reliable in assessing the amount of fireproofing dislodged, a factor that would not be present in other steel buildings cited by Gage.<ref name=metroactive>{{cite journal|last1=Levin|first1=Jay|last2=McKenzie|first2=Tom|title=Explosive Theory|journal=Metroactive|date=September 9, 2009|url=http://www.metroactive.com/metro/09.09.09/cover-0936.html|accessdate=September 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913090514/http://www.metroactive.com/metro/09.09.09/cover-0936.html|archive-date=September 13, 2009|dead-url=no|df=mdy-all}}</ref>


After the publication of the results of NIST's inquiry into the collapse of 7 WTC, Gage called a news conference,<ref name="trembath">{{cite news|last=Trembath|first=Brendan|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|title=Sept 11 building downed by fire, not explosives: inquiry|date=August 22, 2008|url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2344116.htm|access-date=May 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802214146/http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2344116.htm|archive-date=August 2, 2009|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and leaders of Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth dismissed NIST's investigation as flawed. When told of the claims, Shyam Sunder, lead investigator from NIST, responded: "I am really not a psychologist. Our job was to come up with the best science."<ref name="Lipton" /> A spokesperson for NIST said the agency's computer models were highly reliable in assessing the amount of fireproofing dislodged, a factor that would not be present in other steel buildings cited by Gage.<ref name=metroactive>{{cite journal|last1=Levin|first1=Jay|last2=McKenzie|first2=Tom|title=Explosive Theory|journal=Metroactive|date=September 9, 2009|url=http://www.metroactive.com/metro/09.09.09/cover-0936.html|access-date=September 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913090514/http://www.metroactive.com/metro/09.09.09/cover-0936.html|archive-date=September 13, 2009|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
The organization supports Matt Campbell, brother of victim Geoff Campbell, who believes that the official investigation is as bogus as the official narrative on ], which was ultimately reassessed.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ae911truth.org/news/482-9-11-family-member-seventeen-years-later-let-s-keep-on-this-might-just-f-ing-work |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918091124/https://www.ae911truth.org/news/482-9-11-family-member-seventeen-years-later-let-s-keep-on-this-might-just-f-ing-work |archive-date=2018-09-18 |dead-url=no |df= }}</ref>


== References == == References ==
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==Further reading== ==Further reading==
* ; Architect Magazine, July 19, 2012 * ; '']'', July 19, 2012


== External links == == External links ==
{{wikiquote}}
* {{official website|http://www.ae911truth.org/}} * {{official website|http://www.ae911truth.org/}}
*AE911Truth's at ]
* *
* *

Latest revision as of 17:44, 5 December 2024

Conspiracy theory organization
Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth, Inc.
FoundedNovember 13, 2007
FounderRichard Gage
TypeNonprofit corporation with 501(c)(3) tax exemption
Focus9/11 truth movement
Promoting the World Trade Center controlled demolition conspiracy theory
Location
Area served United States
Members4 board members, 1 staff members
Websitewww.ae911truth.org

Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth, Inc. (AE911Truth) is an American non-profit organization promoting the conspiracy theory that the World Trade Center was destroyed in a controlled demolition, disputing accepted conclusions around the September 11 attacks, including the 9/11 Commission Report, as well as FEMA's "WTC Building Performance Study" (2002). Their claims and theories lack support among the relevant professional communities.

Activities

Two people holding a banner of Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth
Richard Gage (second from left) with 9/11 truth activists at the World Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2010

Richard Gage, a San Francisco Bay Area architect, founded Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth in 2006. Gage's website states that he is a member of the American Institute of Architects and that he worked as an architect for 20 years and was involved in the construction of numerous "fireproof" steel-frame buildings. He became convinced of the need to create an organization that brings together architects and engineers after listening to an independent radio station interview with theologian David Ray Griffin.

Gage has given speeches at conferences organized by supporters of the 9/11 truth movement in various locations in the United States and Canada, and has presented his multimedia talk "9/11 Blueprint for Truth – The Architecture of Destruction" in 14 countries. His presentations focus on the sequence of events leading to the destruction of the three World Trade Center buildings and include videos of their collapses alongside footage of controlled demolitions. He went on a tour of European countries in 2008 and gave speeches in Australia, New Zealand and Japan in 2009. In 2009, Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth had a booth at the annual convention of the American Institute of Architects. AIA media relations director Scott Frank has stated that "We don't have any relationship with his organization whatsoever."

The controversial two-hour movie 9/11 Blueprint for Truth, popular among members of the 9/11 Truth movement, is based on a presentation given by Richard Gage in Canada. Gage was also interviewed for an episode of the BBC television program The Conspiracy Files, an episode of the ZDF's series History, based on a co-production of the BBC and the ZDF, as well as for a documentary produced by the Canadian television news magazine The Fifth Estate.

The organization is the main constituent of the ReThink911 coalition, which ran an advertising campaign putting up signs and billboards in seven U.S. cities, as well as in Vancouver, Toronto, London, and Sydney in 2013.

Gage left Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth in September 2021, after being criticised for remarks he made suggesting vaccines were poisonous and allegations of antisemitism.

Advocacy

See also: World Trade Center controlled demolition conspiracy theories and Collapse of the World Trade Center § Investigations
Ed Asner speaking in support of Richard Gage and Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth at an event in Los Angeles

Members of the organization argue that the buildings of the World Trade Center could not have collapsed only because of the impact of the planes, or as a result of the fires that had been caused by them. On the one hand Gage has said that avoiding speculation on the attacks on the Pentagon or on the involvement of the Bush administration is critical to the mission of the organization. But on the other hand, Gage has said that if the destruction of the World Trade Center was the result of a controlled demolition, this would mean that part of what happened on September 11, 2001, would have been planned by "some sort of an inside group". According to Gage, an elevator modernization program that had taken place before the attacks would have provided an opportunity to get access to the core areas of the WTC towers without creating suspicion.

Investigations by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have concluded that the buildings collapsed as a result of the impacts of the planes and of the fires that resulted from them. In 2005, a report from NIST concluded that the destruction of the World Trade Center towers was the result of progressive collapse initiated by the jet impacts and the resultant fires. A 2008 NIST report described a similar progressive collapse as the cause of the destruction of the third tallest building located at the World Trade Center site, the 7 World Trade Center. Many mainstream scientists choose not to debate proponents of 9/11 conspiracy theories, saying they do not want to lend them unwarranted credibility. The NIST explanations of the collapses are universally accepted by the structural-engineering and structural-mechanics research communities.

World Trade Center towers

Gage criticized NIST for not having investigated the complete sequence of the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, and claims that "the official explanation of the total destruction of the World Trade Center skyscrapers has explicitly failed to address the massive evidence for explosive demolition." In particular, Gage argues that the buildings of the World Trade Center could not have collapsed at the speed that has been observed without tearing apart several columns of their structures with the help of explosives. To support its position, Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth points to the "free fall" acceleration of 7 WTC during part of the collapse, to "lateral ejection of steel," and to "mid-air pulverization of concrete." Gage also said that the absence of "large gradual deformations" associated with the collapse would indicate that the buildings have been destroyed by controlled demolition. That the three buildings of the World Trade Center "fell through what should have been the path of greatest resistance" would, according to the organization, require "precisely timed removal of critical columns, which office fires cannot accomplish". As the mass of the top of the North Tower had been blown outward during the collapse, there was "nothing left to drive this building to the ground," Gage says.

Gage maintains that the "sudden and spontaneous" collapse of the towers would have been impossible without a controlled demolition, that pools of molten iron found in the debris of the buildings were evidence of the existence of thermite, and that researchers had found unignited nano-thermite in the dust produced by the collapse of the World Trade Center. Gage argues that this material "is not made in a cave in Afghanistan". Iron-rich micro-spheres, which, according to the organization, have been found in the dust of the World Trade Center buildings by independent laboratory analyses, would indicate temperatures during the collapses much higher than temperatures that would result from hydrocarbon fires. A DVD produced by the group contains eyewitness accounts of claimed explosions and flashes seen in the buildings.

In 2008, Zdeněk P. Bažant, professor of civil engineering and materials science at Northwestern University, published with three coauthors a paper to examine whether allegations of controlled demolition might be scientifically justifiable. They found that the available video records are not consistent with the free fall hypothesis, that the size of the concrete particles is consistent with comminution caused by impact, and that the high velocity of compressed air explains why material from the towers were ejected to a distance of several hundred meters from the tower. The authors conclude that the allegations of controlled demolition do not have any scientific merit. A spokesman for NIST said that any sightings of molten metal, including metal seen pouring from the South Tower, were likely molten aluminum from the airplane, an explanation disputed by Gage who stated that the color of the molten metal rules out aluminum. "Basically, gravity and the utter force of the upper floors forced the towers down," said NIST spokesperson Michael Newman.

7 World Trade Center

According to Richard Gage, 7 World Trade Center (7 WTC), a 47-story high-rise building that was part of the World Trade Center complex and collapsed in the afternoon on September 11, 2001, is the "smoking gun" of September 11, providing the most compelling evidence that something was suspect about the building's collapse that had not been told to the public. Gage also described 7 WTC as "the most obvious example of controlled demolition." According to Gage, the only way to bring a building down with free-fall acceleration would be to remove its columns, which provide resistance to the force of gravity. Scott Grainger, a fire protection engineer and member of the group, told the BBC that the evidence he had seen indicated the fires in 7 WTC were scattered about on the floors and would have moved on as they would have found no more combustibles. He thus claims that the fires could not have developed enough heat to cause the collapse of the building.

Gage dismisses the explanation of the collapse of 7 World Trade Center given by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), according to which uncontrolled fires and the buckling of a critical support column caused the collapse, and argues that this would not have led to the uniform way the building actually collapsed. "The rest of the columns could not have been destroyed sequentially so fast to bring this building straight down into its own footprint," he says. Gage argues that skyscrapers that have suffered "hotter, longer lasting and larger fires" have not collapsed. "Buildings that fall in natural processes fall to the path of least resistance," says Gage, "they don't go straight down through themselves." Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth also questions the computer models used by NIST, and argues that evidence pointing to the use of explosives had been omitted in its report on the collapse of 7 WTC.

The community of experts in structural mechanics and structural engineering generally supports the explanation of the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings provided by the investigation conducted by NIST. In the case of 7 WTC, the appearance of a controlled demolition can be explained by an interior failure of the building, which is suggested by the sequence of the collapse of 7 WTC that shows roof elements sinking into the building while the façade remained intact.

Criticism of the official investigations

See also: Collapse of the World Trade Center § Investigations

Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth has expressed concerns that evidence related to the destruction of the World Trade Center could have been distorted and covered up by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which conducted a building and fire safety investigation, one of the official investigations into the event. According to the group, and NIST themselves who considered it unnecessary, NIST did not look for physical evidence of explosives and did not include the eyewitness accounts from first responders and from people who escaped the buildings in their investigation. The organization also alleges that much of the physical evidence, apart from a few selected samples of the steel, would have been destroyed. Gage says that taped eyewitness interviews that were released to The New York Times in August 2005 had been "hidden by the city of New York".

After the publication of the results of NIST's inquiry into the collapse of 7 WTC, Gage called a news conference, and leaders of Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth dismissed NIST's investigation as flawed. When told of the claims, Shyam Sunder, lead investigator from NIST, responded: "I am really not a psychologist. Our job was to come up with the best science." A spokesperson for NIST said the agency's computer models were highly reliable in assessing the amount of fireproofing dislodged, a factor that would not be present in other steel buildings cited by Gage.

References

  1. Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth, Inc. was formed on November 13, 2007.
  2. Incorporated in California on November 13, 2007.
  3. Internal Revenue Service tax exemption determination letter of April 3, 2010.
  4. The corporation's "principal office" is located in Lafayette, California.
  5. AE911Truth website homepage. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
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  8. Stahl, Jeremy (September 7, 2011). "9/11 'Truth': How believers in the 9/11 conspiracy theory respond to refutations". Slate. Archived from the original on August 11, 2018. Retrieved August 25, 2018. All the same, some conspiracy theorists have actually retreated from their more difficult-to-prove claims, such as the argument that no commercial plane hit the Pentagon. 'They are focusing most of their attention on the World Trade Center stuff, where they're clinging to a few of these now pretty well-rebutted engineering hypotheses,' Zelikow says. The most successful purveyor of these hypotheses is Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth founder Richard Gage.
  9. Bažant, Zdeněk P.; Verdure, Mathieu (March 2007). "Mechanics of Progressive Collapse: Learning from World Trade Center and Building Demolitions" (PDF). Journal of Engineering Mechanics. 133 (3): 308–319. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9399(2007)133:3(308). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 9, 2007. Retrieved August 22, 2007. As generally accepted by the community of specialists in structural mechanics and structural engineering (though not by a few outsiders claiming a conspiracy with planted explosives), the failure scenario was as follows
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