Kalim Summerday Armstrong
Engineers at Ground Zero tells the little-known story of the structural engineers who played a crucial role in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. While first responders have been widely recognized for their bravery, thousands of engineers and volunteers worked behind the scenes to protect rescue teams, stabilize damaged buildings across Lower Manhattan, and prevent further catastrophe.
Working under extreme pressure, these specialists assessed the structural safety of thousands of buildings and helped prevent the Hudson River from flooding the New York City subway system after the collapse of the towers. Their expertise made it possible for recovery operations to continue in one of the most dangerous urban disaster zones in modern history.
Through firsthand testimonies from engineers and first responders, along with never-before-seen archival photos and footage, the film reveals an extraordinary moment of cooperation, compassion, and professional dedication. As the 25th anniversary of the attacks approaches, Engineers at Ground Zero reflects on how the events of 9/11 reshaped building design, engineering practices, and emergency response worldwide.
At its heart, the documentary is a tribute to the people who came together to support one another in the face of tragedy — and a powerful reminder for younger generations of how a wounded city began to heal.
FILM DETAILS
Title: Engineers at Ground Zero
Genre: Engineering | Contemporary History
Language: English
Year of production: 2026
Country of production: USA
Director: Kalim Summerday Armstrong
Kalim is an award winning Director and Cofounder of Vacationland Films. He tells stories to encourage empathy and directs documentaries & commercial campaigns with a focus on travel, culture, and the human experience. His original films focus on identity and counterculture histories like Telling the Story of Slavery which was published by The New Yorker and screened at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. His short documentary 9 Degrees premiered at DOC NYC and an excerpt of his most recent feature Engineers at Ground Zero was published by TIME. His work has screened at film festivals around the world. With Vacationland, he has been an EP on the documentary films Row of Life, A Wonderful Kingdom, and Havana Libre. He is an adjunct professor at New England College and has taught at DCTV, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and Hunter College. Kalim lives on the coast of Maine.
Producers: Justin Levy, Nicholas Weissman, Carlos Carneiro; Vacationland Films
