The 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York City’s World Trade Center left an indelible mark on the world. It is an event that gave birth to a profound journey of recovery, discovery, and remembrance. The 9/11 Museum Workshop, founded by Gary Marlon Suson, encapsulates this journey within a compact 1,000 square feet located in New York’s bustling Meatpacking District.

A reflection on resilience and recovery

Dubbed the "biggest little museum in New York," the 9/11 Museum Workshop offers an intimate and deeply moving experience, immersing visitors in the reality of the Ground Zero recovery efforts.

But hidden within this immersive experience was a silent concern - poor air quality resulting from chemical off-gassing from the historical artifacts.

Air quality concerns

As the 9/11 Museum Workshop began to receive visitors, a new challenge presented itself. The museum’s artifacts from Ground Zero were off-gassing chemicals and particles that severely harmed air quality within the confined space. This made it difficult for visitors, staff, and Suson himself (who suffers from respiratory issues associated with his work at the Ground Zero site) to breathe and spend time at the museum comfortably—not to mention the long-term health risks associated with breathing polluted air. Some staff members began to report headaches after spending even limited amounts of time in the museum.

It was clear that if the museum was to continue providing its immersive, intimate experience, the air quality would need to be addressed. Suson said, "We owe it to our visitors and staff, and to the memories of those we honor here, to ensure that our museum is not just an informative and moving experience, but also a safe environment."

IQAir to the Rescue

To address the concerns, the museum turned to IQAir. The company's experts assessed the museum's specific air quality challenges and provided a two-pronged solution with their advanced air purifiers: the GCX Series ChemiSorber and the HealthPro Plus. The ChemiSorber uses activated carbon filters to remove gaseous pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), while the HealthPro Plus uses HyperHEPA technology to remove ultrafine particles, bacteria, and viruses. These two air purifiers, working in conjunction, have significantly improved the air quality within the museum.

Visitors and staff alike have noticed the difference. As Suson puts it, "When you walk in, it's not dead air. It's fresh and clean. It makes a difference. When people ask, we tell them about IQAir. It shows responsibility."

Impact of IQAir’s clean air solutions

IQAir's air purifiers have made a significant impact on the museum's operations, and this involvement extends beyond simply improving air quality; it has become an integral part of the museum's mission to preserve and share this vital chapter of our history.

Suson elaborates: “IQAir's technology has given us the assurance that everyone is safe and breathing clean air. It has significantly reinforced our commitment to providing a safe and immersive experience for our visitors.”

Just as the museum honors the resilience and sacrifices of the 9/11 Rescue & Recovery workers, IQAir air purifiers work diligently behind the scenes, ensuring that these important stories can be shared in a safe, clean environment. It’s a testament to the power of technology in service of memory, proving that even in the face of tragedy and hardship, innovation and determination can ensure that we can continue to learn from and honor the past.

“IQAir supports our mission to share this crucial part of history in a way that is both respectful to the past and mindful of the health of our present and future visitors.”

A museum like no other

Gary Marlon Suson, the museum's founder and official photographer at Ground Zero for the FDNY, envisioned a space that would allow the public to understand what it was like on the front lines with FDNY firefighters and recovery crews. Suson had spent seven months inside the World Trade Center site after the attacks, and the life-changing experience became a catalyst for creating the 9/11 Museum Workshop.

Inspired by a visit to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, Suson was motivated to design a similar tiny museum that would encapsulate the visual and auditory narratives of Ground Zero. He wanted to create a living memory that would endure. As he says, “In my visit to the Anne Frank House, I saw how a story of profound courage and resilience could be preserved in a small, intimate space. I felt a calling to create something similar for Ground Zero.” Suson’s time as the official photographer at Ground Zero also informs the museum’s mission: “I've learned that images and artifacts speak volumes. They transcend time and become enduring symbols of our shared history.”