A student’s phone call changed history. That phone call concerned the Citicorp Centre. We stand before this impressive building. Its story is one of daring design and near disaster.
The Citicorp Centre a marvel of engineering. Its unusual design was meant to defy physics. The building seemingly hangs in mid-air. This is because its supporting columns are not at the corners. Instead they are in the middle of each wall. This allowed for the construction of St Peter’s Church underneath.
Diane Hartley a Princeton student noticed a flaw. Her thesis explored the building’s structural integrity. She discovered a vulnerability to quartering winds. These winds hit the building diagonally. They exerted pressure on the corners. This was a problem because the building’s strength was not concentrated at the corners. LeMessurier the structural engineer had not accounted for this in his calculations.
The building’s load-bearing braces were bolted not welded. This was a cost-saving measure. The combination of bolted joints and quartering winds increased the stress on the building’s joints significantly.
LeMessurier took action. He secretly retrofitted the building. Welded steel bracing was added to support the joints. This was a massive undertaking. It involved working at night while the offices remained open. Thankfully Hurricane Ella though threatening did not cause the building’s collapse.
The Citicorp Centre stands tall. A testament to both innovative design and the courage to admit mistakes. It’s a reminder that even the most impressive structures need constant vigilance. The story of the Citicorp Centre is a thrilling tale of near disaster and extraordinary problem-solving.