Source: http://framework.latimes.com/2010/10/06/first-interstate-bank-fire/
The First Interstate Bank building, later rename 707 Wilshire, and now called the Aon Center, is often brought up as an example building that burned a lot and did not collapse.
There's a number of objections to this comparison - the building had unusually good fireproofing, the progress was eventually stopped by sprinklers, and it actually came very close to collapsing. But I want to figure out if it's even structurally comparable.
I've only been able to find this as a floor plan:
http://www.lafire.com/famous_fires/1988-0504_1stInterstateFire/ExSummary/LAFD-ExecutiveSummary.htm
From which, it seem, someone made a small schematic.
http://www.mace.manchester.ac.uk/pr...istoricFires/BuildingFires/interstateBank.htm
Which I used as a scale comparison with WTC7 and One Meridian Plaza
It's a bit odd though, as it seems to show only three core columns off to one side, and rather oddly spaced columns at the short ends.
Here's it's described as a "braced core"
And here:
http://www.mace.manchester.ac.uk/pr...istoricFires/BuildingFires/interstateBank.htm
So what was the structural part of the central core? Was it just Reinforced Concrete walls? Were there more columns? Are the above diagrams accurate?External Quote:
Construction photos would be ideal, but this is all I can find:
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