Structural inspection report, 299 Broadway, Sep 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Project #878

Cornerstone Architects 153 West 27th Street New York, NY 10001 E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 212 627-4824 (voice) 212 463-0680 Facsimile)

September 14, 2001

To: Tom Nik ( stead Properties) via FAX 564-6667 From: Mark El re: 299 Broa way

I understand that you and other occupants of 299 Broadway felt the impact of the World Trade Center building collapse on Tuesday, September 11. Accordingly, I inspected the building on Friday, September 14, with the intention of determining whether the building suffered structural damage from the impact, and whether the building is safe to reopen for occupancy by Tenants when electric power is restored.

The inspection was performed by means of flashlights; we (I, yourself, and Frank Ortiz) walked through the two subgrade levels, and I also inspected the entire extent of Stair A. I also visually inspected the exterior of the building, with particular attention to the terra-cotta water- tables in which cracks had been observed during our prior inspections. We found no evidence of new structural damage at any place we inspected within the building. A number of minor cracks were observed in stair tower A (above the exit door-frames on the 14th through 18th floors), in sub-cellar and cellar levels, particularly below leaking vault areas, and in exterior terra-cotta, but none of these cracks showed any signs of new damage or extent. There was no cracked window glass on the street facades. There was some dusting of loose plaster found on the floors below the sidewalk vault areas, but this would be consistent with increased traffic on the sidewalk, including firemen parking their cars on the sidewalk on Duane Street.

Had the impact from the WTC collapse caused any damage to this building, it would have been caused by a shock-wave transmitted through the bedrock common to both sites, and the nature of the damage (and the shock-wave) would have been similar to that caused by earthquakes. The human body is extremely sensitive to vibration; had this building experi- enced a shock-wave sufficient to cause any structural damage, the perception of the tenants at the time would have been of much greater motion than was actually experienced. In my personal experience, in a relatively mild earthquake, but one which caused some visable damage in a masonry and steel building, the perception of the shock-wave gave the impression that the structure of the building had liquified, causing an overwhelming sense of horror and disorientation. No such feelings were expressed by the people in the building.

Accordingly, I see no risk to Owner in reopening the building as soon as electric power and building services are restored.

c:\jobdoc—s\olmstead\878 - 299 Bway\878struc1.p65

NYC-WTC-000106130