How one design flaw almost toppled a skyscraper - Alex Gendler
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In 1978, Diane Hartley was writing her undergraduate architecture thesis when she made a shocking discovery. After weeks of poring over the Citicorp Center’s building plans, she’d stumbled on an oversight that threatened to topple the 59-story tower into one of New York City’s most densely populated districts. Alex Gendler digs into the skyscraper’s potentially deadly mistake.
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Additional Resources for you to Explore
The Citicorp Tower is now officially known as 601 Lexington, but its history is now used as a case study in architectural and professional ethics. You can read about William LeMesurrier and his other work, learn more about the near-disaster, read the original New Yorker article, or find out more about Diane Hartley, including an interview.

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