Collapse of a Parking Ramp in Atlanta

Here is a breaking news story for you:

A parking ramp near the Georgia Tech campus in Atlanta has collapsed.

This would appear to have a design that is at least superficially similar to the one on our campus although I can see some obvious differences. This will bear looking into, because I know our ramp was fabricated just outside Atlanta.

When you take a look at the slideshow, notice that a beam was launched about 20 feet or so out from the side of the building. This is what holds up the floor panels. One of these on a floor below has also been dislodged from its mountings as that floor also pancaked onto the level below under the impact of the first one that fell.

I wonder what the weakest link turned out to be in this case?