On a buzzing Friday in NEW YORK (AP), the earth quaked, sending tremors through a city peppered with iconic high rises such as the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center. Despite the apparent susceptibility of such towering structures to seismic activities, experts in engineering confirm that they are constructed to handle the stress of moderate seismic events with ease.
New York was shaken by a 4.8 magnitude earthquake with its epicenter approximately 45 miles (72 kilometers) to the city’s west in New Jersey. The seismic activity didn’t halt there, a 2.5 magnitude aftermath occurring on Saturday morning. Remarkably, no substantial damage has been reported in connection with the city’s extensive transit systems or to any of its 1.1 million buildings.
The Empire State Building, towering at 103 stories, reassured spectators by declaring “I AM FINE” on its social media account following the shake-up on Friday.
According to Elisabeth Malch of Thornton Tomasetti, a prestigious New York engineering firm that has dealt with the engineering challenges of the Empire State and Chrysler buildings as well as the Brooklyn Bridge, New York’s high-rise buildings are designed to endure forces significantly greater than the quakes typically experienced on the East Coast.
“We plan for an earthquake that might occur once in a millennium,” she states, providing further assurance that these events are a rare occurrence upon which the city’s architecture has been methodically designed to endure.
The dynamics of a skyscraper involve a delicate dance with natural forces, engineered to sway gently in response to powerful winds. This design flexibility safeguards them against seismic forces, as Malch describes. Skyscrapers, regardless of their age, are constantly subjected to wind forces which inadvertently ensure that they are capable of withstanding earthquakes.
Ahmad Rahimian from WSP Global, who has played a role in constructing skyscrapers like One World Trade Center and Europe’s tallest, The Shard, emphasizes the inherent safety offered by high-rises built with robust materials such as reinforced concrete and steel to handle substantial gravitational forces.
State-of-the-art skyscrapers often feature rooftop dampers, as mentioned by Borys Hayda from DeSimone Consulting Engineering, which aid in balancing sway and absorbing shocks from high magnitude events. “Engineering in New York is about preparing for every eventuality, even those with minimal probability such as earthquakes,” he adds.
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Additional insights provided by Associated Press journalist Michael Hill.
FAQ About Earthquake Safety and Skyscrapers in New York
- Are skyscrapers in New York safe during an earthquake?
Yes, skyscrapers in New York are designed to be safe during an earthquake, with flexibility to withstand the forces that accompany seismic events. - What makes skyscrapers flexible enough to tolerate earthquake shaking?
Taller buildings are built to sway slowly to endure the push and pull of hurricane-force winds, which makes them also resilient against earthquake tremors. - What measures are taken in modern high-rises to protect against earthquakes?
Modern high-rises often incorporate dampers on their roofs to manage sway and absorb shocks from seismic activity and other extreme events. - Was any damage reported after the recent earthquake in New York?
No substantial damage has been reported to the mass transit system or any of the city’s 1.1 million buildings following the recent 4.8 magnitude earthquake.
Conclusion
In light of the 4.8 magnitude earthquake that shook New York recently, it’s comforting to know that the city’s towering behemoths, its famous skyscrapers, are not just awe-inspiring in their heights but are also citadels of safety designed to sway but not break under the might of natural tremors. The engineering wisdom that goes into their making ensures that New York’s skyline is not just about grandeur but also about resilience in the face of Mother Nature’s unpredictable moods.