Chicago Amoco Building Marble Failure

Façade failure due to thermal hysteresis the failure of the amoco building in chicago serves as arguably the most infamous example of thermal hysteresis.

Chicago amoco building marble failure.

With 83 floors and a height of 1 136 feet 346 m it is the fourth tallest building in. Aon center in chicago image by j. 1 2 3 hysteresis his tuh ree sis is defined as the lag in response exhibited by a body reacting to changes in the forces affecting it relating this idea to building failures thermal hysteresis is the term used to describe the long term response that certain types of marble display after years of thermal cycling the stone is particularly susceptible when cut into thin slabs and used for. Experts hasten to note that there is nothing wrong with all carrara marble.

The aon center 200 east randolph street formerly amoco building is a modern supertall skyscraper just east of the chicago loop chicago illinois united states designed by architect firms edward durell stone and the perkins and will partnership and completed in 1974 as the standard oil building. Amoco sold the building to the blackstone group in 1998 in what was believed to be a 440m deal. Several prominent buildings have suffered from the problem of marble facade failure including the amoco building in chicago the finlandia city hall in helsinki la grande arch and scor tower in paris and the ibm tower in brussels. Originally known as the standard oil building then the amoco building and most recently known as the aon center this 346 metre 83 storey office tower.

Natural stone has been used for facade applications for centuries. Today we will look at five notable structures that had to replace their original marble cladding. Completed in 1973 the eighty three story amoco building is a dominant feature of chicago s skyline. The failure of the chase lincoln first bank headquarters doesn t assure that the amoco building will have to be stripped.

The 80 story amoco building at 1 136 feet the fourth tallest building in the world and an integral part of the chicago skyline cost less than 120 million to erect only 15 years ago. Fortified by a tubular steel frame and originally clad with 44 000 panels of 1 1 4 inch thick white italian carrara marble the skyscraper was a structural feat setting the record for the world s tallest marble clad building. This was the most challenging job i have ever been on. Why do some marble facades bow and warp.

At the time this was the tall. We removed 43000 pieces of marble and installed 46300 pieced of granite.