The Secret Fix of NYC's Citicorp Center: A Structural Crisis
In 1977, the Citicorp Center, now known as Citigroup Center, was inaugurated at 601 Lexington Avenue. The 59-story skyscraper was created by architects Hugh Stubbins, Emery Roth & Sons, and engineer William LeMessurier, serving as the headquarters for Citibank. A year later, engineering student Diane Hartley uncovered a significant structural issue that posed a risk of collapse. Upon her report, LeMessurier re-evaluated the design and determined that the building could be compromised by winds reaching 110 km/h. An urgent reinforcement initiative was launched in secret in August 1978, with only a few officials being informed. This crisis remained hidden until a 1995 article in The New Yorker brought it to light, eliciting mixed reactions from the public regarding LeMessurier's response.
Key facts
- Citicorp Center opened in 1977 at 601 Lexington Avenue, New York.
- Designed by Hugh Stubbins, Emery Roth & Sons, and William LeMessurier.
- Diane Hartley discovered the structural flaw in 1978 for her Princeton thesis.
- LeMessurier recalculated after being alerted by Lee DeCarolis.
- The building risked collapse from winds over 110 km/h.
- Secret reinforcement welding began in August 1978, done only at night.
- Only key officials were informed: Mayor Ed Koch, Irving Minkin, and union head.
- The secret was kept until a 1995 New Yorker article exposed it.
Entities
Artists
- Hugh Stubbins
- William LeMessurier
- Diane Hartley
- Lee DeCarolis
- Eugene Kremer
Institutions
- Emery Roth & Sons
- Citibank
- Princeton University
- American Institute of Architecture Trust
- New Yorker
Locations
- New York City
- Manhattan
- Midtown Manhattan
- 601 Lexington Avenue