Lifesaving Stairwells
USA Today has a story today about how the unusual placement of a stairwell in the WTC South Tower saved the lives of 16 people. Because multi-ton elevator equipment had to be located in a room near the center of the 81st floor, architects had to put the stairwells in odd places, with only one on the far side of the equipment room. Turns out the elevator equipment blocked some of the impact and the far stairwell was the only one spared by the jet.

I've actually been annoyed by the stories and commentary that asserts the towers should be studied to determine how to build skyscrapers that would withstand future plane crashes. Many of these stories adopt a tone that implies the towers' design was faulty and builders should have built the towers not to merely withstand a hit from the biggest jet known to man at the time, but even bigger ones constructed in the future. In my book, it's amazing they stood as long as they did. The study is good, the condescension isn't. But what USA Today did, looking at the placement of a life-saving stairwell, could have practical implications for any tall buildings, regardless of whether they're hit by a plane.
- posted by Amy @ 5/17/2002 11:48:00 AM