Bridgeport, CT L'Ambiance Plaza Collapse

L'Ambiance Plaza collpase

On April 23, 1987, the L'Ambiance Plaza building under construction in Bridgeport, Connecticut, collapsed killing 28 construction workers. This was the largest loss of life in a U.S. construction accident since 51 workmen were killed in the collapse of a reinforced concrete cooling tower under construction at Willow Island, West Virginia, in 1978.
The L'Ambiance Plaza collapse was one of the worst disasters in modern Connecticut history. L'Ambiance Plaza was a 16-story residential project under construction in Bridgeport, Connecticut, at the corner of Washington Avenue and Coleman Street. Its partially erect frame completely collapsed on April 23, 1987, killing 28 construction workers. Failure was possibly due to high concrete stresses on the floor slabs by the placement process resulting in cracking, ending in a type of punch-through failure. Several observers suggested the collapse was preventable and highlighted the deficiencies of the lift slab construction technique. This collapse prompted a major nationwide federal investigation into lift slab construction as well as a temporary moratorium on its use in Connecticut.

LaAmbiancePlazacollapseBridgeport CTconstruction accidentL'Ambiance PlazaL'Ambiance Plaza collapseconstruction accident Bridgeport CT