Citation

Morgenstern J. J. Prof. Iss. Eng. Educ. Pract. 1997; 123(1): 23-29.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, American Society of Civil Engineers)

DOI

10.1061/(ASCE)1052-3928(1997)123:1(23)

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

What's an engineer's worst nightmare? To realize that the wind-bracing system he designed for a skyscraper like Citicorp Center is flawed--and hurricane season is approaching. In 1978, William J. LeMessurier, one of the nation's leading structural engineers, discovered, after Citicorp Center was completed and occupied, conceptual errors pertaining to joint weakness, tension, and wind force. Alarmed by the magnitude of the errors and the danger they presented, LeMessurier acknowledged the flaws, immediately drew up new plans, and saw that all of the necessary changes to the braces were put into effect. LeMessurier's exemplary behavior--encompassing honesty, courage, adherence to ethics, and social responsibility--during the ordeal remains a testimony to the ideal meaning of the word, "professional."