The Hyatt Regency
Walkway Collapse
Presented By: Jonathan Foster
4/9/02
An Engineering Disaster
Kansas City, Missouri - 1981
July 17, 1981
• Approximately 2000 People Came for a Dance Competition
• At 7:05 pm a large crack was heard and two walkways collapsed
•Leaving 114 Dead and Left over 200 injured
Gillum-Colaco International Inc. (G.C.E. Inc.)
Proposed Design for the Walkways
• wide flange beams were to be used on either side of the walkway
which was hung from a box beam
• a clip angle was welded to the top of the box beam which connected
to the flange beams with bolts
• one end of the walkway was welded to a fixed plate while the other
end was supported by a sliding bearing
• each box beam of the walkway was supported by a washer and nut
which was threaded onto the supporting rod
Proposed Design
The Revised Design
• one end of each support rod was attached to the atrium’s roof cross
beams
• the bottom end went through the box beam where a washer and nut
were threaded on
•
the second rod was attached to the box beam 4" from the first rod
• additional rods suspended down to support the other levels in a
similar manner
Actual Design
The Fourth Floor Connection
Reasons For Disaster
• Lack of Communication
• Interpreting Preliminary Drawings as
Finalized Drawing
• Insufficient Review of the Final Design