Infographic: What caused the collapse?
One possible reason for the balcony collapse that killed six people in Berkeley was water getting into the horizontal wooden beams supporting the balcony, causing dry rot, according to Gene St. Onge, a civil and structural engineer in Oakland. Read the story
The Library Gardens complex, built in 2007.
Balcony
before
collapse
40 ft.
Before
The balcony was supported by seven
horizontal wood beams.
After
Broken wood beams protruding from the
building showed signs of dry rot.
All measurements are approximate.
The Library Gardens complex, built in 2007.
Balcony
before
collapse
40 ft.
Before
The balcony was supported by seven
horizontal wood beams.
After
Broken wood beams protruding from the
building showed signs of dry rot.
All measurements are approximate.
The Library
Gardens complex,
built in 2007.
Balcony
before
collapse
40 ft.
Before
The balcony was
supported by seven
horizontal wood
beams.
After
Broken wood
beams protruding
from the building
showed signs of
dry rot.
All measurements are approximate.
Before
After
The balcony was supported by
seven horizontal wood beams.
Broken wood beams protruding from
the building showed signs of dry rot.
The Library Gardens
complex, built in 2007.
40 ft.
All measurements are approximate.
Before
After
Broken wood beams protruding from
the building showed signs of dry rot.
The balcony was supported by
seven horizontal wood beams.
The Library Gardens
complex, built in 2007.
40 ft.
All measurements are approximate.
Sources: Google Earth, Gene St. Ong, civil and structural engineer, Bernard Cuzzillo, consulting engineer. Graphics reporting by Rong Gong-Lin II.
Kyle Kim, Raoul Ranoa, Lorena Iniguez Elebee@latimesgraphics
