Ventilation Shaft Collapses Near Sunlight Foundation Offices

http://sunlightfoundation.com

We're big fans of real-time data and reporting. We're also big fans of the 1800 Cafe, our go to place for a quick bite to eat here at our offices in Dupont Circle. These two interests collided this morning when we noticed the ventilation shaft of the 1800 Cafe break from from the building it was attached to and fall into the alley next to our offices. After noticing the shaft swaying, a warning was sent to the 1800 Cafe and the building managers but alas, it was too late.

While the warning was delivered our Multimedia Content Producer, Noah Kunin, taped the event. Here's the video showing the unfortunate aftermath and our delirious reaction. We hope the cars it crushed are insured and that the 1800 Cafe is back in business soon.

No changes were made to the video except for bleeping out some colorful words and adding a watermark. There is a jump cut in the middle of the tape, showing a perspective from a different window in our office, exactly four minutes after the collapse. Starting when the first bolts popped off, the collapse was approximately six minutes in total.

AUDIO

Producer: ermine
Sound: bleep0p3.wav
http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=24049

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• sunlight foundation
• collapse
• fail
• real time

[mariloubrockmann]

Great work! Love your video production!



[marnickmeulen]

woops :p

[red95isback]

kudos to the guy that had his camera at the ready. that was pretty awesome!

[MrSTANDFORAMERICA]

@NoahKunin This is the type of work I do. And from what I saw, there were no "bolts". it loks like they used, what they call lead nailin anchor. Which were sub-standrad for the job. the ducts look to be 16ga with steel frames at each end as connectors. Way to much weight for lead anchors. Plus with it being hit with wind all day.

[roadracer1593]

Now it's time for the lawyers. Who is going to get sued and who is going to have to pay?

[spareaxe]

Who's fucking idea was that, talk about a design flaw!!

[eirefrance]

Holy shit!!! Thats up the street from me.

[roadracer1593]

Pretty half assed workmanship by under paid workers who don't give a shit . The ventilation shaft was probably installed by minimum wage day laborers.

Minimize costs, maximize profits.

Capitalism rocks!!!

[TsuKing]

I bet it was Gordon Freeman again.

[spratatouille]

@NoahKunin this has to necessitate some sort of inspection on these things. though the other two appear to anchor down to something on the roof...not sure the first did? i'm just glad all the zipcars in the alley remain intact.