The ground beneath New York City experienced a 4.8 magnitude earthquake on Friday morning, centered about 45 miles west of the city in New Jersey. Despite the city being home to towering skyscrapers like the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center, engineering experts assure that these structures are designed with enough flexibility to withstand moderate shaking.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul confirmed that there have been at least 25 aftershocks following the initial quake, some of which were felt in the city. However, no significant damage has been reported to the city's infrastructure, including roads, mass transit systems, and its 1.1 million buildings.
The iconic Empire State Building, standing at 103 floors, reassured the public by posting “I AM FINE” on its official account in response to the seismic activity.
According to Elisabeth Malsch, a managing principal at Thornton Tomasetti, a renowned New York engineering firm, skyscrapers in the city are constructed to withstand forces greater than typical East Coast earthquakes. These structures are designed to sway slowly and slightly, primarily to protect against powerful winds rather than ground shaking from earthquakes.
High-rise buildings, including the oldest ones, are constructed with high-strength concrete and steel to endure the gravitational load they bear. Ahmad Rahimian, an executive vice president at WSP Global, emphasized that skyscrapers can be considered among the safest places during an earthquake.
Modern high-rises are equipped with dampers on their roofs to balance sway and absorb shock from extreme events. Borys Hayda, a managing principal at DeSimone Consulting Engineering, highlighted the importance of designing for all potential risks, even though the likelihood of earthquakes in New York is low.
Skyscrapers in New York City are generally built to withstand earthquakes of 6.5 magnitude and larger, ensuring the safety and resilience of these architectural marvels in the face of natural disasters.
