The McCormick Place Exhibition Center Fire

The McCormick Place Exhibition Center Fire

Of 1967

Nathan Rogers

Sammy Smith

Introduction

In the 1900’s steel framing technology was introduced to architects and provided a way for building owners to construct a large building capable of holding mass crowds and be used for various occupancies. Unlike wood steel doesn’t rot, swell, spilt, or warp and is non-combustible, these qualities alone became enticing for people who visualized being able to have a durable and long-lasting constructed building. Steel framed construction also appealed to insurance companies which only had a 1% rating on steel framed buildings. Encasing or using spray on fire proofing it made steel seem just as everyone envisioned it at that time , indestructible . However, with the margin of human error present there is always the possibility of complete chaos and destruction. Until the McCormick Exhibition Center Collapse in 1967 the world had no reason to doubt the efficiency and effectiveness of steel frame technology, this fire alone will prove just how much we didn’t know and needed to know about steel framing technology. In this paper I plan on explaining the causes of this fire, the lessons learned, fire codes and technology that was developed to prevent structural fires like this from happening again. In return I expect my readers to gain knowledge on the pros and cons of steel frame technology as well as how to strategically fight a fire such as what transpired at the McCormick Exhibition Center in 1967.

Background

The McCormick Exhibition Center was named after Colonel Robert R. McCormick a editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. It was Colonel McCormick who spearheaded the drive to build a world-class convention center in the city of Chicago. The state of Illinois endorsed construction of a permanent exhibition hall to host conventions and trade shows. This endorsement would cost 48.1 million dollars in bonds and would take five years to build. However, Col. McCormick never lived to see the exhibition center open. The facility which was named after him opened in 1960, five years after his death. Alfred Shaw was the lead architect in charge of building the indestructible building. He was also one of the lead architects who built the Merchandise Mart which is also based in Chicago. Alfred Shaw was not new to the world of building construction and provided a fast and well-constructed building usually in five years or less with nothing but manual labor. He constructed the building of all steel encased in concrete and spray on fire proofing. The roof consisted of a steel truss system and at the time was considered top of the