Name Assigned: Thomasville Apartments, Brick veneer loss

Coordinates: N30d24’04.1”/W089d00’08.6”

Structure Description: This apartment complex was due south, about ¼ mile from the Plantation apartment complex (case study #18). The complex was built around 1980. The end walls of the apartments had brick veneers which were extended up above the roof line as a parapet. The framing in this apartment complex appeared to follow conventional construction provisions. Each end of the wall lines were sheathed wood structural panels. Infill wall panels were foam sheathing. The wall construction technique was similar to the flooded apartment complex in case study #5, including what appeared to be homemade floor-to-floor straps. The one exception was that the infill panels were foam instead of fiberboard.

Failure Description: One speculation was that the parapet details resulted in damage and then wall pressurization. Brick ties to studs were nominal.

Additional Information: More damage occurred in this apartment complex than the Plantation complex.