El Centro College Blast Analysis
Kimley-Horn was sole-sourced to provide a forensic analysis and condition assessment of damage caused by a blast incident on the campus of El Centro College in Dallas, Texas.
On July 7, 2016, an armed attacker ambushed and fired upon Dallas Police Officers, killing five and injuring nine others. Following the shooting, the attacker fled inside a building on the campus of El Centro College. A standoff ensued resulting in Police killing the attacker by attaching one pound of C-4 explosives to a remote-controlled bomb disposal robot vehicle. This was the first time U.S. law enforcement used a robot to kill an attacker.
The Kimley-Horn team was tasked with providing a forensics analysis and condition assessment of the damage. The blast occurred on the second floor of a three-story structure between interconnecting buildings, one of which was constructed in 1872 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The team measured deflections in structural members, identified and measured buckling in steel column members, verified tolerances, identified cracking, spalling, and other distress, and evaluated primary framing and connections. Finally, the team accessed the elevator shaft and rode the top of the elevator to evaluate the interior of the shaft which had the most structural damage. Observations and damage identified as part of the evaluation were detailed in a condition assessment report that included recommendations for remediation and repair.