During Hurricane Ike, extreme winds caused partial collapse of a masonry wall in a retail center. Two walls were affected on adjacent buildings. One of the walls fell onto the roof, causing further damage. We performed ultrasonic thickness testing of the existing framing so determine as-built conditions since drawings were unavailable. An analysis was then performed to determine the reason for the collapse and evaluate repair options. We determined that the structural framing was inadequate and recommended repairs. The masonry wall was also inadequate. We recommended that steel framing be added when the wall was reconstructed.
