Investigators Probe Collapse of Paris Airport Concourse 5/24/2004
With little warning, the collapse occurred along a roughly 30-m-long section concourse built on an elevated platform in front of the $900-million Terminal 2E main building. Clad in glass, the 650-m-long concourse building is enclosed by a concrete vault, springing from a raised slab, with numerous square window openings.
With a flattened ellipse section, the vault spans around 34 meters and was erected in large precast ring sections by Paris-based GTM Construction. A joint venture led by Eiffel Construction Metallique SA, Metz. did detailed design and installation of the nonstructural steelwork envelope holding the glass enclosure.