Cosmetic damage to columns caused by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Pedestals were chipped when the columns tipped on the Old Bank of America Building at North First and Santa Clara Street in San Jose. A greater distance between floors at the ground story than in upper stories results in greater vulnerability to earthquake damage in that story. There is a significant discontinuity of strength and stiffness between the vertical structure of the first floor and the remainder of the structure.

Image Credit: C. Stover. U.S. Geological Survey