 Several types of irregular construction styles were incorporated into the building that contributed to its mass and strength not being uniform throughout the structure . These differences in strength allowed damage to be concentrated in one or more areas rather than being distributed equally and reduced the building 's ability to sustain the tremors . Two of the irregularities of the building were the end shear walls that stopped below the second floor and the first floor carrying its load via square support columns . The result of the design was that the first floor was less stiff than the upper floors , and during the earthquake the building sustained uneven damage distribution , a condition that may have led to the complete collapse of the building in a larger earthquake . Because of its failure at the foundation and first floor level , the building was considered a total loss and was ultimately demolished . 
