Manchester Courts suffered significant structural damage in the 2010 Canterbury earthquake ( 4 September ) . The masonry columns were left badly cracked on level three and four and showed shear failure . According to the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering , this was due to the load transfer from the reinforced concrete floor to the unreinforced brick columns , and was further caused by the two storey building adjoining on the south side stopping to provide lateral support at that height . Diagonal cracking on the top floor indicated damage from torsional forces
2010 Canterbury earthquake
2010 Canterbury earthquake
Manchester Courts