Observations are reported of the performance in the January 17, 1994, Northridge, California, earthquake of buildings in which precast/prestressed concrete components were utilized. Ground motions recorded during the earthquake are discussed in relation to fault movements, observed responses at building sites, and prevailing building code design requirements. The results of field observations of parking garages, cladding for buildings and foundations for residences are reviewed. For garages, the performance of structures utilizing primarily precast/prestressed concrete components is compared with that of garages utilizing other materials. It is concluded that, with the exception of buildings in the immediate vicinity of the epicenter, engineered structures, including those with precast/prestressed concrete components, generally performed well. Parking garages, particularly those with large plan areas, did not perform as well as other types of buildings. The greatest damage was in collector elements funneling lateral forces to the vertical elements of the lateral load resisting system and in the columns of gravity load carrying systems that were not intended to be part of the seismic resisting system. No damage was observed to cladding due either to inadequacies of the precast components or their connections to the building's structural system.
