Sampoong Store Collapse STEM Case Study

Investigate the deadliest non-deliberate building collapse in modern history with this comprehensive, no-prep 6-page printable STEM Case Study Packet! Designed specifically for middle and high school classrooms, this multi-day unit provides an immersive, highly informative look at the tragic 1995 Sampoong Department Store Collapse in Seoul, South Korea. By combining real-world physics, forensic engineering, applied mathematics, and corporate ethics, this resource transforms a complex structural failure into a rich, interactive learning experience.

Throughout this unit, students explore critical secondary STEM concepts—including flat-slab punching shear physics, reinforced concrete column rebar degradation, rooftop equipment load forces, safety factors, and construction ethics—in an accessible, highly engaging format.

What’s Included in this 6-Page Deep-Dive Packet:

• Page 1: Historical Case Study & Technical Breakdown

  Features a detailed historical narrative of the June 29, 1995 disaster, tracing the building's risky conversion from an office building to a retail department store. Students examine flat-slab construction physics, punching shear dynamics, and rooftop air conditioning unit drag damage before answering targeted comprehension check questions.

• Page 2: Day in the Life Scenario Challenge

  Students step into the shoes of a Lead Forensic Structural Engineer on the morning of June 29, 1995. In this immersive roleplay assignment, they analyze real-time building telemetry, investigate column cracking diagnostics, and evaluate crucial emergency evacuation protocols.

• Page 3: Hands-On Unplugged Simulation & Applied Math

  Brings structural engineering math into the classroom with clear, step-by-step calculations. Students compute column shear perimeter areas, evaluate punching shear stress thresholds (PSI), calculate heavy rooftop load distributions, and determine overall concrete safety factors.

• Page 4: Engineering Ethics & Workplace Dilemma

  Explores corporate greed versus public safety. Students analyze the impact of illegal floor additions, the removal of load-bearing support columns to fit escalators, ignored warning signs hours prior to collapse, and regulatory inspector corruption.

• Page 5: Redesign Brief & Innovation Lab

  A creative blueprinting challenge where students act as civil engineers designing "Sampoong Plaza V-2." Applying structural design principles, they incorporate drop panels, column capitals, reinforced shear wall cores, and modern structural health monitoring sensors.

• Page 6: Teacher Answer Key & Scoring Rubric

  Includes complete, step-by-step solutions for all narrative comprehension questions and math calculations, along with a clear 10-point grading rubric to streamline assessment for the design blueprint assignment.

Teacher Benefits:

• 100% Unplugged & Copy-Paste Friendly: Clean layout with zero dark background boxes or awkward formatting, ensuring seamless editing in Google Docs, Word, or Canva.

• Multi-Day Classroom Value: Designed to cover 3 to 5 full class periods. Perfect for Physics, Physical Science, Civil Engineering, Architecture, CTE electives, or emergency sub plans.

• High-Interest Real-World Content: Combines structural shear math, forensic building inspection, corporate ethics, and architectural redesign into one high-impact unit.