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In the keynote titled 'The Building Built on Stilts,' Nick Means discusses the story behind the construction of the Citicorp Center in New York during the tumultuous 1970s. The narrative is set against the backdrop of economic instability, highlighting how Walter Wriston, the chairman of Citibank, sought to build a significant skyscraper despite the city’s financial troubles.

Here are the key points covered in the talk:
- **Economic Context**: New York was facing a major economic crisis, with abandoned construction sites and financial instability.
- **Vision for Citicorp Center**: Walter Wriston aimed to construct a building that would signal Citibank's commitment to the city and its financial stability.
- **St. Peter's Church Conundrum**: The church was the last holdout on the block chosen for the new headquarters, leading to an innovative solution where the church was built under the cantilevered sections of the skyscraper.
- **Structural Innovation**: The design by Hugh Stubbins and structural engineer Bill de Measure, included a novel approach to cantilevering the building while keeping the church intact, utilizing a lightweight steel skeleton that significantly reduced the building's weight compared to its contemporaries.
- **Wind Load and Structural Failure Risk**: De Measure identified a critical oversight regarding wind loads, discovering the building was at risk from quartering winds that could cause catastrophic failure.
- **Crisis Management**: Once the risks were understood, de Measure admitted the mistake to Citicorp and proposed a solution to reinforce the building without causing panic, emphasizing transparency and a solution-oriented mindset.
- **Crisis Resolution**: Through collaboration and effective communication, the building was successfully reinforced, ensuring its safety. Despite the potential fallout, Citicorp handled the situation without legal retribution against de Measure.
- **Lessons Learned**: Key takeaways include the importance of ethical transparency, the benefits of being solution-oriented in crisis situations, and fostering a supportive environment for innovation.

Ultimately, Means underscores that mistakes can lead to significant progress when approached transparently and collectively.

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