Patent ID: 8011154

Claim:
A building block arrangement, comprising: layers of building blocks; a first load bearing member; and a load distribution structure; wherein each one of said layers includes a row of building blocks of a first configuration in end-to-end alignment and a row of building blocks of a second configuration in end-to-end alignment spaced apart from said row of building blocks of the first configuration whereby a vertical wall isolation space extends between said rows of blocks of each one of said layers; wherein at least a portion of the row of building blocks of the second configuration of at least one of said layers of building blocks laterally overlaps the vertical wall isolation space of each adjacent layer of building blocks and the row of building blocks of the first configuration of each adjacent layer of building blocks; wherein a vertical passage channel is provided in each end face of at least a portion of said building blocks of the second configuration whereby said end-to-end alignment of said building blocks of the second configuration results in said vertical passage channels of at least a portion of adjacent building blocks of the second configuration forming a vertical end face passage extending therebetween: wherein said end face passage channel of at least a portion of said building blocks of the second configuration have a portion thereof extending to a side face thereof that defines the vertical wall isolation space of a respective one of said layers of building blocks whereby at least a portion of the vertical end face passages of a first one of said layers of building blocks is communicative with the vertical wall isolation space of the respective one of said layers of building blocks and with at least one vertical passage of an adjacent one of said layers of building blocks; wherein the first load bearing member extends through vertical end face passages of a plurality of said layers; and wherein the load distribution structure is engaged with the first load bearing member, wherein the first load bearing member has a first end portion adjacent a lowermost one of said layers of building blocks and a second end portion adjacent an uppermost one of said layers of building blocks and wherein the load distributing structure is engaged with the second end portion of the first load bearing member.