Patent ID: 7669375

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 the row of building blocks of the second configuration of each layer 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 said building blocks of the second configuration each include a stepped portion in at least one of an upper face and a lower face thereof whereby the stepped portion of each one of said building blocks of the second configuration forms a horizontal wall isolation space extending between the vertical wall isolation space of adjacent layers of building blocks; wherein a vertical end passage channel is provided in each end face of said building blocks of the second configuration whereby said end-to-end alignment of said building blocks of the second configuration results in vertical end passage channels of adjacent building blocks of the second configuration forming a vertical end face passage extending therebetween; wherein the first load bearing member extends through vertical end face passages of a plurality of said layers, wherein at least a portion of said vertical end face passages of one of said layers is vertically aligned with a corresponding one of said vertical end face passages of each adjacent one 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.