Structural building block system with enhanced load bearing capability

A building block arrangement, comprising:

• layers of building blocks;
• a first load bearing member;
• and
• a second load bearing member;
• 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 a 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 said passage channels of adjacent building blocks of the second configuration forming a vertical passage extending therebetween;
• wherein each passage channel of each one of said building blocks is bounded by a side face and an end face thereof;
• wherein the first load bearing member extends through said vertical passages of a plurality of said layers;
• and
• wherein each one of said building blocks of the first configuration includes a vertical side face passage channel in a side face thereof, wherein each one of said building blocks of the second configuration includes a vertical side face passage channel in a side face thereof, and
• wherein the second load bearing member extends vertically through aligned ones of said vertical side face passage channel.

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 corner 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 vertical corner passage channels of at least a portion of adjacent building blocks of the second configuration forming a vertical passage extending therebetween;
• wherein said vertical corner passage channel of each one of said building blocks is bounded by a side face and an end face thereof;
• wherein the first load bearing member extends through vertical 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.