In the early morning of June 24, 2021, the eastern half of the 12-story Champlain Towers South Condominium collapsed, killing 98 residents of the 40-year-old building in Surfside, Florida. WJE was retained by attorneys representing the condominium association to determine the cause of the collapse and provide litigation support. WJE’s scope included a review of design and construction records, videos, and photographs taken before, during, and after the collapse; site inspections at the Champlain Towers South collapse site and NIST primary evidence facility; testing of construction materials and subsurface conditions (in coordination with the involved parties); review of relevant codes and standards; and structural analyses. Our investigation found that the flat plate slab supporting the pool deck above an underground garage was under-designed, with significant structural distress apparent before the collapse. WJE determined that the collapse was initiated by punching shear failures in the pool deck slab. Six to ten minutes later, columns at the south face of the L-shaped building, damaged by the pool deck collapse, failed and the eastern half of the building collapsed. The western half of the building survived but was subsequently demolished. This presentation details WJE’s investigation and findings, including our collapse theory.

  

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