Building a Safer Future Lessons Learned from the Champlain Towers South Tragedy By Andy Henley
T
he allure of beachfront living in sunny Surfside, Florida, drew countless residents to the picture-perfect Champlain Towers South condominiums for years. However, in June 2021, the world watched in horror as this slice of paradise crumbled into rubble, claiming 98 lives in a devastating tragedy. As we grapple with the heart-wrenching loss, we must glean essential lessons from this catastrophe to ensure that such a calamity never befalls another community.
Potential Reasons for the Collapse Water, an element we often associate with life and renewal, played a sinister role in this tragedy. Over many years, the relentless water infiltration caused significant structural damage to the steel-reinforced concrete support columns and slabs beneath the pool deck. It was a stark reminder that water is not merely an annoyance but a silent and formidable adversary. In essence, waterproofing is not a luxury but an absolute necessity. The signs were there, albeit subtle. A clear deflection in the concrete planter on the pool deck could have served as the proverbial “canary in the coal mine.” Minor signs like these should never be ignored; they might be early whispers of impending structural distress. However, it wasn’t just the deflection – evidence of previous concrete cracking and spalling left unattended and improperly repaired painted a grim picture. Neglecting repairs can eventually lead to catastrophic consequences, no matter how minor they seem.
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Vision Winter 2023 | cacm.org
Shockingly, there was no waterproofing membrane on the concrete deck to protect the structure below. This omission left the building vulnerable, allowing water to weaken its foundation — a costly lesson on the importance of robust waterproofing. Moreover, building movement was detected, indicating foundational issues. These movements should have been red flags, demanding immediate attention and rigorous structural assessments.
Key Learnings The lessons we must extract from this tragedy are as vital as they are sobering. First and foremost, we must recognize the indispensable role of regular common area component and structural inspections. Waiting two, three, and sometimes four decades (or more) between inspections is a perilous gamble. Prevention is undoubtedly more effective and less costly than the cure. Continues on page 50
Neglecting repairs can eventually lead to catastrophic consequences, no matter how minor they seem.
