Seven minutes elapsed between the initial rumblings and the collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside. But a security guard didn’t know how to activate the building’s warning system.
Tag Archives: Buildings (Structures)
Philadelphia Firefighter Dies in Building Collapse
A 27-year veteran of the Fire Department was pronounced dead at the scene, fire officials said.
The Grenfell Fire, 5 Years Later: What Happened, and What Has Changed
The fire quickly engulfed the apartment building, fueled by cladding now banned. An investigation is continuing. But the families of the 72 who died find accountability slow in coming.
At Dakar’s Biennale, the City Itself Is the Most Colorful Canvas
The art world has descended on the Senegalese capital for its first pandemic-era biennale, the biggest art event in West Africa, where the greatest creations on view are often found just by strolling the streets.
The Men Lost to 20 Bruckner Boulevard
They were transforming a century-old Bronx ice house into a charter school. It became one of the deadliest construction sites in New York City in almost two decades.
In the Bronx, Priceless Sculptures Are ‘Literally Being Chipped Away’
More than 1,000 terra-cotta sculptures — of firefighters, mermaids, steelworkers — adorn the walls of Parkchester in the Bronx. Is there a plan to protect them?
Book Review: “Supertall,” by Stefan Al
Stefan Al’s “Supertall” is a thoughtful inquiry into the new generation of skyscrapers, which are taller and more ubiquitous than their predecessors.
Fire Erupts at Brooklyn Building Under Construction
No injuries were reported, a New York Fire Department spokesman said on Monday. It was unclear whether residents in nearby buildings were required to evacuate.
A Grand Miami Beach Hotel, and Its History, Might Be Torn Down
The Deauville Beach Resort played host to The Beatles, Frank Sinatra and John F. Kennedy. But it has been deemed unsafe after years of neglect.
To Open Homeless Shelters, N.Y.C. Relied on Landlord With Checkered History
Mayor Bill de Blasio promised to revamp the homeless shelter system, but some of the main players have not changed.
At Amazon Site, Tornado Collided With Company’s Peak Delivery Season
Amazon, which has its highest employment during the holiday shopping season, said the tornado formed at the site’s parking lot.
Tornadoes Tear Through South and Midwest, With at Least 70 Dead in Kentucky
Power was out across the region on Saturday, and severe storms were expected to continue.
Discovering a Secret Wonderland of Architecture in Dallas
A new generation of architects is arguing that postmodern cityscapes deserve re-evaluation.
A Former Wright Brothers Bicycle Shop Faces Demolition
Officials in Dayton, Ohio, have given permission to raze the building, which they describe as dangerous and at risk of collapsing. Preservationists say parts of it can be saved.
Revitalizing Black Neighborhoods by Preserving Their History
Developers are repurposing deteriorated structures in historically significant areas in an effort to incorporate spaces for the arts, affordable housing and small businesses under one roof.
The New York Blood Center Can Get an Upgrade, if NIMBYs Don’t Get in the Way
The New York Blood Center should be allowed to build its new life sciences center.
From Graffiti in the Shadows to Designing an Observation Deck in the Clouds
There’s a new way to take in the skyline. For Kenzo, a lifelong New Yorker who designed its dreamlike interior, the city was his muse.
New Supertalls Test the Limits, as the City Consults an Aging Playbook
Only three of New York’s 25 tallest residential buildings — and none of the towers on Billionaires’ Row — have completed building safety tasks required by the city.
Residents of 432 Park Sue Developers For $125 Million, Citing Defects
The condo board at 432 Park Avenue is suing the developers for construction and design defects that have led to floods, faulty elevators, and electrical explosions.
New Development Returns, Along With New Holdouts
After a pandemic lull, colorful tenants and homeowners are once again tangling with developers over megaprojects.
How We Built a 3-D Model of the Collapsed Surfside Condo Tower
A team of journalists examined building plans and interviewed a dozen experts to understand how the building could have failed.
Climate Change Is Bankrupting America’s Small Towns
Repeated shocks from hurricanes, fires and floods are pushing some rural communities, already struggling economically, to the brink of financial collapse.
‘They Were Bullies’: Inside the Turbulent Origins of the Collapsed Florida Condo
The team that developed Champlain Towers managed to build the condos despite checkered pasts, internal strife and a last-minute change that infuriated leaders in Surfside, Fla.
Inside the Turbulent Origins of the Miami Building Collapse
The team that developed Champlain Towers managed to build the condos despite checkered pasts, internal strife and a last-minute change that infuriated leaders in Surfside, Fla.
Wooden Buildings Reach for the Sky
Ambitious high-rise projects in Sweden are a showcase for a reviving forest industry.
Florida Condominium Laws Need Reform
Battles can erupt over costly repairs essential for these buildings.
Miami Condo Collapse Raises New Fears About Florida’s Insurance Market
Insurers were already skittish after losses from repeated hurricanes. The recent condo collapse has brought new insecurity. How long will Florida’s coast be insurable?
Florida, the Land of Gleaming Condos, Frets After Collapse
The high-rise condos along the Miami seashore long embodied the Florida dream of sunshine and prosperity. But the Champlain Towers South catastrophe is obscuring that vision.
‘Should We Sell?’ After Collapse, Hot Florida Market Faces Uncertainty
The partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Fla., has plunged older beachside condos and high-rise buildings like it into a swirl of apprehension.
Lax Enforcement Let South Florida Towers Skirt Inspections for Years
The collapse of Champlain Towers South has prompted a review of hundreds of older high-rises. Some buildings ignored or delayed action on serious maintenance issues.
Florida Officials Plan Swift Demolition of Remaining Part of Collapsed Building
The partially collapsed structure might not withstand a coming storm, officials fear.
Inspector Who Said Florida Tower Appeared in ‘Good Shape’ Is Now Under Scrutiny
The chief building official of Surfside, Fla., had worked in at least six South Florida cities.
Possible Failure Point Emerges in Miami Building Collapse
Some engineers looking at the failure of a 13-story condo tower in Florida said the collapse appeared to have begun somewhere near the bottom of the building.
Why the Miami Beach Area Condo Search Seems to Go Slowly
The dangers to the rescuers and missing residents are clear and dictate that the process must be slow and deliberate, experts and officials say.
Anxious Residents of Sister Tower to Fallen Florida Condo Wonder: Stay or Go?
The partly collapsed Champlain Towers South scared people who live in Champlain Towers North. But no one has ordered them to evacuate — yet.
Collapsed Building Near Miami Had Serious Concrete Damage
A consultant in 2018 urged the managers to repair cracked columns and crumbling concrete. The work was finally about to get underway when the building collapsed.
First Victim in Florida Condo Collapse Named: Stacie Feng, 54
“There are no words to describe the tragic loss of our beloved Stacie,” the family said in a statement.
Condo Collapse Near Miami Prompts Frantic Search for Survivors
One person was confirmed dead and 99 were unaccounted for after a condo building suddenly collapsed in the middle of the night.
Rescue Teams Respond to a Building Collapse in Miami
The building, in the Surfside area of Miami, appeared to be partially collapsed. It is unclear if there are any deaths or injuries.
Buildings With Sections That Seem to Hover in Midair
Cantilevered towers help deal with space limitations in New York City. They start narrow at the street but expand as they rise, more lollipop than traditional wedding cake.
A Rogue Climber Running From the Law Was Fleeing His Own Trauma
A former paratrooper became an “urban explorer,” scaling the tops of bridges and buildings to help ease his PTSD. He now faces criminal charges in several states.
Can the Pandemic Rescue Britain’s Shopping Areas? This Town Hopes So.
In a British coastal town, a major landlord is giving away free rent for two years as part of a redevelopment plan.
Reconstructing the Neighborhood Burned in the Tulsa Massacre
Using maps, newspaper clippings, testimonies and more, a team of graphics editors created an interactive 3-D portrait of the community that was burned down in 1921.
Helmut Jahn, ‘Convention-Busting’ Architect, Dies at 81
He helped redefine Chicago architecture with his postmodern designs of the Thompson Center and the United Airlines terminal at O’Hare International Airport. But he was also known worldwide.
After Pandemic, Shrinking Need for Office Space Could Crush Landlords
Some big employers are giving up square footage as they juggle remote work. That could devastate building owners and cities.
The Haunted House of Soviets Gets a New Life
Residents of Kaliningrad, Russia’s westernmost region, search for meaning in a building many see as an egregious architectural mistake. “It’s ugly, but it’s ours.”
Napoleon’s Brother Lived in N.J. Here’s What Happened to the Estate.
The site in Bordentown once harbored Joseph Bonaparte, a former king. A new partnership has ensured that its history won’t be forgotten.
Effort to Climb Skyscraper in Wheelchair Captivates Hong Kong
Lai Chi-wai fell short of his goal of ascending a skyscraper by rope. It hardly made his feat any less impressive.
Caligula’s Garden of Delights, Unearthed and Restored
Relics from the favorite hideaway of ancient Rome’s most infamous tyrant have been recovered and put on display by archaeologists.
Baltimore Building Explosion Injures at Least 10
The explosion happened on the 16th floor of the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company building. The cause was not immediately clear, but the utility said it was likely a construction accident.