Before the building collapsed, 9 million needed repairs

S.D. Petersburg, Fla. (AP) – Nearly three years before the collapse of a seaport building near Miami, an engineering firm said in a newly released e-mail that major repairs to the building would cost more than $ 9 million.

As recovery efforts continued on the site of the collapsed building, the email from Morabido Consultant was one of a series of documents released by the city of Surfide, where more than 150 people were not counted. At least five people were killed in the crash.

Following the release of the 2018 cost estimate, another document from the company showing that the ground floor pool deck of the building rested on a concrete floor had previously contained “major structural damage” and needed to be repaired in detail. The report found “numerous cracks and scattering” of concrete columns, beams and walls in the parking garage.

The report did not warn of an immediate danger from damage, and it is not clear if there was any damage to the southern slope of the Sampline Towers.

The cost estimate shows that the repair of the entire building will cost more than .19.1 million, as the cost of work on the garage, entrance and pool deck alone is more than 8 3.8 million. The building was not working at the time of the collapse.

In the previous report the waterproofing under the pool deck failed and flattened improperly instead of tilting, preventing water from escaping.

“Failed waterproofing causes major structural damage to the concrete structural layer below these areas. Failure to replace the waterproofing in the future will cause the amount of concrete decay to expand exponentially,” the report said.

The company recommended replacing the damaged layers at a major repair site.

Some of the damage to the concrete in the parking garage was minor, while other columns were exposed and deteriorated. It also noted that many of the building’s previous attempts to repair columns and other damage with epoxy had been distorted and failed by poor workmanship.

Underneath the pool deck, “new cracks emerge from the cracks that were originally repaired where the slab epoxy was applied,” the report said.

These are all issues that need to be addressed quickly, said Greg Schelsinger, a lawyer who specializes in construction defects and a former construction project engineer.

“The building speaks to us. This tells us we have a serious problem, ”Shelsinger said in a telephone interview on Saturday about the new documents. “They (building managers) kicked the road down. Maintenance is improper. These are all red flags to watch out for. They are not.”

In a statement on Saturday, Morabido Consultants said its report “confirmed significant significant cracks and fractures in the concrete, which need repairs to ensure the safety of residents and the public”.

The company said Sampline Towers South was re-hired in June 2020 to begin the 40-year restoration process, which will explain what needs to be done.

“At the time of the building’s collapse, roof repairs were underway, but concrete restoration had not yet begun,” the report said.

Abby Aguirre, an engineering researcher at Trexel University, said the amount of damage shown in the engineering report was significant. He added that in addition to the problems that could occur under the pool, several areas above the entrance showing signs of deterioration were worrying and needed to be fixed immediately.

“Have the sub-members deteriorated to such an extent that a critical structural element or their connections have failed to lead to a progressive decline?” After reviewing the report he wrote in an email to the AP. “Were there other areas in the structure that got worse and went unnoticed?”

The building was in the midst of its 40-year renovation process, which required extensive construction and electrical inspections. In an interview Friday, Surface Mayor Charles Burkett said he did not know if the study was complete, but that there may be important clues.

“It should have been a very straightforward thing,” Burkett said. “Buildings in the United States do not fall down like this. There is a reason. We need to find out what that reason is. ”

The collapse of the 12-story tower on Thursday morning also raised the question of whether other similar buildings were in danger.

“This is a wake-up call for everyone on the beach,” Schellsinger said. “Scary area other buildings. Do you think this is unique? No.”

They will be made public once the 40-year-old renovation of the building is completed, Sursight Town Clark Sandra McGregori said in an email.

The collapse is already drawing lawsuits, including a few hours after lawyer Brad Son fell against Condo’s homeowners’ association, demanding compensation for all of the tower’s residents for negligence and other reasons.

The association, the lawsuit continues, “With proper maintenance, safety measures and oversight, Sampline Towers can prevent the south from collapsing.”

The association’s attorney, Ken Director, did not respond to a request for comment.

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Report from Canton New York. Frieda Frisaro, an Associated Press writer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, contributed to the story.