The deadly collapse of a Florida beachfront condominium in 2021 began weeks before the building fell into rubble, according to a final report released Monday by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The disaster killed 98 people.
Slow-Motion Failure
NIST investigators found that two connections between garage columns and the pool deck started failing around early June 2021. The building's design did not meet required codes, and alterations over its 40-year history left the pool deck unable to bear extra loads, leading to a progressive collapse.
"When building structures are designed and built to required codes and standards, they have margins against failure," said Judith Mitrani-Reiser, co-lead investigator. "In the case of Champlain Towers South, these margins against failure were too narrow from the start."
Design and Construction Deficiencies
The structure did not meet building codes in place at the time, and construction deviated from the design. Large planters were added on the pool deck, and in some locations, the design provided less than half of the code-required strength, according to Mitrani-Reiser.
Later work around the pool, including adding sand and pavers, further strained an already inadequate system. Reinforcing steel in the pool deck and parking slabs was corroded in some areas, NIST reported.
Warning Signs
Photos taken weeks before the collapse showed a long crack in a planter wall on the pool deck and cracks where the planter wall met a planter box. Less than a day before the collapse, that planter had detached from the pool deck. About one week prior, water leaking from a parking garage ceiling increased, with one witness describing it as a "water faucet" hours before the destruction.
Residents reported seeing the pool deck collapse "one bay at a time as if dominoes were falling in a sequential chain reaction," Mitrani-Reiser said. Some felt a sudden wind in the lobby; others heard sounds like a "jet engine."
Collapse Sequence
The pool deck began falling minutes before two sections of the tower. A strong concrete wall prevented the destruction from spreading completely to a third section, NIST said.
The companies responsible for designing and building the original structure in the late 1970s are no longer in operation.
Aftermath and Legal Actions
Most residents were asleep when the 12-story building in Surfside, Florida, collapsed at 1:22 a.m. on June 24, 2021. The dead included members of the Orthodox Jewish community and the sister of Paraguay's first lady, her family, and their nanny. A Miami judge approved a $1 billion settlement for personal injury and wrongful death claims.
Attorney Harley Tropin, who represented victims' families in a class-action lawsuit, declined to comment on the report.
In response, Florida legislators enacted a 2022 law requiring condo associations to maintain sufficient reserves for major repairs. Some residents faced hefty fees for deferred maintenance, leading to another law providing more flexibility in managing costs.
