South San Padre Island Condominium Tower

[howardoark]

Does anyone know what went wrong with the South San Padre Island 31-story condominium tower - here's a video of it being imploded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IQUoZmtyOo

The news reports indicate that they had 14 to 16 inches of settlement under the center of the tower. The GE firm is in trouble (I doubt they have $125 million in insurance) so no one is likely to be talking.

Thanks

 

[hokie66]

There was a thread about this some time ago, but some of the news articles posted there may not be available.

thread507-255077

 

[howardoark]

Thanks - there was a reference to an ENR article (no longer available) that indicated the geotechnical investigation went to 100 feet and the auger case piles went to 95 feet. I can't believe the geotechnical firm didn't tell them they needed to investigate further, so they're probably off the hook - except for their ruined reputation, $500,000 in legal fees that their insurance company will get back from them over the next 10 years and the stress this is undoubtedly causing for every one of the firm's employees.

It will probably be settled and no one will talk - hence no one will learn anything.