Investigation Reveals Warning Signs Before Champlain Towers Collapse
Federal investigators have indicated that the Champlain Towers South apartment building exhibited clear signs of trouble three weeks prior to its partial collapse in 2021, a disaster that led to 98 fatalities.
A report released by the National Institute of Standards and Technology on Monday found that a structural failure occurred at the junction of two key garage columns located beneath the building’s pool deck in early June of that year.
This structural failure resulted in the building gradually sinking, unnoticed, over the course of 21 days.
The findings align with what engineers had long suspected, especially in light of the fifth anniversary of the tragic event approaching on Wednesday.
During that critical period, the 12-story building had various warning signs, yet none were recognized. Notably, the amount of water leaking from the garage increased significantly in the hours leading up to the collapse. Additionally, an issue with the apartment’s sliding glass door, which popped out of its frame, went largely unaddressed.
As the days progressed, investigators noted that the concrete slab of the pool deck began to warp and deteriorate, transferring its weight onto nearby pillars.
On June 24, the pool deck ultimately collapsed, resulting in part of the building being swept away.
However, investigators determined that these issues were rooted in decades of previous missteps, particularly due to a design that did not conform to codes and standards from the 1980s. Furthermore, the completed construction did not align with the building’s original design, leading to inherent weaknesses.
In the 1990s, the pool decks were adorned with large planters and heavy pavers that added unforeseen weight to the slabs. The repercussions of corrosion became apparent over time, contributing to the eventual disaster.
Now, the site of the Champlain Towers South hosts Delmore, a new 12-story, 37-unit condominium block. Sales for fully furnished four- to five-bedroom apartments, starting at $15 million, began in January 2025, yet, nearly 18 months later, not one unit has been sold.
The developer, Dubai-based Damac Properties, purchased the 1.8-acre site for $120 million during a court-ordered auction in 2022, emerging as the sole bidder.
