The recent collapse of the condominium building in Surfside, Florida, has raised concern about San Francisco’s 58-story Millennium Tower’s sinking.
The lavish Millenium Tower, which boasts 400 multi-million-dollar units, was first opened in 2009. The condominium featured panoramic city views and world-class amenities, making it one of the most luxurious buildings in the world.
However, the 58-story tower has shown signs of sinking into the soil on which it was built, Ronald Hamburger, the Millennium’s current engineer, told CNN.
Concerns surrounding the building’s sinking were exacerbated by the deadly collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Florida, which has killed 28 people, as of Monday, and has led to the disappearance of more than 110 individuals, according to NPR.
“When you have a high rise that collapses and you had a situation in San Francisco — we had a high rise that was sinking and tilting — it affects people’s peace of mind,” attorney Niall McCarthy, who represents at least 100 Millennium Tower residents, said.
Not At Risk
Hamburger, who has monitored the tower since 2014, dismissed concerns that the Millennium was at risk of collapse. Noting that it was designed to be more durable than buildings in Florida.
“I can state with confidence that settlements experienced by Millennium Tower have not compromised its stability and safety,” he added.
The Millennium’s management has scheduled a $100 million fix, which involves installing piles into the bedrock beneath the building and tying the piles to the existing foundation. The project is set to be completed in 2022.
