Is the Millennium Tower still sinking? That’s a question that’s been on a lot of people’s minds lately, especially since the building was evacuated last year.
We did some research and here’s what we found out.
Checkout this video:
Introduction
It has been almost two years since the Millennium Tower first made headlines for its dramatic sinking and leaning. The building, which is located in San Francisco, has sunk 16 inches and tilted two inches to the northwest, sparking safety concerns among residents and officials.
Despite these concerns, the building’s owner insists that the structure is safe and is not sinking any further. In fact, they say that the building has actually stabilized and is now “moving as expected.”
So, what does this mean for the future of the Millennium Tower? Only time will tell, but for now, it appears that the building is here to stay.
What is Millennium Tower?
Millennium Tower is a 58-story, 1,070-foot (330 m) residential skyscraper in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the tallest building in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, and was completed in 2009. It is also the tallest all-residential building in New England. The building cost $950 million to construct.
On August 13, 2016, it was revealed that the building had sunk 16 inches (41 cm) and tilted 2.2 inches (5.6 cm) to the northwest since opening, and was sinking at a rate of approximately one inch per year. The rate at which it has sunk was unexpected by geotechnical engineers, and has caused some residents to move out of the building. Millennium Partners has attributed the settlement to an “unexpected condition” during construction: when Big Dig tunnels were excavated nearby, Millennium Tower’s foundation did not settle as much as expected due to differing soil conditions.
The Problem
The Millennium Tower is a 58-story luxury condominium building in San Francisco, California. The building is located on the northeast corner of Mission and Fremont Streets in the South of Market district. The building is 400 feet (122 m) tall and cost $350 million to build.
The problems with the Tower began to surface soon after its completion in 2009. In 2010, it was reported that the building had already sunk 16 inches (41 cm) into the ground and was leaning at an angle of 2.4 degrees to the northwest. By 2016, the building had sunk an additional 5 inches (13 cm) and tilted another 2.2 degrees. Engineers believe that the building will continue to sink and tilt for the foreseeable future.
The engineers also believe that the building’s steel frame is not strong enough to support its weight and that the soil underneath the foundation is not strong enough to support the building’s weight either. As a result, they have recommended that the building be demolished and rebuilt from scratch.
The homeowners have filed lawsuits against the developers, engineers, and construction companies involved in the project. They are also seeking damages from the City of San Francisco, which issued permits for the construction of the Millennium Tower.
The Solution
The Millennium Tower is still sinking, but there is a solution. The Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) has proposed to build a new transit center at First and Mission Streets. The new center will include a bus deck and underground rail lines that will relieve pressure on the Millennium Tower’s foundation and stop the building from sinking further.
The Future
Many experts believe that the Millennium Tower is still sinking, but at a much slower rate. The building was constructed on fill, which is known to settle over time. In addition, the building was not properly anchored to bedrock, which has likely contributed to the sinking.
The future of the Millennium Tower is uncertain. Some experts believe that the building will continue to sink, while others believe that it will stabilize. If the tower continues to sink, it could eventually become unsafe and need to be demolished.
