Ocean Tower Failure Analysis

OWNER

Coastal Constructors Southwest Ventures

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Services: Failure Analysis / Structural Assessment and Strengthening / Litigation Support

Ocean Tower Failure Analysis

South Padre Island
Texas

Ocean Tower condominium was expected to be the highest structure of luxury living in the Rio Grande but instead dubbed the ‘leaning tower of South Padre’ because parts of it have sunk almost 16 inches, cracking beams and columns. This caused increasing levels of damage to the structural system due to load redistribution and overload of structural elements. Construction activity ceased immediately because of the public safety risk and potential for partial collapse. During the forensic investigation, Walter P Moore performed a detailed evaluation and used computer modeling to analyze causation of failure, as well as predict future failure of structural elements. Based on the investigation findings, the tower was imploded before construction completion.