West Parking Garage Collapse Analysis
Forensic analysis of construction incident
Project Facts
| Location | San Antonio, Texas |
| Owner | University Health System |
Overview
During construction, a collapse occurred at a parking structure in San Antonio, causing concern among the development team. A comprehensive forensic study was conducted to ascertain the cause and ensure the site’s safety for future work.
Services
About the project
When the University Health System west parking structure collapsed during construction, our team investigated to determine the cause. A north portion of the garage was a seven-level, nine-bay section separated from the main structure by an expansion joint, thus making it separate in gravity and lateral load systems. The failure was due to the lack of grout within the column baseplates and anchors, rendering it an unstable structure overall.
Our forensics experts performed site visits, interviewed project staff, reviewed witness accounts, and analyzed construction photos and video of the collapse captured by a parking lot camera. We also tested extracted materials and analyzed models of the structure as it was constructed at the time of the collapse. Our forensic work was well accepted by all project stakeholders and provided critical insight into the care necessary for future construction.
