Honoring the Lives Lost at Champlain Towers

As we approach June 24th, we pause to reflect on a tragedy that has left a lasting impact on the South Florida community. On the early morning of June 24, 2021, the Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, Florida, tragically collapsed. In the blink of an eye, families lost loved ones, and survivors’ lives were forever altered. As we remember the victims, we also reflect on the events leading up to the collapse and the new safety measures that have been enacted in response to this unfortunate event.

What Happened on June 24, 2021?

Champlain Towers South, an upscale condominium building, was home to residents who had invested in a high-quality living space, with condos priced between $600,000 and $700,000. The building, which included luxury amenities, was considered a safe place for families. Yet, beneath the surface, serious structural issues had been developing for years.

The collapse began when the concrete beams supporting the pool deck cracked, leading to the deck itself caving in. The collapse of the pool deck triggered a catastrophic chain of events. The central part of the building detached and fell, and shortly after, the remaining portion of the building crumbled. The entire catastrophe took less than 12 seconds, and in that brief moment, 98 lives were lost, making it one of the deadliest building collapses in U.S. history.

What Caused the Collapse?

The Champlain Towers South collapse was the result of years of delayed maintenance and overlooked structural issues. In 2018, an engineering report by Morabito Consultants highlighted serious concerns with the pool deck waterproofing, which was causing significant damage to the concrete structural slabs below. While the report called for immediate repairs, it did not predict the building’s collapse.

Three days before the disaster, a pool contractor had also raised concerns about the state of the pool deck. He observed standing water and large cracks in the concrete, revealing exposed, rusted rebar. Since the building’s construction in 1981, the rebar inside the concrete had been deteriorating due to exposure to water, a process that worsened over four decades. Finally, on that tragic morning, the structure could no longer hold, and the building collapsed under its own weight.

New Legislation Arises

The Champlain Towers collapse raised urgent questions about the safety of other aging condominium buildings, particularly those located near the coast. In response, the state of Florida has enacted new legislation designed to ensure the safety and integrity of condominium buildings, with a focus on preventing similar disasters in the future.

As of July 1, 2022, Florida law mandates that all condominiums 30 years or older undergo structural integrity inspections, with follow-up inspections every 10 years. If the building is located within three miles of the coast, the inspection is required when the building reaches 25 years of age. This legislation is a crucial step toward ensuring that property owners and condo associations are held accountable for maintaining their buildings’ structural integrity.

Additionally, the Florida Legislature has passed HB913 with further revisions to condo safety laws, allowing more time for inspections and providing greater flexibility in funding repairs. The new law also includes provisions for temporary pauses in reserve funding, giving condo associations time to address immediate structural concerns without facing financial strain. The law’s passage reflects a commitment to safeguarding the lives of future residents and preventing another tragedy like the one that devastated Surfside.

At EGS, we remember the victims of the Champlain Towers South collapse and offer our deepest condolences to the families and communities affected by this tragedy. While the lives lost can never be replaced, the steps taken by Florida’s government are a critical part of the recovery process, as they will help ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future. This tragedy reminds us of the importance of proactive safety measures and transparency in building maintenance and construction. May their memory inspire continued change and serve as a reminder that safety is never an afterthought.