Underboss
RVF Supporter
The building thats failing in Manhattan boils down to one thing. Poor engineering. They are adding about ten stories over an existing section without additional columns below to carry that load.
Its not union vs non union work, its all poor planning and trying to maximize profit by adding more square footage where the structure was not designed to carry that load.
After retiring and shutting down my construction and hot rod businesses. I was pulled back in to be a private building inspector in Manhattan and then offered a position to complete the construction of a 62 story concrete superstructure in Manhattan.
The engineering of the building was fine. The problem was the onsite "engineer" that wanted symmetry room to room with either sprinkler pipes or ac ducts. They could not understand that the structure changed room to room and some things were impossible. Then we had a temp site safety officer who was an engineer and he called me up to a floor and wanted the raw crates of stone moved as it was too heavy and the building would collapse. I had to explain to this engineer that the floors are 12" thick concrete. It was like a fly on godzillas back. Also I asked him if that is bothering him, whats his thought on the 500 ton tuned mass damper five stories over us at the top of the building.
Just because you have an engineering degree does not give you common sense.
Its not union vs non union work, its all poor planning and trying to maximize profit by adding more square footage where the structure was not designed to carry that load.
After retiring and shutting down my construction and hot rod businesses. I was pulled back in to be a private building inspector in Manhattan and then offered a position to complete the construction of a 62 story concrete superstructure in Manhattan.
The engineering of the building was fine. The problem was the onsite "engineer" that wanted symmetry room to room with either sprinkler pipes or ac ducts. They could not understand that the structure changed room to room and some things were impossible. Then we had a temp site safety officer who was an engineer and he called me up to a floor and wanted the raw crates of stone moved as it was too heavy and the building would collapse. I had to explain to this engineer that the floors are 12" thick concrete. It was like a fly on godzillas back. Also I asked him if that is bothering him, whats his thought on the 500 ton tuned mass damper five stories over us at the top of the building.
Just because you have an engineering degree does not give you common sense.
