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San Francisco's Millennium Tower's Lean Has Deepened As Engineers Work To Reverse Lean

San Francisco's Millennium Tower's lean has deepened despite engineers' best efforts to correct it. In spite of the greatest efforts of the architects to stabilize the luxurious edifice, the Millennium Tower in the Bay Area has only continued to lean further to the west and sink deeper into the direction.

Author:George EvansJun 12, 2023
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San Francisco's Millennium Tower's lean has deepeneddespite engineers' best efforts to correct it. In spite of the greatest efforts of the architects to stabilize the luxurious edifice, the Millennium Tower in the Bay Area has only continued to lean further to the west and sink deeper into the direction.
According to monitoring data analyzed by NBC Bay Area's Investigative Unit, the multimillion-dollar-per-unit skyscraper is now leaning more than 29 inches at the corner of Fremont and Mission streets. This is a tilt that is more half an inch deeper than what was previously reported.
It was earlier this year that engineers excavated beneath the sinking condominium to maintain the weight of the tower, which was built over a former landfill. It was during this time that the tilt of the building was allegedly increased by half an inch.
Fix engineers observed success in stabilizing the north side of the Millenium Tower along Mission Street after installing six concrete-filled steel piles at its base in January. However, the data suggests that this may have come at a cost to the tower's west side.
Data collected from rooftop-based monitoring suggests that the tower tilted approximately an inch to the west when compared to its tilt before it was supported on the north side. These findings are based on measurements collected from rooftops as well as estimates made from the foundation.
Despite the fact that the data was first pointed to as proof of success earlier in the first phase of the project, the engineers in charge of the project are now claiming that the data may not be valid.
In a statement to NBC, project engineer Ron Hamburger noted that the statistics based on the rooftop are susceptible to changes in the weather and that data based only on the foundation is more dependable.
The numbers based on the foundation reveal that the tower is leaning more toward the west than they ever had before, although the angle of tilt is just about a quarter of an inch, which a lean Hamburger stated was "negligible."
Hamburger said:
We are fully confident that following transfer of the remaining design load to the piles, there will be no further … movement of the roof to the west.- Hamburger
Following this step, Hamburger and his crew will tie the foundation to the twelve piles that have been dug along Fremont Street. These piles will be responsible for bearing a portion of the building's total load.

San Francisco's Millennium Tower

Millennium Tower is a high-rise residential building located in the South of Market district in San Francisco, California. It was completed in 2009 and stands at a height of 645 feet (197 meters), making it one of the tallest residential buildings in the city. The tower was designed by Handel Architects and developed by Millennium Partners.
However, Millennium Tower gained significant attention and controversy due to concerns about its structural integrity. Shortly after its completion, it was discovered that the building was sinking and tilting.

Final Words

The sinking was attributed to the tower's foundation, which was constructed on a landfill rather than solid bedrock. The settlement of the building caused it to sink several inches unevenly, leading to concerns about its stability and potential long-term safety risks.
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George Evans

George Evans

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George Anderson, an exceptional architectural designer, envisions and brings to life structures that transcend the realm of imagination. With an unwavering passion for design and an innate eye for detail, George seamlessly blends form and function, creating immersive spaces that inspire awe. Driven by a deep appreciation for the interplay of space, light, and materials, George's innovative approach redefines the possibilities of architectural design. His visionary compositions leave an indelible mark, evoking a sense of wonder and transforming the built environment. George Anderson's transformative designs and unwavering dedication continue to shape the architectural landscape, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and inspiring generations to come.
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