Ocean Tower

Last updated
Ocean Tower SPI
Ocean Tower
General information
Architectural style Postmodernism
Location South Padre Island, Texas, United States
AddressPadre Boulevard across SPI Convention Center
Coordinates 26°08′47″N97°10′16″W / 26.146459°N 97.171141°W / 26.146459; -97.171141
Construction started2006
Construction stopped2008
DemolishedDecember 13, 2009
Height115.51 metres (379.0 ft)
Technical details
Material Reinforced concrete
Floor count31
Lifts/elevators4
Design and construction
Architecture firmWalker & Perez, Inc.

Ocean Tower SPI was an unfinished, 31-story condominium in South Padre Island, Cameron County, Texas, United States, that was imploded when it was deemed unsafe to remain standing. Construction was halted in May 2008 when cracks formed in the building's supporting columns, and investigations revealed that the core of the skyscraper had sunk by more than 14 inches (360 mm). Though the developers initially vowed to fix the problem, studies discovered that repairs would have been too expensive, and plans for its demolition were announced in September 2009. At the time of its controlled implosion in December 2009 the building weighed 55,000 short tons (50,000 t), and it was the tallest reinforced concrete structure to be demolished in that way. It was nicknamed "Faulty Towers" and "The Leaning Tower of South Padre Island". [1] [2]

Contents

Plans

The Ocean Tower project was developed by Coastal Constructors Southwest Ventures, a subsidiary of Zachry Construction. It was designed as a 31-story luxury high-rise featuring 147 residences, a gym, swimming pools, spa, and a media room. The podium of the building was a large parking garage with the homes beginning at 55 feet (17 m) above sea level. The completed building would stand 445 feet (136 m) tall and be one of the tallest structures in the Rio Grande Valley. [3] The building was designed to withstand extreme winds with three massively reinforced core walls. [4] The location was to have allowed the residences to have views across the Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna Madre. [5] Units were to retail for $2 million. [6]

Construction

After a month of structural testing the construction of Ocean Tower began on April 5, 2006. [3] It continued for two years with much of the main structure completed until differential settlement saw parts of the building sink by over 14 inches (360 mm). Pier supports in the shifting clay more than 100 feet (30 m) underground began buckling, stressing beams and columns, causing cracking, spalling, and breaking, eventually causing the building to lean towards the northwest corner, cracking the wall of the adjacent garage, which abuts the tower. [6] [7] [8] The official explanation was that the parking garage and the tower were mistakenly built connected, forcing the weight down upon the garage instead of on the tower's core. The use of expandable clay, which compresses when weight is applied to it, compounded the issue and allowed the parking garage to remain relatively unsettled compared to the tower itself. Preliminary evaluation showed that the tower's core had sunk 14 to 16 inches (360 to 410 mm), while the attached parking lot had shifted less than half that distance. [2]

Construction was halted in the summer of 2008. [9] Soon after, the building became known as the "leaning tower of South Padre" and was viewed as a looming eyesore. [6] [10]

In a letter dated July 2, 2008 the developers informed buyers about the problems that they had encountered. They reassured them "Your unit will be delivered, and the building will be stronger and safer than ever", stating that completion of the construction would be delayed by "6 to 9 months". [5] [6] The proposed fixes would have the garage beams separated from the tower, and new columns to be placed under the beams. Once the columns had been fully braced, then garage beams would be cut away and the foundation would be repaired. [11] [5] By this time more than 100 of the condominiums had been sold.

On November 4, 2008, after several engineering studies had discovered that the work needed to fix the building would prevent the project from becoming economically viable, the development was officially cancelled and purchasers were released from their unit purchase agreements. [12] [13]

Demolition

Any materials that could be recycled or resold, including fixtures and fittings, steel, flooring, and windows, were removed from the building before demolition. The nearby Texas Park Road 100 was closed on safety grounds just before the building was set to be razed. [10] At 9am on December 13, 2009, the building was imploded by Controlled Demolition, Inc. By the time it fell the building weighed 55,000 short tons (50,000 t) and is reported to be the tallest and largest reinforced concrete structure ever imploded. [6] [9] [14] [1]

The implosion was watched by a large crowd, many of whom stayed in local hotels and visited restaurants in the area. Island spokesman Dan Quandt described the event as "a very good short-term economic boost for South Padre Island". [6]

Lawsuit

The developers have filed a $125 million lawsuit against geotechnical engineering firm Raba-Kistner Engineering and Consulting of San Antonio and structural engineers Datum Engineers of Austin and Dallas. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southeast Financial Center</span> Real estate development in Miami, Florida

Southeast Financial Center is a two-acre development in Miami, Florida, United States. It consists of a 765 feet (233 m) tall office skyscraper and its 15-story parking garage. It was previously known as the Southeast Financial Center (1984–1992), the First Union Financial Center (1992–2003) and the Wachovia Financial Center (2003–2011). In 2011, it retook its old name of Southeast Financial Center as Wachovia merged with Wells Fargo and moved to the nearby Wells Fargo Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genesee Towers</span> Office , Parking in Michigan, United States

The Genesee Towers was the tallest building in Flint, Michigan, United States. It was demolished on December 22, 2013 after a period of inactivity and loss of occupancy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Building implosion</span>

In the controlled demolition industry, building implosion is the strategic placing of explosive material and timing of its detonation so that a structure collapses on itself in a matter of seconds, minimizing the physical damage to its immediate surroundings. Despite its terminology, building implosion also includes the controlled demolition of other structures, such as bridges, smokestacks, towers, and tunnels.

7 South Dearborn was a planned skyscraper in Chicago, United States. Located at the intersection of Madison and Dearborn, the building would have been 1,567 feet (478 m) high, with twin antennas pushing the height to exactly 2,000 feet (610 m). The building would have been the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere at the time, if it were constructed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millennium Tower (San Francisco)</span> Tallest residential building in San Francisco

301 Mission Street is a high-rise residential building in the South of Market district of downtown San Francisco. A mixed-use, primarily residential high rise, it is the tallest residential building, and the 6th-tallest overall in San Francisco. In May 2016, residents were informed the main tower was both sinking and tilting, resulting in several lawsuits concerning repair costs and whether the tilt had been withheld from buyers. The building is being modified in an effort to stop its sinking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. L. Hudson Department Store and Addition</span> Former building in Detroit, Michigan

The J. L. Hudson Building ("Hudson's") was a department store located at 1206 Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It was constructed beginning in 1911, with additions throughout the years, before being "completed" in 1946, and named after the company's founder, Joseph Lowthian Hudson. Hudson's first building on the site opened in 1891 but was demolished in 1923 for a new structure. It was the flagship store for the Hudson's chain. The building was demolished in a controlled demolition on October 24, 1998, and at the time it was the tallest building ever imploded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tower Plaza (Ann Arbor, Michigan)</span> Condominium building

Tower Plaza is a high-rise condominium building in Ann Arbor, Michigan, located at 555 East William Street. The building was first proposed in 1965, and opened in 1969. It stands at 26 stories. The antenna stands at 292 feet tall and the roof is 267 feet (81 m) tall. It was designed in the international style of architecture, primarily using concrete and glass. Originally a residential apartment building, it was converted to individually-owned condominiums in 1987. Tower Plaza also has the most buttons of any elevator in Ann Arbor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cityscape of Lexington, Kentucky</span>

The urban development patterns of Lexington, Kentucky, confined within an urban growth boundary that protects its famed horse farms, include greenbelts and expanses of land between it and the surrounding towns. This has been done to preserve the region's horse farms and the unique Bluegrass landscape, which bring millions of dollars to the city through the horse industry and tourism. Urban growth is also tightly restricted in the adjacent counties, with the exception of Jessamine County, with development only allowed inside existing city limits. In order to prevent rural subdivisions and large homes on expansive lots from consuming the Bluegrass landscape, Fayette and all surrounding counties have minimum lot size requirements, which range from 10 acres (40,000 m2) in Jessamine to fifty in Fayette.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First National Bank Tower</span> Skyscraper at 1601 Dodge Street in downtown Omaha, Nebraska

The First National Bank Tower is a 45-story office skyscraper located at 1601 Dodge Street in downtown Omaha, Nebraska, United States, and the official headquarters of First National Bank of Omaha. At 634 ft (193 m) it is the tallest building in Omaha and the state. It has been since its completion, overtaking the 30-story Woodmen Tower located nearby. Construction began in April 1999 and lasted until 2002, with the building's completion being the subject of ACEC and Emporis awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamond of Istanbul</span> Mixed use in Istanbul, Turkey

Diamond of Istanbul is the tallest building under construction in Istanbul, Turkey, being built on the Büyükdere Avenue in the city's Maslak central business district of Sarıyer. It is also the country's first steel skyscraper. When completed, it will rise 63 floors above ground level and reach an above-ground height of 311 meters; thus surpassing the current tallest skyscraper in Istanbul, the 302m Istanbul Sapphire in Levent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton (Philadelphia)</span> Luxury residential skyscraper in Center City in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton is a luxury residential skyscraper in Center City in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At 518 feet (158 m), the 48-story skyscraper is the twelfth-tallest building in Philadelphia, and the tallest residential tower in the city. The building was erected on the former site of One Meridian Plaza which was seriously damaged by a deadly fire in 1991. One Meridian Plaza was demolished in 1999 and the property was sold by E/R Partners to the Arden Group the next year. Development of the site by the Arden Group, which owns the adjacent Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia, was delayed for years as a result of a feud with rival developer Mariner Commercial Properties. Mariner owned the property 1441 Chestnut Street, which sits south of the Residences at The Ritz-Carlton site and intends to build its own residential tower. The feud began after Arden Group's lead partner Craig Spencer blocked approval of 1441 Chestnut Street because he felt the tower's design would be detrimental to the planned Residences at The Ritz-Carlton tower. This led to several years of dispute between the developers trying to block construction of each other's towers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">550 South Tryon</span> Office skyscraper

550 South Tryon, formerly the Duke Energy Center, is a 786-foot (240 m) tall, 48-floor skyscraper in Charlotte, North Carolina. When completed in 2010, it was the largest building in Charlotte, second tallest building in Charlotte, 63rd tallest building in the United States, and the tallest in the world to use precast double tees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soleil Center</span>

The Soleil Center was a planned 43-story skyscraper and condo-hotel planned for Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. It was cancelled as a result of the drop in hotel demand during the Great Recession and the land was sold at foreclosure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City Center (Lexington)</span> Mixed use in Kentucky, United States

City Center, formerly known as CentrePointe, is a residential, commercial, and retail building in downtown Lexington, Kentucky that opened in 2020. The plan consists of a 12-story office tower incorporating premium luxury condominiums in its top three floors, two hotels, retail spaces and an underground parking garage. The parking garage was completed in 2017.

Controlled Demolition, Inc. (CDI) is a controlled demolition firm headquartered in Phoenix, Maryland. The firm was founded by Jack Loizeaux who used dynamite to remove tree stumps in the Baltimore, Maryland area, and moved on to using explosives to take down chimneys, overpasses and small buildings in the 1940s. The company has demolished several notable buildings by implosion, including the Gettysburg National Tower, the Seattle Kingdome, and the uncollapsed portion of the Champlain Towers South condominium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaza Towers</span> Building

Plaza Towers is a mixed-use highrise building in Grand Rapids, Michigan. At 345 feet (105 m), it was the tallest building in the city until the completion of the River House Condominiums in 2008. The building contains apartments on floors 8–14, individually owned condominiums on floors 15–32, and a 214-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel on floors 1–7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Landmark Tower (Fort Worth, Texas)</span> Skyscraper in Fort Worth, Texas US

The Landmark Tower was a 30-story skyscraper located at 200 West 7th Street in Downtown Fort Worth, Texas. Designed by Fort Worth architecture firm Preston M. Geren & Associates, Landmark Tower was the tallest building in the city from its opening in 1957 until the completion of the Fort Worth National Bank Tower in 1974. After being abandoned in 1990, the tower stood vacant for more than 15 years until it was demolished in 2006. It is one of the tallest buildings ever to be demolished.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helios (building)</span> Residential skyscraper in downtown Seattle, Washington

Helios, also known as 2nd & Pine, is a residential skyscraper in downtown Seattle, Washington. The 40-story tower is 440 feet (130 m) tall with 398 luxury apartments. Plans for the project were first proposed in 2013 and construction began in late 2014. It is located at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Pine Street near the Pike Place Market and the city's retail core.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McGuire Apartments</span> Demolished high-rise building in Seattle, Washington

The McGuire Apartments was a 25-story apartment building in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. The $32 million, 272-unit building opened in 2001, but was closed in 2010 after the discovery of major structural flaws and corrosion that forced evacuation and demolition. The building was demolished in 2011 using heavy machinery and filled with dirt. The site was re-excavated in 2017 for a new residential building that opened in 2019.

The Gramercy is a mixed-use development project in Spring Valley, Nevada, west of the Las Vegas Strip. It includes two office buildings and 160 apartment units. Gemstone Development began construction of the project, originally known as ManhattanWest, in 2007. The project initially was to include condominiums, retail, and office space. Construction was suspended in December 2008, because of financial problems. ManhattanWest was sold in 2013, and construction resumed, with the project now known as The Gramercy. It opened in November 2014. An unfinished nine-story condominium tower was imploded in February 2015, as completing it would have been too costly.

References

  1. 1 2 "$100,000,000.00 Skyscraper Fail!" – via www.youtube.com.
  2. 1 2 3 "An Engineer's Nightmare – Ocean Tower, South Padre Island | the blog of rio akasaka". www.rioleo.org.
  3. 1 2 "Zachry company building luxury high-rise on South Padre Island" (PDF). ZachryWay. 2006. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Monster Tower". Parallax Film Productions Inc. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 Domit, Antun (July 2, 2008). "Letter to Buyers" (PDF). Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Brezosky, Lynn (December 13, 2009). "Leaning South Padre tower turned into 55,000 tons of debris". San Antonio Express News. Hearst Communications Inc. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Leaning Tower of Padre".
  8. ↑ "Tallest Building Demolitions in the World". YouTube .
  9. 1 2 "Ocean Tower, LP". KGBTexas. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  10. 1 2 "'Leaning tower of South Padre' to be torn down". Chronicle News Services. December 10, 2009. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  11. ↑ "No Second Shot: Saying Goodbye to the Leaning Tower of South Padre Island | Swamplot". swamplot.com.
  12. ↑ "Ocean Tower Highrise Oceanfront Condominiums South Padre Island". Alice Donahue Real Estate. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  13. ↑ "South Padre Leaning Highrise Tower to be demolished in December 13th". Alice Donahue Real Estate. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  14. ↑ Carranza, Rafael (December 13, 2009). "Ocean Tower Building Crashes Down". ValleyCentral.com. Barrington Broadcasting Group, LLC. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.