Final Investigation Report Reveals Faulty Engineering Plans Behind 2023 Partial Building Collapse
The city has released the final investigation report on the 2023 partial building collapse at 1915 Billingsley Terrace, revealing that faulty engineering plans were to blame for the incident.
Mistakes in Design and Construction
According to the report, a cellar-level column on the northeast corner was not labeled in the engineer’s diagrams as load-bearing. The construction company did not catch the mistake and assumed the column to be only decorative, and as workers began to demolish the unreinforced column, it collapsed, taking the upper floors down with it.
Disturbing Findings
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson said she was "disturbed" to learn details of these mistakes. "This error has forever traumatized a community and could have led to the loss of innocent lives," Gibson said. "This tragedy is a stark reminder that mistakes in the design and construction of our buildings have real, devastating consequences."
Investigation Conclusions
The investigation showed "the devastating consequences of making mistakes in this industry," said Department of Buildings (DOB) Commissioner Jimmy Oddo. "The bottom line is that licensed construction professionals are supposed to know how to safely repair a building, and failure to implement proper safeguards when removing structural elements of a building shows an unacceptable lapse in judgment."
Newly Released Video
Videos newly released by DOB showed just how quickly the collapse occurred — and revealed that construction employees were not truthful with investigators about their work that day. Footage from outside the ground-level deli in the building showed a worker using a chipping gun throughout the day to remove bricks from the column that later buckled, according to DOB. Video from inside the deli showed people reacting to apparent signs of trouble, then running outside just minutes before that entire corner of the building came down.
Consequences and Actions
The city has made moves to hold responsible the engineer and contractor who failed to maintain safety at the site. Richard Koenigsberg, the engineer who failed to correctly identify the weight-bearing column, was suspended in February from conducting façade (exterior wall) inspections for two years and fined $10,000. The case was referred to a state office for possible further disciplinary action. DOB also issued two violations against the construction company, Arsh Landmark General Construction Corp., for failing to safeguard the site.
Progress and Improvements
While the investigation was underway, progress was made to help displaced residents and improve building safety throughout the city. The vacate order has been lifted for the rest of the building excluding the collapsed section — and the landlord agreed to move residents from the fallen apartments out of city shelters and into regular apartments within their portfolio.
Conclusion
The Billingsley collapse brought about changes at the city level, prompting the Adams administration to adopt a forward-looking approach to building inspection, especially for aging structures that have fallen into disrepair. The new law, also called the Billingsley Terrace Structural Integrity Act, is "a momentous change" that "moves [DOB] from a reactive approach to a proactive one."
FAQs
Q: What was the cause of the partial building collapse at 1915 Billingsley Terrace?
A: The cause was faulty engineering plans, which failed to label a cellar-level column as load-bearing.
Q: What were the consequences of the collapse?
A: The collapse displaced over 100 residents and could have led to the loss of innocent lives.
Q: What actions has the city taken in response to the collapse?
A: The city has suspended the engineer responsible for the mistake and fined him $10,000. DOB also issued two violations against the construction company for failing to safeguard the site.
Q: What improvements have been made to building safety as a result of the collapse?
A: The city has adopted a forward-looking approach to building inspection, especially for aging structures that have fallen into disrepair. A new law, the Billingsley Terrace Structural Integrity Act, requires a risk-based inspection program focused on identifying and quickly correcting problems before damage occurs.
