The Leaning Tower of Pisa may be a fun tourist attraction, but it was once a cautionary tale about what happens when you build on unstable soil. Amazingly, the tower has survived, thanks to earth removal and some drainwork to stabilize the foundation.
Even in our current age of construction robotics, there’s a lot that building designers and developers can learn from construction mishaps past and present. You’re not just avoiding a mistake that could live on in infamy, but smaller errors that will disappoint your clients. High-profile examples like these can offer a blueprint for what to avoid. They also serve as a helpful reminder to find a partner that will take the necessary steps to achieve your goals.
Mistake #1: Overlooking the External Environment
No one wants an embarrassing blunder making headlines before construction is even complete. A glaring example is the “Walkie-Talkie” skyscraper in London, which made news for sizzling storefront windows and melting parts of cars. The same curved glass facade that got it the nickname also had the effect of heating objects below by directing sunlight onto them. This was clearly one architectural design that skipped the environmental analysis stage of planning.
There have been other, similar stories. A hotel in Las Vegas featured what some began calling the “death ray” due to intensely hot spots caused by the reflection of sunlight off its glass exterior.
Key takeaway: A building can have unintended external consequences, not just internal ones, leading to liability issues and other problems. Be sure your design team knows how to factor in environmental elements using 3D modeling, shading simulations, and other techniques.
Mistake #2 Insufficient Reviews
There is no shortage of stories of buildings that lack a thorough review during their planning. The reasons are many:
- Poor upfront planning that overlooks structural needs
- Prioritizing profits over safety
- An over-ambitious design that ignores budget realities
- A lack of local building regulations or oversight
- Impatience on the part of certain players
Some end up with tragic consequences. A lack of proper review was what led to the collapse of two overhead walkways in a Missouri Hyatt Regency over four decades ago – one of the most fatal construction disasters in our country’s history. In that case, not all of the walkways overhead were built to withstand the weight they were sustaining, something that could have been avoided with a fairly minor design change.
Key takeaway: Foresight and today’s complex engineering processes would probably avoid such an error. Still, this example continues to be a reminder why building designs must undergo rigorous structural analysis and be approved by qualified experts.
Mistake #3: A Lack of Project Management & Qualified Engineers
If you have traveled to Germany, you might recall Berlin’s terminally delayed Brandenburg Airport debut. Opening dates were announced and then postponed for nearly a decade as the project went billions of euros over budget. Reasons ranged from insufficient fire protection to piping problems to unqualified engineers, all of which might have been prevented by much better management upfront.
It’s why working with thoroughly vetted project engineers who understand the management side of building is vital in modern commercial construction.
Key takeaway: Large-scale projects, in particular, tend to be highly complex, requiring coordinated project management and early problem detection. A partner that conducts regular risk assessments at each stage is also a must.
W. A. RANDOLPH, INC.
If you have a fantasy building in mind, there is a right way and wrong way to make it happen. The team at W. A. RANDOLPH, INC. will work with you to factor in unknowns so there are only pleasant surprises.
Reach out online or call us at 847-856-0123 to talk about how to get started.
