Construction Fails: When Projects Go Wrong

The Millennium Tower in San Francisco is facing a crisis as it has sunk more than 45 cm and leans 60 cm to the west and 20 cm to the north. Despite efforts to fix the issue, the tower continues to tilt, posing a threat to its structural integrity. Engineers are attempting to halt the tower's lean by installing new piles under its foundation. The tower was expected to settle only slightly like most skyscrapers, but it has exceeded expectations, causing a media storm with lawsuits between developers, engineers, and homeowners. The cause of the problem is attributed to soil compaction due to nearby construction work and pumping out of water during the tower's own construction. The proposed solution involves underpinning with 52 piles extending to the bedrock to level the building over time. However, stabilization efforts were halted in 2021 due to concerns that the new piles might worsen the tilt. A new plan proposes 18 piles instead, which could further increase costs to $500 million.

Golden Finance 117 in Tianjin, China, was intended to be one of the world's tallest buildings but has become known as the world's tallest ghost skyscraper. Despite reaching its full height of 597 meters in 2015, the project was abandoned, and it remains unfinished. The developer, Goldin Properties, faced financial challenges due to market conditions and could not secure pre-sales until the project was completed. The global financial crisis and a stock market crash in China further impacted the project's financial viability. The skyscraper's unique design, which included a three-story diamond-shaped atrium at the top, was meant to attract the super-rich, but the project's location and market conditions made it unappealing. The fate of Golden Finance 117 serves as a cautionary tale of overambition in the construction industry.

Jeddah Tower, a mega-tall skyscraper in Saudi Arabia, was planned to reach 1,000 meters, making it the world's first kilometer-high building. Designed by Adrian Smith, the tower was to feature 167 stories of homes, offices, and hotels. The unique design includes a hexagonal core reinforced with Y-shaped walls to resist strong winds. Construction began in 2013, and by 2017, the tower had risen 63 stories. However, political crackdowns, arrests of key backers, and labor issues stalled the project. The COVID-19 pandemic further halted construction, leaving the tower unfinished at 300 meters. The future of Jeddah Tower is uncertain, but the project highlights the ambition and engineering challenges of building a structure over a kilometer tall.

The New Harbor Bridge in Corpus Christi, Texas, is a massive construction project aimed at replacing an aging structure and accommodating larger ships. The new bridge is designed to be one of the largest cable-stayed bridges in America, with a main span of 506 meters. However, the project has faced numerous setbacks, including safety concerns that led to the suspension of construction twice. The issues include problems with the foundation system, the Delta frame design, uplift at the piers, and construction crane placement. The project's budget has increased from $800 million to nearly a billion, and the completion deadline has been pushed back multiple times. The new bridge must be built to meet modern safety standards and support the economic growth of the region.

One Seaport City, also known as 161 Maiden Lane, is a skyscraper in New York City that has developed a leaning issue, causing it to tilt 8 cm to the north. The倾斜 has led to the abandonment of the building before its completion, with construction stalled and only half of its windows and finishings in place. The issue is believed to stem from the building's foundation, with allegations that the developer chose a soil improvement route instead of the more reliable piling route used by nearby buildings. The contractor, Pizzarotti, claims that the building will continue to lean if the foundation issue is not addressed, potentially leading to safety hazards. The case is still being litigated, and until the root cause of the problem is identified, a long-term solution remains unclear.

California's ambitious plan for a high-speed rail line has faced numerous challenges since it was first proposed over 20 years ago. The project aims to connect Southern California, the San Joaquin Valley, and the San Francisco Bay Area with a 220 mph train, improving connectivity, boosting the economy, and reducing emissions. However, the project has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. Initially estimated to cost $33 billion and scheduled for completion in 2020, the current estimate has ballooned to over $100 billion, with the first section not expected to be ready until at least 2029. Funding has been a significant issue, with the federal government withdrawing nearly a billion dollars in funding due to slow progress. Land acquisitions have also been problematic, with hundreds of land parcels still needed in certain sections. Despite these challenges, there is cautious optimism about the future of high-speed rail in the US, with the Biden Administration's $2 trillion infrastructure plan allocating around $20 billion for intercity rail. Other high-speed rail projects are also planned across the country, potentially making California's struggle a learning experience for future projects.