Roof Collapse: Libeskind’s Westside Center, Bern, Switzerland
The roof of Daniel Libeskind’s Westside Shopping Center in Bern, Switzerland has collapsed twice since its completion in 2008, the second failure injuring three people and narrowly missing a small child. 100 square meters of the gypsum board ceiling and insulation over an indoor swimming pool fell 10 meters onto the floor. The previous collapse occurred in 2008 in a fast food outlet. In addition to the pool, the center houses a sauna, spa, cinema, shopping area, hotel and restaurants. Perched over a major highway, the complex was meant to serve as an ‘exciting gateway’ into the city of Bern and is envisioned as a city within a city, with a wood facade that provides a transition from urban to rural.
Leaks and Code Violations: Rem Koolhaas’ Milstein Hall
The first new building in over 100 years for Cornell’s College of Architecture, Art and Planning, Rem Koolhaas’ Milstein Hall features two dramatic cantilevers, floor-to-ceiling glass and a green roof with 41 skylights. The modern design stands in sharp contrast to its historic surroundings, adding space for studios, galleries, critiques and an auditorium. It’s supported by an exposed hybrid truss system that’s also designed to maintain open circulation throughout the addition.
But Cornell architecture professor Jonathon Ochshorn calls the structure “a disaster,” noting that the design doesn’t comply with the most current edition of the International Building Code or the Building Code of New York State. Ochshorn has written about the building’s flaws in great detail, including ‘sloppy or dysfunctional details,’ ‘dangerous details,’ maintenance issues, fire safety concerns and cracks.
Construction Defects & Money Woes: Normal Foster’s Harmon Hotel, Las Vegas
The Harmon Tower, a luxury hotel designed to appeal to Las Vegas’ high rollers, had problems from the very beginning. In 2008, construction on the Foster + Partners structure was halted at Floor 26 (out of a planned 49) after inspectors discovered structural defects, and since then, it has simply stood empty, basically serving as a giant, very expensive billboard looming over the Strip. The hotel is a gateway to the CityCenter, an $8.5 billion complex of hotels, casinos, high-end shops and luxury condos, but the economic downturn means it very likely wouldn’t have been a success even if it had been completed. Now, amidst lawsuits and legal limbo, the whole thing might be torn down before it ever opens for business. Leaving it as-is isn’t an option, as the rebars that provide support for concrete were incorrectly placed or missing, making it likely that the building would collapse in the event of an earthquake. For architect Norman Foster, the Harmon Hotel is just one of a string of unfortunate incidents in his U.S. projects. Many never get past the drawing board, and the ones that were erected before the economic slump have been panned, with Fast Co Design stating that the Trump International Hotel & Tower and MetLife Buildings were in competition for the title of the “ugliest building in New York.”
