Engineer suspended over ‘catastrophic’ error at collapsed NYC building

Metro

By Matthew Sedacca

New York City suspended an engineer’s inspection authority after determining that a fundamental error may have led to the partial collapse of a Bronx apartment building this week.

The state-licensed engineer made a “catastrophic” mistake by labeling a load-bearing column as a decorative part of the structure in June in plans filed with the Department of Buildings, Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement. 

Adams and Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo said that they suspended the engineer’s authority to inspect buildings’ exterior walls and were looking to revoke the authority permanently. 

“When those who are entrusted to keep us safe cut corners and make catastrophic mistakes, we’re going to take swift action and hold them accountable,” Hizzoner said

“Our initial investigation into this collapse has made clear that the engineer involved has no business assessing the exterior walls of buildings in New York City, and we’re taking action to suspend his ability to do so,” he added.

City officials said that the engineer had recently filed 368 inspection reports and that it was reviewing all of them.

“As part of the investigation, we are reviewing all of his filings in New York City — a total of 368 Façade Inspection and Safety Program filings in the most recent cycle — and will continue that process until it is complete,” Oddo said.

The Buildings Department will also re-inspect the 40 other properties the landlord owns to confirm they are safe.

The city said its investigation into the sudden partial collapse on Monday of the seven-story Morris Heights apartment building is ongoing, but that it found that the inspector had instructed contractors doing work on the property to remove bricks on the support beam, but not to install temporary supports first.

The collapse could have easily turned deadly, with video footage showing people running from the intersection as building debris rained down into the street.

As it was, more than 40 families who lived in the building lost their homes, with many residents evacuated to a nearby school.