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Apparently the builders they used came in cheapest. Although they had previously worked in Pizza.

This Pizza you mean?
delicious-pizza-640x468.jpg
 
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This Pizza you mean?
delicious-pizza-640x468.jpg

That looks so good.

so I'd imagine there would be more visible evidence at street level.
The video in the news story also details that its leaning 2" and they showed the evidence of the the sinking/leaning with the sidewalk being damaged and other areas where the building structure looks to be pulling away from itself.
 
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Clearly not an expert in structural engineering/architecture but when something like this happens, is there any way to remedy the fault?

Yikes.... and @iLog.Genius I was wondering the same thing.

I moved to Las Vegas in January of 1998. Two years prior to that, to celebrate the holiday season, Las Vegas in its usual pomp and circumstance, does what it does best: blows **** up. In this case, in December 1996, they decided to blow up the Hacienda Resort and Casino. When they blew it up, the demolition team obviously messed something up, because the Hacienda was built in an upside-down Y formation (from an aerial view), and that bottom stem didn't fall, to the point where they had to schedule a second demolition to get that last section to fall.

Because of that smeg-up, some of the locals there began to spread around the rumour of the Curse of the Hacienda, as it didn't want to be closed or imploded.

Fast forward three years. That lot is where the present-day Mandalay Bay is. When I moved there, it was in the middle of being built. Roughly 70% to being fully built, the engineers realized that the Mandalay Bay was starting to tilt and sink slightly. Turns out that when the foundation was built, they didn't pack the foundation solid enough that the ground couldn't withstand it.. So it started to sink and tilt slightly; compounding the issue, it started to take the Luxor Hotel and Casino down with it as well.

After surveying it, they came up with only two options: try to lift the Mandalay Bay up or buoy it from underneath so they can pack the foundation harder so it can withstand the building, or blow it up and rebuild it. So far, they haven't done either..

The Curse of the Hacienda.


My point: there may be nothing they can do about this building in SF, not just due to the close proximity of other buildings, but because of the volatility of the land underneath. Depending on how much money was already spent, they may have the option of a controlled implosion, but unless it starts to take other buildings down with it, there may be nothing they can do.

BL.
 
Hi,

As a SF resident, I can say a couple of things about this and why it is worrisome.

First, the tower was erected in what a hundred years ago or so was still a water body:

920x1240.jpg


second, per this article:

http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/SF-s-landmark-tower-for-rich-and-famous-is-8896563.php

The engineers projected under their calculations, the building would sink about 6 inches during its lifetime. After only 8 or 9 years, it sunk 10 inches AND tilted 2 inches.

Not happy with only that, a major subway and train terminal (and therefore excavation!) is being built right next to it.

Needless to say, there is a lot of fingerprinting going on.

As a homeowner, I wouldn't live in San Francisco in something that is NOT bedrock. Also, I wouldn't live on a floor higher than 5 or on a building with that many floors.

This is a major issue where a lot of money has been involved
 
I moved to Las Vegas in January of 1998. Two years prior to that, to celebrate the holiday season, Las Vegas in its usual pomp and circumstance, does what it does best: blows **** up. In this case, in December 1996, they decided to blow up the Hacienda Resort and Casino. When they blew it up, the demolition team obviously messed something up, because the Hacienda was built in an upside-down Y formation (from an aerial view), and that bottom stem didn't fall, to the point where they had to schedule a second demolition to get that last section to fall.

Because of that smeg-up, some of the locals there began to spread around the rumour of the Curse of the Hacienda, as it didn't want to be closed or imploded.

Fast forward three years. That lot is where the present-day Mandalay Bay is. When I moved there, it was in the middle of being built. Roughly 70% to being fully built, the engineers realized that the Mandalay Bay was starting to tilt and sink slightly. Turns out that when the foundation was built, they didn't pack the foundation solid enough that the ground couldn't withstand it.. So it started to sink and tilt slightly; compounding the issue, it started to take the Luxor Hotel and Casino down with it as well.

After surveying it, they came up with only two options: try to lift the Mandalay Bay up or buoy it from underneath so they can pack the foundation harder so it can withstand the building, or blow it up and rebuild it. So far, they haven't done either..

The Curse of the Hacienda.


My point: there may be nothing they can do about this building in SF, not just due to the close proximity of other buildings, but because of the volatility of the land underneath. Depending on how much money was already spent, they may have the option of a controlled implosion, but unless it starts to take other buildings down with it, there may be nothing they can do.

BL.

This is interesting. Didn't the Luxor build two towers to the north west of the pyramid also as well as the bay adding on also?

The Curse of the Hacienda..... that is funny. Of course this only strengthens the legend!
 
Hi,

As a SF resident, I can say a couple of things about this and why it is worrisome.

First, the tower was erected in what a hundred years ago or so was still a water body:

920x1240.jpg


second, per this article:

http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/SF-s-landmark-tower-for-rich-and-famous-is-8896563.php

The engineers projected under their calculations, the building would sink about 6 inches during its lifetime. After only 8 or 9 years, it sunk 10 inches AND tilted 2 inches.

Not happy with only that, a major subway and train terminal (and therefore excavation!) is being built right next to it.

Needless to say, there is a lot of fingerprinting going on.

As a homeowner, I wouldn't live in San Francisco in something that is NOT bedrock. Also, I wouldn't live on a floor higher than 5 or on a building with that many floors.

This is a major issue where a lot of money has been involved
Regardless of who's to blame and money, I do hope it gets sorted BEFORE anybody die's.
Otherwise apart from the tragic loss there will be a lot more finger pointing and money being spent.
 
This is interesting. Didn't the Luxor build two towers to the north west of the pyramid also as well as the bay adding on also?

Yep. Those were sinking as well, as those were built during the construction of Mandalay Bay, and it could be that they were packed a bit better, but once the foundation of one side goes, it is a trickle-down effect. The pyramid of the Luxor should be okay, but when the news channels there broke the story back then, they treated it as a big deal. The Excalibur is safe, though.

The Curse of the Hacienda..... that is funny. Of course this only strengthens the legend!

Especially since there was The Return of the Hacienda. In the summer of 1998, the Gold Strike Casino (the first casino you pass after crossing Hoover Dam from Arizona) caught fire and burned down. The owners there decided to rebuild, worked with the account/stakeholders of the Hacienda, and renamed the resort the Hacienda.. just to remind those at Mandalay Bay that The Hacienda and its curse is going to follow you wherever you go. ;)

And of course, last year, they renamed it... dammit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoover_Dam_Lodge

BL.
 
After surveying it, they came up with only two options: try to lift the Mandalay Bay up or buoy it from underneath so they can pack the foundation harder so it can withstand the building, or blow it up and rebuild it. So far, they haven't done either..

Actually they did do something, and they did it during construction (which was well underway). To date, it apparently fixed the problem. My "guess" is something can also be done for the Millennium Tower.

During construction engineers discovered vertical movements and particularly differential movements ('dishing') between the tower core and the wings. The tower core was sinking at a rate of 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 inch (13 to 19 mm) per week and the wings were sinking at a slower rate causing differential distortion between the column bays. If these movements were not stopped, severe structural damage would occur and the building would have been at risk of eventual collapse. Construction was halted while a solution was developed and implemented. The solution proved to be the installation of micro-piles (formerly marketed as 'Pin Piles') filled with grout 200 feet (61 m) deep below the structure each capped with a hydraulic jack to stabilize the structure at the desired vertical height to carry the weight.[1] Since then, there have not been any reports of this problem recurring.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandalay_Bay



Mike
 
Couple that with the falling values, i.e., who wants to buy a condo in a building that is sinking, and you have some very nervous and unhappy owners.

It seems like it would also impact the value of surrounding buildings, given the impact on sidewalks and potential for major ongoing work on that site. I wouldn't want to live next to it.

On a side note, that thing is really tacky. Good riddance.
 
I moved to Las Vegas in January of 1998. Two years prior to that, to celebrate the holiday season, Las Vegas in its usual pomp and circumstance, does what it does best: blows **** up. In this case, in December 1996, they decided to blow up the Hacienda Resort and Casino. When they blew it up, the demolition team obviously messed something up, because the Hacienda was built in an upside-down Y formation (from an aerial view), and that bottom stem didn't fall, to the point where they had to schedule a second demolition to get that last section to fall.

Because of that smeg-up, some of the locals there began to spread around the rumour of the Curse of the Hacienda, as it didn't want to be closed or imploded.

Fast forward three years. That lot is where the present-day Mandalay Bay is. When I moved there, it was in the middle of being built. Roughly 70% to being fully built, the engineers realized that the Mandalay Bay was starting to tilt and sink slightly. Turns out that when the foundation was built, they didn't pack the foundation solid enough that the ground couldn't withstand it.. So it started to sink and tilt slightly; compounding the issue, it started to take the Luxor Hotel and Casino down with it as well.

After surveying it, they came up with only two options: try to lift the Mandalay Bay up or buoy it from underneath so they can pack the foundation harder so it can withstand the building, or blow it up and rebuild it. So far, they haven't done either..

The Curse of the Hacienda.


My point: there may be nothing they can do about this building in SF, not just due to the close proximity of other buildings, but because of the volatility of the land underneath. Depending on how much money was already spent, they may have the option of a controlled implosion, but unless it starts to take other buildings down with it, there may be nothing they can do.

BL.

I'm pretty sure I stayed at the Hacienda for one night back in 1977. Maybe I had something to do with it. :)
[doublepost=1470488489][/doublepost]
Hi,

As a SF resident, I can say a couple of things about this and why it is worrisome.

First, the tower was erected in what a hundred years ago or so was still a water body:

920x1240.jpg


second, per this article:

http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/SF-s-landmark-tower-for-rich-and-famous-is-8896563.php

The engineers projected under their calculations, the building would sink about 6 inches during its lifetime. After only 8 or 9 years, it sunk 10 inches AND tilted 2 inches.

Not happy with only that, a major subway and train terminal (and therefore excavation!) is being built right next to it.

Needless to say, there is a lot of fingerprinting going on.

As a homeowner, I wouldn't live in San Francisco in something that is NOT bedrock. Also, I wouldn't live on a floor higher than 5 or on a building with that many floors.

This is a major issue where a lot of money has been involved

I'd be concerned about the ground beneath the tower liquefying during a strong shaker, even if it's dense sand. I assume you meant finger-pointing, not fingerprinting, though the latter could occur if anyone involved were found criminally liable.
 
The engineers projected under their calculations, the building would sink about 6 inches during its lifetime. After only 8 or 9 years, it sunk 10 inches AND tilted 2 inches.
Clearly that calculation had some errors. Time to make a new calculation then.
 
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