Though the trigger may remain a mystery for some time, by the end of the week, the structural engineer probing the partial progressive collapse of a 40-year-old Surfside, Fla., residential condominium expects to complete a computer model of the unstable, 12-story remains of the building. The computer model of the still-standing wing of Champlain Towers South will initially be used to alert the search and rescue team to suspend operations if a hurricane is coming.
“We are collecting data and building structural models," with the help of the original drawings, to predict the wind forces that the unstable tower can withstand, so that "we can warn people” to vacate the site if necessary, says Allyn Kilsheimer, founder of KCE Structural Engineers. Kilsheimer, who arrived at the site a day after the June 24 debacle, is working for the city of Surfside, north of Miami Beach.