The unfinished Harmon tower at CityCenter is virtually
unrepairable and could collapse in a "code-level" earthquake, according
to a structural engineer hired by MGM Resorts International who
examined the 27-story building.
In the report, members of Weidlinger Associates of
Marina Del Rey, Calif., said they ran several tests on the building and
found missing or misplaced reinforcing steel in columns, beams, shear
walls and transfer walls throughout the tower below the 21st floor.
"The construction defects in the tower observed to date
are so pervasive and varied in character that it is not possible to
quickly implement a temporary or permanent repair to remediate the
defects, or even determine whether such repairs can be performed,"
Chuckwuma Ekwueme, an associate principal with Weidlinger told
CityCenter Vice President of Facility Operations William Ham in a
letter dated Monday.
A "code-level earthquake" is based on the probability of
an earthquake strong enough to damage structures occurring once every
500 years. The rating varies by region, depending on several factors
including fault lines and soil conditions.
In the letter, Ekwueme said that if a code-level
earthquake were to take place, "it is likely that critical structural
members in the tower will fail and become incapable of supporting
gravity loads, leading to a partial or complete collapse of the tower."
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The Harmon at CityCenter
is the subject of
litigation between MGM Resorts International and PeriniBuilding Co.
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