6 chapters across the catalog
Millennium Tower Sinking, San Francisco Infrastructure
The 58-story Millennium Tower in San Francisco has reportedly sunk 16 inches and is leaning 15 inches to the west. Residents blame the adjacent construction of a new transit center for the high-speed rail project. The situation is noted for its irony, as the transit project involved extensive use of eminent domain and has faced its own long-term delays.
San Francisco's Leaning Millennium Tower Fix
The Millennium Tower in San Francisco, a luxury high-rise, continues to sink and lean, now tilting over two feet to the northwest. Recent attempts to "fix" the building by installing piles to bedrock have reportedly caused further settlement and groundwater fluctuations. Famous residents, including Joe Montana, are caught in the engineering nightmare of a building that some fear could eventually collapse.
Analysis of reports from Florida International University indicates the Surfside building was sinking at two millimeters per year. This total sinkage of approximately 2.3 inches over 30 years is compared to the Millennium Tower in San Francisco, which has sunk 16 inches. Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett describes the scene as a catastrophe resembling a bomb site.
San Francisco Transbay Terminal, Structural Failures
The brand new $2.2 billion Transbay Transit Center in San Francisco is shut down just three months after opening due to cracked steel support beams. This follows reports of crumbling walkways in the rooftop park. Nearby, the Millennium Tower continues to sink and tilt, with new reports of cracked windows on the 36th floor, raising questions about construction quality in the city.
The hosts open the program with a discussion of the Millennium Tower in San Francisco and the restaurant RN47. One host describes a recent dining experience involving pumpkin soup and Liberty Farm duck, while criticizing the loud, train-station-themed ambiance. Reference is made to chef Michael Mina losing Michelin stars for his other establishments, Aqua and the Michael Mina restaurant in the St. Francis.
San Francisco Traffic, Millennium Tower Construction Risks
San Francisco traffic patterns show unusual congestion entering the city during evening commute hours. Discussion focuses on the construction of the Millennium Tower, referred to as the Tower of Death, which is the tallest residential building west of the Mississippi River. Concerns are raised regarding the building's proximity to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and its potential for catastrophic failure during an earthquake, despite a water-filled honeycomb grid structure designed to counterbalance swaying.
