• Official websites use .govA.govwebsite belongs to an official government organization in the United States. • Secure .gov websites use HTTPSAlock(LockA locked padlock) orhttps://means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. • Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. • https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2025/09/champlain-towers-south-investigation-nears-completion-technical-work Champlain Towers South Investigation Nears Completion of Technical Work Investigators share likely failure scenarios, advance indicators of building’s distress. • Share The NIST National Construction Safety Team analyzed photographs, building maintenance records, and eyewitness reports to develop this graphic showing where cracks had been identified in the first-floor slab in the months and years before the 2021 partial collapse of Champlain Towers South. • The cracks are noted in turquoise, while construction joints (where concrete slabs meet) that are of interest to the investigation are shown in pink.
Article Summaries:
- NIST’s investigation into the 2021 collapse of Champlain Towers South is approaching the end of its technical phase, with a final report slated for completion by the end of 2025. Preliminary findings now point to the failure originating in a pool‑deck slab‑column connection rather than the tower itself, supported by computer simulations, large‑scale testing, and video analysis. Evidence of distress-such as a sliding glass door, cracks in planter walls, and water leaks-was documented in the weeks leading up to the collapse. The team is refining analyses of corrosion, concrete shrinkage, and construction joint defects, and will release a summary report and six technical papers. Stakeholder engagement continues to shape safety recommendations, with the next public update expected in Spring 2026.
Sources: