NIST Finds Early Garage-Column Failures Triggered Champlain Towers South Collapse
NIST's NCST technical findings attribute the Champlain Towers South collapse to punching shear failures at two garage column connections in early June 2021, which caused cracks, load redistribution, and eventual collapse; margins against failure were too narrow due to design and construction deviations from codes, ongoing loads, and corrosion, with other potential factors ruled out; a final report with recommendations will follow.