Millennium Tower: San Francisco's Sinking Skyscraper

[@vladsnape6408]

A very tall, heavy skyscraper built on short friction piles in soft wet clay and sand, in an earthquake zone, what could possibly go wrong?

[@keithjackson4985]

Lol 😆 lol 😆 hilarious.

[@markfryer9880]

Liquifaction. If the quake strikes before those additional bedrock piles are installed then it's going to be a wild ride in that tower.

[@sifridbassoon]

One of the famous stories from the 1906 quake was about the Valencia Hotel. It was a 4 (?) story hotel/boarding house in South of Market. When the quake hit, the soil turned to mud and the building sank three floors. The people on the top floor could step out their windows onto the street level.

[@PInk77W1]

Yeah but on the bright side Gays can marry and run naked on Bay to Breakers

[@jamessickmore236]

Typical San Francisco where needles and shit are part of life.

[@SirFlannel]

So, builders ignore engineers advise and conceal the problem from very wealthy clients, and is still extremely profitable, but the taxpayers will have to pay 30 million in repair costs? Who thinks that's right?

[@netposerx]

Sounds right, this is California.

[@annamarieromano3882]

No its NOT RIGHT in ANY way!! Greedy A-Holes! And the tax payers get to split the bill! SUCH BULLSHIT! The ppl at the top should divide the bill amongst themselves along with the builders like REAL HOME OWNERS!

[@coreytaylor447]

the building generates significantly more than 30 mill in tax revenue and will generate much more over the course of its life if unabandoned. thats how its right

[@Zarcondeegrissom]

lol, not to say, they voted willingly or unknowingly for the policies that resulted in all of that, so, eh, the blame can be shared by many.

[@olinewman]

@@coreytaylor447 Yup! Plus, if i lived in a building to the North West, I'd be happy to chip in with a couple of bucks.

[@delurkor]

While I worked in S.F. up to 2008; I watched them build that building from one of our conference rooms. For those who don't know, much of the area near the water front(Embarcadero) is all sand, all the way down. And excavation can uncover ship hulks from the Gold Rush days.

[@olinewman]

Damn, long conference.

[@delurkor]

@@olinewman Daily two hour meeting to find out why the project is delayed, don't you know.

[@skyrockhou6325]

So is all this land reclaimed? How did those ships get there

[@tippyc2]

@@skyrockhou6325 The bay was largely filled in with sediment during the late gold rush. They were doing a lot of hydraulic (placer) mining, which washed away entire hillsides 150 miles away in the foothills. The natural sediments before that are soft clay, which compresses drastically under load.

[@freddymarcel-marcum6831]

I drove a taxi for years in San Francisco and also worked on one of the Big Bus tours in the Ninties, the original shoreline was all the way to Montgomery Street, which is limit of the Financial District. And that's a long way from the water😆

[@mmeiselph7234]

Interesting to watch this after Surfside.

[@mayram4598]

Agreed

[@chaoznorder6207]

I was JUST about to put this exact comment in. Watching hundreds die to shoddy construction/maintenance in a MUCH SMALLER tower really changes how you view this story.

[@user-bw3fl7fj9w]

@@chaoznorder6207 once again..greed, and cutting corners rules the day. I don't think taxpayers money should be used though....

[@dcwatashi]

@@user-bw3fl7fj9w It’s a lot of nerve to ask the taxpayers to foot some of this bill. What did they have to do with it? Really creepy since the Florida debacle

[@dawnreneegmail]

Ditto to all previous comments. In Southern California we suffer from HOA apathy, distrust in usage of funds (think patronage etc), lack of quorum, owners disengaged (so not voting) thus not enough owner majority to count the votes.😵‍💫

[@AuntLizzie]

Horrifying - particularly in light of the recent Condo collapse in Florida.

[@joesterling4299]

I wonder how much the value of MT apartments will fall now, in the aftermath of Surfside, FL.

[@rick-be]

I bet people are moving out in droves,it will be a Ghostscaper.

[@GospelOfTimothy]

If this one collapses they'll still claim that they had no idea

[@davidhunternyc1]

@@GospelOfTimothy Umm... where was that report?

[@Maranville]

@Just Whatever we still haven't, really. 12 stories or whatever is not all that high-rise.

[@markheaney]

I worked as in elevator technician for thirty years in downtown San Francisco right by the the Millennium Tower and have heard all the horror stories. You have captured it all perfectly. Great job.

[@ebayerr]

Mark Heaney : You have to know your stuff as an electrician to be an elevator technician. My hat's off to you sir.

[@muskokamike127]

Yeah succinct and to the point. I hate the guys who love to hear the sound of their own voice and drone on and on about superfluous things.......

[@kansasthunderman1]

@@ebayerr Or just be a relative of someone in the union (IUEC Local 8). IUEC is a synonymous word for "nepotism".

[@izzywashington5461]

@@kansasthunderman1 not true I got in the iuec all by myself not knowing anyone in the trade only just by talking to people on the jobsites.

[@NeverTalkToCops1]

When the twin towers fell, why was there no trace of the elevators?

[@dvdmethod2]

Never underestimate greed's ability to override common sense and safety.

[@NoGoodHandlesComingToMind]

Things like this aren't always rooted in greed. Typically it's a underestimation of the risk at hand. Errors in developer-judgment happen in non-profit, government-run projects from time to time as well.

[@skyrockhou6325]

Greed would push them to make sure that problems like this don’t arise. Why skimp on construction quality when doing so would lead to what we have now; an almost valueless money pit which isn’t generating profit.

[@madsam0320]

@@NoGoodHandlesComingToMind peer review, nah! Recommended depth of foundation, nah! Paying attention to this video, nah!

[@mitch_the_-itch]

Communists are super greedy. As has been fully documented in History. SF Commies seem to think this disaster will end differently.

[@madsam0320]

Why blame the democrats or the SF authority, clearly it’s the capitalist system that let corporations cut corners in pushing profits before safety. It’s stupid to say communists are greedy when capitalist stand for greed and communists are more akin to the word community.

[@robertgoff6479]

"In typical American fashion they all sued each other." I laughed, and then I cried.

[@joshuahosang6690]

I pee'd a little

[@bigv6724]

We love to sue each other as a pass time. Really piss me off the people of the city have to chunk money into it as well.

[@chappy8088chappy8088]

@@bigv6724 well currently we are in peak environment for some good ole tortious disputes with neighbors you disagree. Aside from not being able to find a single person in the entire country who is emotionally stable at the moment but if ever there was a good time to take an extra few mortgages on your house, maybe try for as many student loans you can apply for and any other way to crank up your debt. Basically there’s only a few things that will happen because it was on TV and the internet so it’s solid. Either all that stuff will be forgiven like I was pandered.... I mean told or it’s possible our markets are in a melt-up cycle while the dollar is d-d-d-dropping, we still are massively under producing vs spending etc.... and (i pray my semi-sarc here is just a terrible joke but....) we become Weimar republic 2.0 with the wheelbarrows of money BUT with negative interest and man that debt is gucci.

[@Jimmyjimjimjim]

Yea because people only sue each other in America. Like the guy who sued a spa for not shaving his balls. Great point. That stuff does not happen outside the states.

[@chappy8088chappy8088]

@@Jimmyjimjimjim Yeah maybe. We sue just because we’re too far removed from people being producers of tangible value which has gone from a “no duh” obvious trait our country was built on to a teenage girl separated from her parents in a very public suit over cell phone privileges. It’s like our founders embraced suffering and it fueled doing anything for freedom to suing because having a father explain why you don’t deserve something gets that dad a lawsuit with misogyny enhancement Canada has a weird mix of being almost too welcoming almost creepy like some underlying guilt (at least in Toronto or Montreal where family lives) my Uncle explained had something to do with the “ indigenous peoples” thing or something. Even frivolous “hey look at me and my quantum invisible balls” now I’m a victim of violence because my non-balls weren’t acknowledged. It’s like a decent attempt at faking legit-ness but still just the same crap you except as all civilizations burn but still don’t believe the news. Hey since obviously 2020 was really just the trailer for the full movie of 2021 I think it’s important we pick apart each flaw in each other with great shame sarcasm and humor because it’s not like we’re trying to look good for anyone else now. Pretty obvious we can screw stuff up good

[@deedeeOWL]

There you have it, Florida 12 storage Surfside condominium just collapsed on sinking land. SF Millennium Tower should panic.

[@seedplanter7173]

12? How many were bl o wn up with ex plo sives? Just one?

[@Three_Random_Words]

@@seedplanter7173 Four out of the five people in this thread are idiots. That includes me for thinking I could argue with you.

[@taytk8005]

@Dee Dee First it's Surf side now it's Sink site.

[@raudiaz6245]

it had rusted out for over 10 years. was built in the 1950s before reinforced concrete existed. all the rebar were rusted through.

[@CheyenneLoveLoveZebrasEDS]

As a wheelchair user I have a special talent of accidentally finding slanted floors ♿😂

[@blindkimberly1360]

Ditto. Frustrating af.

[@wasabij]

LMAO that's something I've never considered!

[@MajorCaliber]

You're HIRED! Mega-insurance policy included! (Extra points for your sense of humor...)

[@aaronmacy9134]

Lmao, I just envisioned you at a dinner party on the 58th floor’s $13M penthouse. Everyone pauses to propose a toast to the smug new owner’s real estate buying prowess with your champagne glasses held high, ..as you slowly roll backwards away from the table. That absolutely needs to become a scene in the new Frasier reboot in an episode where Niles buys an apartment in the Millennium Tower.

[@spaceman081447]

The fact that the penthouse apartment has recently sold for $13 million shows that there are a lot of people with more money than sense.

[@gti500]

I'll give you a hint, most likely its not their money, its yours!

[@slomo4672]

Who bought it?

[@Nikowalker007]

The tower became a local attraction, 600 ft. Pisa Tower millennium sister. At the top floor you can play bowling without a stick....

[@rick-be]

See above

[@JacobBax]

@@Nikowalker007 "you can play bowling without a stick" ???????????????????????????

[@eggshellgoesgaming]

If they leave it alone, eventually it will hit bedrock. Then they only need to renumber the floors.

[@ArizonaWillful]

And they can market the building as having bomb shelters below ground!

[@auntiejen5376]

That might be an option if the building was just sinking straight down, but I like it anyway.

[@anthonyxuereb792]

AS someone has pointed out, that's assuming it goes straight down and doesn't do the unthinkable.

[@stephenhunter70]

@@anthonyxuereb792 What rise back up out of the ground! What I assume your referring to as unthinkable, in this case definitely is thinkable!

[@anthonyxuereb792]

@@stephenhunter70 No mate, I meant if it topples over!

[@Rahul-ey1oq]

I am a Civil Engineer and I've never cringed so hard while watching well, anything.

[@RockyRoadCreationsbyDiana]

Hmmm, residents are probably making plans to get out now after what happened in Florida.

[@trafficjon400]

Would hardly compare too.

[@Jakethesnake7321]

Don’t bet on it. People in Calif don’t think anything will happen to them.

[@punker4Real]

yeah if there is an quake before they complete it then it would collapse

[@GospelOfTimothy]

They'll just take out huge life insurance policies on their relatives and let their relatives live there.

[@ginatrobeson8351]

@@GospelOfTimothy you're wrong for that but you're right😆😆😆

[@dmrr7739]

Privatize the profits, socialize the losses. Same ol’ same ol’.

[@OneAdam12Adam]

That's the American Way now that Corporations are people too! Thank you Citizens United. More like Communists United

[@Spritz86]

I had not seen your comment but this was exactly my thinking at the end of the video; same feeling as with the 2008 banking crisis.

[@t44e6]

It's what government does. Government is run by the bankers. Always has been.

[@t44e6]

@@OneAdam12Adam Trade Unions are people too bro. But actual people aren't people.

[@gordon3186]

@@t44e6 --- It's what corporations do. And you're right, government shouldn't allow it.

[@Connection-Lost]

Protip to the superstitious: The 14th floor is still physically the 13th floor, no matter what they call it. Ghosts don't fall for that shit.

[@davidsanderson4690]

"If you call a tail a leg, how many legs does a dog have? Four: calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg." A. Lincoln

[@PeterWalkerHP16c]

Usually they put machinery and plant on the thirteenth.

[@daveunknown01]

@5guys1cup religion lives rent free in your head

[@roseroses7576]

Don't forget that the 44th floor is also unlucky.

[@raymondo162]

@CL true dat

[@nathanhiggins1438]

Every American was laughing or crying when, 'everyone sued each other'. However, the next sentence stated through the lawsuits the truth was found. Without subpoenas, witnesses under oath, and a controlled courtroom would that have been the case?

[@billolsen4360]

And so, children, be a lawyer & let the architects, engineers & developers make work for you

[@nathanhiggins1438]

@@billolsen4360 this is true, every once in a while society should just thank people who actually produce stuff.

[@tanyamarsh4392]

The legal phrase and stage referred to as “discovery”…is just that!! The truth is always exposed.

[@nathanhiggins1438]

@@tanyamarsh4392 exactly

[@yolo_burrito]

Two words “willful negligence”

[@tommyodonovan3883]

My Dutch Grandfather would call it a *Klusterphuken.*

[@janbertrand8068]

Absolute Greed…!!

[@Three_Random_Words]

@@janbertrand8068 Greed, for a lack of a better term, is good. - Gordon Gecko.

[@ashleyriedel4059]

California. Knows how to do it *sarcasm*

[@yolo_burrito]

@@ashleyriedel4059 still standing unlike some places.

[@Sandi-ke9mi]

After what happened in Miami at Surfside, a sinking building would be the last place I would want to live.

[@pzpinkslip123]

Or anywhere near.

[@sunbeam8866]

Wonder if it was the same engineers!

[@miketheyunggod2534]

then dont!

[@Sandi-ke9mi]

@@miketheyunggod2534 Duh.

[@banditosdetiempo]

@@sunbeam8866 it’s not totally the fault of the engineers though.

[@chadgolden4065]

Excellent breakdown of the challenges and how this project got to this point. You covered just about everything but there is one subtle point that I think was missed. The friction vs. load-bearing piles were certainly a primary contributing factor but in addition the other key element is the buildings primary structure was reinforced concrete rather than steel. In most of the downtown SF skyscraper/high-rises they use structural steel for the majority of the structural components but this building is unique in that it uses reinforced concrete elements for the majority of its structural design. The end result was that it was dramatically heavier (by a factor of 3~4) than its other counterparts in the area. Friction piles are used in SF and can be done successfully on lighter structures, but the added weight of the structural elements on friction piles made for a perfect storm here.

[@papasmurf5925]

Wouldn't live in SF for All the money in the World.

[@MsAngrybutterfly]

I live in San Francisco and followed this story pretty closely, so I knew most of this stuff, I just really enjoyed seeing Simon narrate it all. Perfect.

[@Mizz.Person]

He's just fantastic! My husband and I watch all of his suff! :)

[@SFPhilo]

I knew someone on the crew that poured the foundation. He told me when they were shown the orders and specs, everyone down to the day laborer said: "De ninguna manera jefe" "No way Boss".

[@mbryson2899]

I heard similar sentiments from a lot of constructions crews working in SOMA at that time, too. They may not be engineers but they know what works and what doesn't.

[@dearzoshka]

I wish I could more than just like this.

[@RikoJAmado]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@Aereto]

No one would accept that accountability knowing that the specs does not address critical errors.

[@alcubz2622]

I doubt this, the issue here is not the specs of concrete but their failure to reach bedrock when installing the piles

[@dcsteve7869]

Lived in SF for 5 years around that time. This really doesn't surprise me with the way the city is run and the pass they gave to greedy developers. During that time I heard about numerous rent controlled apartment buildings that mysteriously burned down only to be replaced with new expensive developments where former residents were "offered" first chance at renting but of course could not afford it. The east span of the Bay Bridge, also a disaster. So much mismanagement and corruption.

[@mmaranta785]

Since Willie Brown

[@dcsteve7869]

@@mmaranta785 didn't really want to go there, but you have a point in that it's hard to overlook the persisting and wide spread failures of policy pushed by a certain party that seems to rule with unobstructed impunity in cities such as this.

[@alisonb9963]

Thank heavens they cleaned up all the rent control mess. It's not Moscow.

[@michaelhudecek2778]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@UQRXD]

The building in Florida that just collapsed showed what can happen.

[@madieburton5428]

A wise man built his house on a rock . A foolish man built his house on the sand. Matthew's 7

[@765kvline]

How typical: the very people unable to afford living in this obscene monstrosity are the ones who have to shoulder the cost of repairs for the criminal one percent who live there. Disgusting. I would have told them and their developers, 'It's your problem--go fix it yourselves."

[@abcde_fz]

Unfortunately the taxpayers are the ones who keep voting for government in that state to keep laying on laws, rules, and regulations designed to keep them safe from cradle to grave. 30 million dollars? That's peanuts compared with how much of their taxes go to public works projects that take decades to complete because of all the rules and regulations (And referendums!!!) that they keep voting for. Don't blame the rich. Many of them are finally discovering it's more economically sensible to leave the damn state entirely. On the other hand, yeah, blame the rich... It is true their overall contribution to society in general is practically nil, except for a couple notables... I like the fact that George Lucas, who wanted to build housing on Skywalker Ranch, was prevented from doing so by some sort of 'community compact' or some such rule or regulation (Or referendum!!!), So he donated the land outright to either an organization, or a municipal entity, (I can't remember which), AND THEY WERE ABLE TO SAY SCREW THE RICH IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, and the low-and-middle class housing project was put through anyway!!! Bill Gates seems like a pretty good philanthropist too.

[@papasmurf5925]

You have to remember, This is SF, California. Enough Said?

[@Williamfuchs420]

This tower is gonna cost San Fran billions when it tumbles after a major Earthquake

[@mikester1290]

Could happen tomorrow, who knows?

[@EllioTurner]

i’ve always heard that the golden gate bridge is in an awful condition as well.. sad san fran is gorgeous curious as to where the high taxes are going

[@alexpro8843]

Fr tho, if the San andreas fault happens to colapse in the near future San Francisco is getting completely fucked.

[@californiamade5608]

@@EllioTurner the Golden Gate Bridge is already getting a paint job.

[@EllioTurner]

@@californiamade5608 that’s great to hear hopefully the structural things are getting fixed as well!

[@johnkeviljr9625]

Repeat after me: "Caissons to bedrock. Caissons to bedrock."

[@gevmage]

No kidding. What the hell. Who in the world builds buildings like that and puts them based in the sand? There's a reason building a building on sand is a metaphor for it not having a solid foundation. (later edit:) I see. Ok, so apparently there are construction styles that don't go all the way to the bedrock, but they are inappropriate for that heavy (tall) of a building.

[@eknuds]

@@gevmage I thought building a skyscraper in an earthquake zone without going to bedrock was complete folly.

[@markfryer9880]

@@eknuds As I understand it from watching a couple of docos on earthquakes and buildings the problem will be in the liquifaction of the sand and clay and then the friction piles won't work. The building will sink further and quite possibly lean over further if there is unequal settlement during the liquifaction process.

[@nitehawk86]

"Caissons to bedrock. Caissons to bedrock. Come in, bedrock."

[@Judgmental_Cat]

@@markfryer9880 its tilting for a reason. TIMBER

[@KimoKimochii]

8:25 holy crap didn’t know they had camcorders already in 1898

[@TheNotMeTube]

Yeah I remember that quake well, having grown up in the Marina. Doesn’t seem like it’s been 123 years already since it happened. 🤣

[@evastapaard2462]

I wonder what the occupants think now that the surfside building has collapsed

[@trafficjon400]

70 floors from 12 floors and tilting not rotting would be far off in Comparing wouldn't one think🥴😂😂 .

[@evastapaard2462]

@@trafficjon400 so you're saying they're not concerned?.....ok.

[@videowilliams]

That repair you mention at the end got half-arsed (more like third-arsed) into only sinking 18 piles instead of 52, because the process of installing them caused the thing to sink yet further.

[@chrishewittpiano]

"The Leaning Tower of San Francisco" I freaking LOVE that!!!

[@jeremymurphy7320]

Addendum to the "in typical American fashion" statement: "And the taxpayers helped to bail them out"

[@libertarian1536]

If the taxpayers pay for the saving of this buildig they should convert it to low income housing.

[@trvman1]

and all of us just LAUGH at California. What a CESSPOOL that state is.

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

@@trvman1 yeah, right... laugh at the _6th largest economy in the world._ 🙄 Cretin.

[@jasN86]

"And in typical American fashion, they all sued each other!" I nearly spit my coffee out just now lol

[@seytanuakbar3022]

@Fu Duck In civilized countries court orders loser to pay for all. In USA you pay for yourself, being guiulty or inocent. If you want your money you need to sue loser, and pay for that. After that he sue you, and show goes on, in great delight of Jewish lawyer firms.

[@hauntedshadowslegacy2826]

@To The Horror Yeah, Stella (the old woman who was not driving or even in a moving vehicle when the coffee spilled) had to get skin grafts on her unmentionable region because the coffee was served at 180-190 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, she wasn't the only one to receive 3rd-degree burns from McDonald's coffee, just the first to demand that the clown pay for those astronomical medical bills. The 'millions' figure that McD's had to shell out was a punitive charge issued by the government separate from Stella's complaint. Also, you should be grateful that Stella brought the complaint forth in the first place, because it's now completely illegal to serve 180-190-degree anything directly to customers. 'Vexatious litigation' when said by multi-billion-dollar corporations is often just a scare tactic used to sway public opinion. Do vexatious litigants show up every so often? Yes. Does that mean dropping the phrase in court instantly makes the other party guilty of it? No. Corporate lawyers do scummy things for their bank-heavy masters and should not be trusted by anyone else while they're in a legal snafu.

[@cayrick]

Thanks! I learned a lot from this. One Engineer talked about "dishing" of the foundation slab. That suggests that the foundation itself is overloaded (overstressed). From what I have read the repairs will transfer the load to a perimeter of piles outside the building's footprint, but this fix seems to be only as good as the integrity of the slab itself. In my humble opinion there are two separate problems; a flawed slab design and a flawed piling design. It seems that these issues arose from changing a steel design to a much heavier concrete design without changing the foundation design accordingly. Aren't we fixing one problem and ignoring another? If I were an owner I would take my losses; exit and look for a new abode. This looks eerily worse than the Champlain Towers in Miami.

[@rrobby]

Any occupants of Millenium Tower feeling comfortable following the collapse of the condo in Florida?

[@danielschein6845]

So the developers get to walk away after handing a partial bill to their insurance? The lesson here is clear. Take shortcuts. The consequences are someone else's problem.

[@skyrockhou6325]

No. If that were the lesson every new tower in the country would be sinking and uninhabitable.

[@zeedeejay242]

Anyone who votes democrat knows that....

[@colincampbell767]

Of course the developers walked. In California the only way to get big projects like this approves is to offer shares to elected officials. It was likely political pressure that got the project approved. This is how it works in California - a project is started and a number of elected officials are offered shares in the profits in return for them supporting it. Corners are cut and the project is only intended to run until the profits are taken by every party - then everybody walks away with their money. When the project crashes and burns - the company has no money and the taxpayers pick up the costs. And without a viable opposition political party in California massive corruption has set in.

[@waynecampbell9426]

For the wealthy, risk is often socialized and profit is privatized.

[@colincampbell767]

@@waynecampbell9426 Not necessarily. In fact 70% of new business fail. BTW can you give me say - five examples of this where political corruption was not involved?

[@JohnLee-sm8op]

When Jesus says, "Don't build your house on sand" you listen; he was a carpenter after all.

[@angelusvastator1297]

That's just meta wow.

[@andiincali.4663]

Good point! His word is truth on so many levels.

[@mybad8805]

@@andiincali.4663 I am a carpenter as well. My money says that bitch lay's down in the next major earthquake. But hell that would actually be an improvement with the state of San Francisco being what it is at this time.

[@stevemeszaros5132]

Being God might also have had something to do with His wisdom : )

[@andiincali.4663]

@@stevemeszaros5132 Gives him a bit of an edge, that's for sure!

[@mexicanteixeira]

I don't think I'd want to live at the top of a skyscraper, getting to the bottom everyday would feel like a commute and I'm not paying for that lol

[@wewowe95]

Oh my god it is. And when the elevator's go down?!?!?! The. Freaking. Worst.

[@ch4.hayabusa]

@@wewowe95 I lived in an 18th floor... While codes were revised to allow emergency use of elevators... Learning to go down stairs at lighting speed is a skill worth learning

[@deemariedubois4916]

GrapeNuts Fire. For me it’s about fire. I’m not living above where that firetruck with the Hydraulically operated (aerial) ladder can reach. Don’t know what it’s called by I’m #firephobic checking every fire source in my home every night to make sure they are blown out or turned off and also being fanatical about my smoke alarms testing each of them on the first day of each month.

[@warailawildrunner5300]

@@deemariedubois4916 Don't blame you. When I was a toddler (2 or so), I lived on the 9th floor of a block of flats. This was back in the 80s so not very many large fire engines in the UK at the time. What was worse is that the block was on a raised platform above the road next to it (underground car park and where the bins were located), a good 2-3 floors in height, pretty much making it the equivalent of the 15th floor. (There were another 6 or so floors above ours). Some prat set a fire in the main stair / lift area.. trapping everyone on our floor on up. Yes I still remember that. Yes I was only 2, I remember standing at the window looking down at all the tiny fire engines and blue lights. I still wake up the moment I smell any kind of smoke (these days it tends to be neighbour's wood burners and such)... and get nervous around fire alarms. I'm currently 40. You are not crazy or paranoid. I will never live in a block of flats ever again. I don't want to put my home safety in the hands of others.

[@spddiesel]

@Brandon Quist I stopped going into tall buildings after watching Die Hard.

[@c123bthunderpig]

Reminds me of the 1970's movie Towering Inferno with Steve McQueen.. The perfect definition of the word assume.

[@chatteyj]

I think this millenium tower is on the site of or very close to the fictional glass tower from that film.

[@c123bthunderpig]

@@chatteyj I remember the movie well, ( the beginning of disaster movie era), would be amazing if it was close if not like a crystal ball. I've been to SF several times and first, driving with a stick shift drives ya crazy, but I can't imagine how they ever built on some of those hills. Thanks

[@stananders474]

Millionaires - oh dear, I can't sleep thinking about their loss.

[@stevenelson8560]

Yeah, keeps me up at night as well, though I'm not keen on the loss of life that would happen if this thing does topple.

[@croakingfrog3173]

They'll be fine, but it is too bad to see people lose their homes.

[@greggcollins4215]

Yep, the taxpayers get screwed again.

[@Sir_Uncle_Ned]

We're both the foundation and safety net of modern capitalism

[@lashlarue59]

@@Sir_Uncle_Ned This is a classic example of privatizing the profits while socializing the risks. The developer took a bunch of risks to build that building to maximize profit; the risks went bad and the cost of that is being passed on to the taxpayer. All the while the developer gets to keep all those profits. Whether you're you're talking about property development, airlines, banking or whatever modern capitalism cannot exist at the profit levels they want without the taxpayer essentially providing welfare for the richest people on the planet.

[@HT-zx8dn]

Why we the Taxpayer have to pay for Capitalists Greed ?

[@robotnoir5299]

Who cares. They live in democrat-run San Francisco. They love corruption, or they wouldn't keep voting for it.

[@colincampbell767]

California in a nutshell. Political connections rule and the taxpayers wind up with the bill. This is a consequence of having a state run by one political party. Those with political connections profit while those without pick up the bill. Just like the high speed train that will take people from nowhere and to nowhere. Price is up to $100 billion but a lot of Democrat elected officials are shareholders in the company building it. There's a saying: Republicans become millionaires and then run for public office. Democrats run for public office and then become millionaires.

[@cathyb1273]

I have heard of a similar story in Australia. A very expensive skycrapper, when coming back from work or else owners were not allowed to get in because it started to cracked... I don’t know if you have heard of this case and the consequences on the people. It was a big scandale. Edit : it was the Opal Tower ai Sydney

[@rustykilt]

The usual story, greedy developers and shoddy work. These days you take real risks buying hi rise units, as they are not designed to last.

[@fahndraco526]

There has been more cases like the Opal Tower in Sydney, with buildings having cracks in the load bearing walls, and where the occupants have all been forced to leave their homes for over a year... plus for the buildings repairs, the owners of each of the apartments have to foot the repair bill, not the builder... with high-rise apartment buildings, you only get about a 7 year warranty, and a house you can get anything from say 30 years to a lifetime warranty and of course except the Opal Tower building which was only a few months old, the other buildings are all having problems after the short warranty you get on a high-rise apartment have expired leaving all the owners out of pocket to foot the millions of dollars of repairs the buildings need to be safe..

[@billolsen4360]

We've been building skyscrapers for 100 years now, so why is the engineering on this structure worse now that it was then?. Woolworth Building 107 years old, 57 stories, still standing.

[@stephenhunter70]

I'm not from Sydney but it looks to me like they installed a lot of Acro props and then built walls around them.

[@iworkout6912]

@@billolsen4360 Buildings in Manhattan are lucky to have bedrock under them. One of the advantages of building in Manhattan is the bedrock isn't that far underground.

[@memofromessex]

Sounds like the developers never heard of the Parable of the Wise and the Foolish Builders!

[@johnmeyerhofer6935]

In Catholic school at 10 yo, when Nun still taught- on a spelling lesson word of the day on the black board,Sister Mary louise,wrote the word Business- When she said to class out loud the word, says ng each letter ,bu SIN ess- "There's SIN in the middle of business.I'm 72 now, and can see her view.

[@billolsen4360]

I had a few crackpots like that as teachers too

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:15 - Chapter 1 - Planning & construction 2:50 - Chapter 2 - Opening & discovering the tilt 4:45 - Chapter 3 - Doomed from the start 7:50 - Chapter 4 - Blowback, concerns & solutions

[@shadogiant]

"allegedly". Gold. That blaze seeping in everywhere.

[@LeoStaley]

Heard that. Zoomed to the comments. Blaze on.

[@spddiesel]

MUUU-AAAHHHH!!! 💋🤌

[@MsAngrybutterfly]

The Millennium Tower story is so full of corruption, greed, and outrageousness that it would make a really good Blaze. I can totally see Simon mulling over which channel to put it on.

[@MAashChick]

@@MsAngrybutterfly someone go down to the basement and make Danny write us a script

[@mikegigitty]

Haven’t heard the word “bedrock” used so much outside of The Flintstones

[@SmartassX1]

You're obviously not a Minecraft player.

[@mikeyoung9810]

It's one of those terms people that just watch cartoons might not hear that often.

[@wewowe95]

@@SmartassX1 literally came to type "have you *EVER* played Minecraft, bro?" Haha, we know what's up! Aaaaaand like a 5th of the planet..

[@bobfg3130]

You haven't watched too many engineering documentaries, now have you?

[@toymachine2328]

Apparently the architects hadn't, either. Allegedly.

[@ThomasBaxter]

8:28 Amazing archival footage from 1898

[@PInk77W1]

1989

[@margheritamele829]

Lol. Came here to comment about this as well! Glad that someone else caught that too.

[@petuniaromania6294]

I sure hope they're watching the building that just collapsed in Miami...

[@jackboren431]

This reminds me of the Monadnock Building in Chicago, opened in the 1890s, which has also sunk about 2 feet due to the swampy Chicago soil. While the Monadnock is only 16 stories tall, it's also the world's tallest brick building, with the exterior brick walls providing the support for the building. As a result, the lower floors flare out noticeably and the bottom of the building has 6 foot thick walls to support the weight of the floors above. Entering the building is like walking into a short tunnel. I believe the Monadnock has settled relatively uniformly. In later years buildings are generally built of steel or steel and concrete for the building's support, allowing them to be much taller.

[@WhatWhy42]

In the year 1999 *Hey let's build a millennium tower that sinks over time...* Perfectly representative of the next millennium *Nailed it* 😗

[@tieck4408]

Ah yes, early '00s real estate. Everything was built on sand.

[@internetzenmaster8952]

"the 1898 San Francisco Earthquake" That is some fascinating color film footage you got from EIGHTEEN NINETY-EIGHT there Simon...

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

Sideprojects has hired the guy who designed the Millenium Tower to write the captions, apparently....

[@troodon1096]

@@OuterGalaxyLounge Don't worry, the captions will eventually settle and say 1989.

[@Three_Random_Words]

The vid cams were steam powered back then.

[@joeson7700]

MARVELOUS Millennium condo bldg build 2009 has LEANED &:SUNKED 16 inches and still STANDING ,testament to Brilliant engineering ?

[@timhartherz5652]

Everyones who claims the Building to be safe, including its owners should be forced to live inside said Building.

[@MoonStar-eo8lv]

Amen to that!

[@Maranville]

I'm not sure why people always think this is such a zinger. I'm not sure that would change anyone's evidence-based assessment of anything.

[@timhartherz5652]

@@Maranville Because in my experience "calculated risk" tends gets evaluated differently, if it is you personally who has to carry it. Just like these fracking lobbyists, who claim the chemical polluted groundwater to be safe (despit being literally flammable) but refuse to drink it when offerd. Every risk is perfectly acceptable for a certain type opf people, as long as it is others who have to take the risk.

[@xiro6]

If the architect accepts to live there, I will be much more concerned about the building integrity than before.

[@timhartherz5652]

@@xiro6 Lol yeah, some of them seem to be obviously insane.

[@Smi7h1sH3r3]

hahaha nice. I live in SF, but wasn't paying attention when this news came out lol. Also, drilling into bedrock is pretty standard design process.......jesus fucking christ.

[@hazelmaymcclelland]

CD your language is very offensive. Clearly you have a very poor command of English!!!

[@Smi7h1sH3r3]

@@hazelmaymcclelland if you're referring to the 'jesus fucking christ', just check out 'The History of Swear Words'... also, weird. I understand not saying something like that in a religious setting/context, but for fuck sakes, this is youtube comments are you new here? you should watch simons other channel, business blaze. Much less offensive.

[@alisonb9963]

So glad you live there and not where I live.

[@alisonb9963]

@@hazelmaymcclelland He's the perfect SF denzien and reflects the hole he lives in quite well. The over-inflated, hipster silliness from middle school. Glad he's there and glad this isn't happening where we are. Poor slob.

[@timysenda2700]

the upgraded public transit was to entice peasants to take the bus so the rich would have less traffic when they drive. also there is a Caltrans train terminal there.

[@colincampbell767]

The liberals in California have for at least 5 decades been working to limit ownership of personal automobiles to anybody who is not part of the liberal elites. In fact 25% of the gasoline taxes (that supposedly are supposed to go yo road and highway repairs, highway patrol, caltrans, etc.) go to subsidize mas transit systems. Also remember the 'bait and switch' the state govrenment pulled on the voters. They got the voters to agree to an increase in gasoline taxes because of the 'crisis' in the maintenance of highway infrastructure. (And the funds being earmarked for that purpose only.) They then cut the budget for highway maintenance by the amount of money the additional taxes brought in. That money is being spent on projects where Democrat politicians are shareholders in the companies that are doing the work. The prices the companies charge are excessive and the profits go into the pockets of Democrat politicians.

[@duudsuufd]

@@colincampbell767 And the republican politicians are clean?

[@colincampbell767]

@@duudsuufd I'd say 'cleaner' due to the fact that they tend to be under much higher scrutiny than the Democrats. Just look at the hypocrisy with the 'quid pro quo' the Media and the Democrats went after Trump despite the transcripts demonstrating that no 'quid pro quo' occurred - but Biden gets a pass for withholding arms shipments to the Ukraine until a prosecutor investigating a company that gave his son a $50,000/month 'no show' job got fired. Why are you liberals OK with this?

[@joermnyc]

Sandy soil in a major earthquake undergoes “liquefaction” and any structures on top of it are in big trouble if there’s no tie into the solid bedrock.

[@0fficialdregs]

developer: no peer review, just build. advisor: Are you sure because it will cost you more in the future if the building sink and shift. Developer: believe me, nothing is gonna happen. news breaks Developer: ima spend extra money to fix this problem. Advisor: told you so

[@ziggy2shus624]

Some of Frisco is built on fill material. During the Calif gold rush, which stared in 1849, many sailors abandoned their ships to search for gold. The area between the abandoned ships filled with sand, and eventually the whole area was filled in and buildings were built on top of the fill. The area where this building was constructed probably was not in the abandoned ship section of Frisco.

[@John_Fugazzi]

Th Salesforce Tower, the 2nd tallest building on the West coast was built across the street, as was 180 Fremont, the new record holder as San Francisco's tallest luxury condo building. However, both are anchored deep in bedrock. The trouble in the area now is that the streets are sinking.

[@larryscott3982]

It sank way too much DURING construction. City Building inspectors must’ve been blindfolded. To not sink piles to the bedrock should’ve been a nonstarter. Again, city planners should’ve known that too. But.... the developers are the big criminals here. A moderate earthquake may not topple it outright, but could easily accelerate its condemnation. And I predict its condemnation. IMO.

[@mbryson2899]

Blindfolded by cash for sure.

[@larryscott3982]

@@mbryson2899 Allegedly! ALLEGEDLY!!

[@pammmmm]

I live near SF..... you say the inspectors we blindfolded???? How about bought off to look the other way

[@deemariedubois4916]

Larry Scott Blindfolded with blindfolds made of cold hard cash. Cash totally blocks vision.

[@larryscott3982]

@@pammmmm Allegedly.

[@dave_n8pu]

This sounds like those builders don't know any Bible verses, I wonder which category they fall in? Matthew 7:24-27 New International Version The Wise and Foolish Builders 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

[@deemariedubois4916]

n8pu Amen.

[@cynthiasimpson931]

I even learned a little song as a child about these verses. "The wise man builds his house upon the rock," and so on.

[@suzettemiller9444]

Yes, that used to be a children's Sunday School song!

[@cyanpeppah]

Perhaps they aren't Christian. Many people aren't.

[@steveluebcke3404]

No matter what street you're on when looking at it, it always leans to the 'left'

[@Chef_PC]

This video is well-timed with the condo collapse in Florida.

[@steveskouson9620]

OK, we build a "skyscraper" in San Francisco, on a foundation of SAND!? When I was in 7th grade, in Sunnyvale, in the late '60's, my science teacher beat into my brain, "liquefaction." Wet sand? Seriously? I SERIOUSLY hope Robert White has busted a gut, laughing at this mess! (Mr White was my favorite teacher at Ortega Jr Hi!) steve

[@vernicethompson4825]

During the Northridge earthquake, scientists noted the presence of mud boils in the Bay Area created when the sand was churned and liquified by the quake. Mr. White certainly knew what he was teaching you.

[@theclandestinewitness]

Simon we need more "allegedly". It's probably my favorite of all your quips

[@toymachine2328]

And then slap the script.

[@tima.478]

It seems completely ridiculous that the building of this structure was even allowed!

[@stanthology]

Unless your palm is crossed with coin of the realm.

[@Steve_Milo]

The scary thing is the Burj Khalifa Tower uses the exact same foundation design. For the Dubai tower, it works for now because the tower is designed to have the constant blowing desert wind interact with the tower's structure in such a way that low pressure spots of wind which normally cause a tower to sway, are constantly shifting over the tower so the tower remains stable, and its pressure goes straight down instead of being shifted which would cause it to lean, sink, and fall over otherwise. The problem with the Burj Khalifa is that even though it stands on dry sand, the process of liquification during an earthquake can happen with sand wet or dry. The area which the Burj Khalifa is in rarely see earthquakes, but as history shows they are rarely predictable and a strong one can hit anywhere at anytime. Even an average earthquake would be enough to make the sand shift under the Burj Khalifa and the tower would quickly come down from its own weight. Then they will be wishing that they had used traditional construction and driven steel into the bedrock to support the tower. Man will always ignore history if it means gaining a dollar in the moment, even if he should lose everything a few years later.

[@vernicethompson4825]

I think the leaders of the UAE are not too concerned with earthquakes at the moment.

[@Steve_Milo]

@@vernicethompson4825 politics is always the concern for men for the present and the future. This is because he refuses to learn from the past.

[@danharvey3096]

I knew about this a while ago but it still shocks me.. That said, in the neoliberal economic system we have, there's very little regulation on many things, and building is one of them. This is also a worldwide phenomenon. You don't know what buildings had corners cut in their construction until they present major defects or even fail, partially or even completely. The one building that fully pancaked in the Christchurch Earthquakes, built in the 80s, it turned out was built with huge flaws, columns being smaller than they should have been being one of them. Now do a video on the Opal Tower Sydney, an even worse failure of a $350 Million newly built apartment skyscraper than the Millennium Tower..

[@consciousrosin]

Egyptian king chuckles and utters " advanced civilization my ass".

[@simonbeaird7436]

I wonder what that would look like in hieroglyphics!!!🤣

[@mizzshortie907]

Hieroglyphs the original emojis lol

[@MohammedKhaled-ju7gy]

@@simonbeaird7436 🔺🌜🙋🏻‍♂️🍑

[@arshylsshortvids433]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@simonbeaird7436]

@@MohammedKhaled-ju7gy That's very close but a full moon might be closer!😊

[@ArizonaWillful]

One thing he forgot to mention about the tower is that the shifting of the building has caused some of the sewer pipes that run through the walls to crack. So as you sit in your $4 million dollar living room, you can smell the excrement of your neighbors above you running down through the pipes. Give me a nice old fashioned 1 story tract house!

[@mjef3695]

Isn’t that poopourii.

[@NeverTalkToCops1]

Elon Musk lives in a $50,000 box in Texas now. Invest now, HURRY!

[@jonathanseibert8832]

It makes my day so hard when BB Simon creeps into his other videos 🤣

[@suricatakat6476]

Just a note: buses actually take regular working people (i.e no one who can spend $4 million on a condo) to and from work in San Francisco, so a LOT of people actually use Transbay Terminal to get to and from work. Also, I watched this building slowly go up from a building nearby (until the economy collapsed in 2008) and had no idea that it was sinking and leaning... Kind of shocking and horrifying.

[@77gravity]

September 2021, tilt is now 22". Sinking much faster than expected even when this video was made.

[@larryscott3982]

Liquefaction come to mind. And I’m not an engineer. There’s enough malfeasance there to be a Blaze.

[@auntiejen5376]

My main question is, "How was it ever a good idea in a very well-documented earthquake zone?"

[@alisonb9963]

I'm a retired teacher and even my middle school students understood in just a few minutes of reading and talking about this, that it was no bueno. LOL, SF is such a joke.

[@chrysopylaedesign]

".... anyone who can afford a $4 million apartment .... will actually ride public transit" !!!!! Lol lol !!!!

[@NeverTalkToCops1]

You can afford it if you are some leader of some quasi governmental environmental, social, racial something...There are hundreds of those.

[@Courtney-pe2iw]

Huh? If you can afford four million dollar condo you wouldn't be riding transit lol I'm sure they have nice cars

[@Error6503]

@@Courtney-pe2iw You've obviously never been to San Francisco. There is absolutely nowhere to park no matter how much money you have. If you leave your car on the street for more than two hours then it will get broken into. And if you try to drive anywhere you will spend the next two hours in gridlock. The rich people probably call a chauffeur service, or actually do take public transport as it's the only reliable way in or out of the city and there's so many rich people that another one on the train doesn't make much of a difference.

[@ShakespeareCafe]

Surfside condo has been sinking at 1mm a year and look what happened to that. Millennium has sunk over 20" GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN, TODAY!

[@stephenjacks8196]

The 1989 earthquake liquified the wet sand under the collapsed highway/viaduct. Seattle buildings are in glacial till with lubricating layers of wet sand. High rises use 90 foot concrete pilings under and pilings stretching out to the sides, too. Isostacy: empty space below ground level to compensate for building weight.

[@rkmugen]

Everyone suing each other is almost like that time on a Christmas family gettogether, where everyone gives everyone else gift cards of more or less the same exact value.

[@billolsen4360]

You either give gift cards of about equal value to each other or you give each other ulcers.

[@JustinWillisDevil240Z]

I only know about the Millennium Tower in Kamurocho

[@tghidsgn]

Ah, I see you're a man of culture.

[@eyemah4440]

Yakuza ;)

[@ckwind1971]

Public transport nearby is for maids and nannies, duh

[@chrismorrison7]

Like it says in the Bible “Don’t build your castles in sand”

[@cascade5682]

"castles made of sand fall into the sea, eventually" Hendrix

[@dittohead7044]

Interesting how the collapse of surfside made this parable into a haunting visual. Unbelievably sad to watch the recovery

[@christopherd.1200]

Hello- if any one entity is responsible for the problem its the original builders who were highly advised to secure the piles that the building rests on in the bedrock below the sand and not just the sand itself. why should anyone else have to pay for the necessary repair work?

[@garyb2392]

My childhood friend, who lives in Oakland because SF real estate is bananas, even for a broken building, we were just taking about this tower…again, broken but still expensive ! TY ! Your presentation filled in all the blanks

[@eknuds]

They said it was unsinkable. Where have I heard that before?

[@Cooper2007ish]

Mis-managed and sinking, sounds like A metaphor of the city itself.

[@58russ]

Would've been interesting to hear how the repairs are going to be completed with the building already in place.

[@AlonsoRules]

Don't forget the ridiculous price. Four million for a box of air in the sky lmfao.

[@croakingfrog3173]

And the whole state of California.

[@bgregg55]

Outrageous. Why did the city ever sign off on the initial project?

[@dittohead7044]

Money?

[@starguy2718]

Money talks, you-know-what walks.

[@sydneyfairbairn3773]

I always tell my clients that the government default position is, "I don't owe you anything and good luck holding us responsible."

[@gandydancer9710]

So, the building is floating in sand b/c they didn't drive the pilings down to bedrock. What could go wrong? And the builders knew this was a problem, but concealed it from their customers. So, why isn't that company in receivership with its assets in trust to ameliorate the cost of ongoing repairs, and its principals in jail? If they were to stop all measures, how long would it take to fall over?

[@bondgabebond4907]

For $13 million for a condo, these folks could get an incredible ranch, lots of land, horses, exotic animals and people to keep it up while not worrying that they will tumble down when the building decides to fall.

[@PureMagma]

Thank you for not having a 2+ minute "This episode was brought to you by ______ sponsor" on this video!

[@RealSkoolmaster]

why? Just skip it. Seriously. The guy has got to get paid somehow and ad revenue is a joke, even if you Can get people to watch without ad blockers. He has to feed his family too, these videos arnt made for funsies

[@Zuckerpuppekopf]

The next Surfside condo?

[@flleathercop]

Love to see you review of the Miami condo

[@balto648]

A single sinking building? Imagine a whole city build on top of a dry lake bed, making almost all of this city sinks 4 inches per year (on some places even more). A lot of people think that the biggest threat in México City are drug lords, tequila or the "3 hotdogs for half dollar" street stands, but every mexican that lives in México City knows none of them are true (except the hotdogs). Every one knows that the biggest threat to México city is México City itself. The "Catedral" in down Town was even sinking unevenly because it was built on top of a piramid, which has better fundations than the Cathedral itself, or when several iconic land Marks in México city had to get aditional steps added every several years to mantain their height. Or when the the multi million drainage system is becoming more useless every year because it uses Gravity to get rid of the water, but when the city sinks, the slope gets less pronunced and the drainage water can not flow :/

[@vernicethompson4825]

The Aztecs who built Tenochtitlan understood that their city lay in a drainage basin and constructed canals to control the water flow for their gardens, which were built on platforms made of the soil formed from digging out the canals. The Spanish conquistadors had no clue about this and drained the canals to build a city according to their own plans and wishes. It is not really a dry lake bed, as it does collect water. So the water flowing down from the surrounding mountains needed somewhere to go, and has since been causing constant problems for the city, just as you describe.

[@allenella5818]

The law should be if you ignore engineering protocols as the foundation pillars to go deeper into bedrock but the developers ignored engineering only took short cuts then the developers are held liable for negligence and not the buyers.The developers knew of the sinking but still kept selling regardless of consequent willful negligence now they have to extend the pillars into bedrock to fix it before construction began thats what engineering advised them to do.so typical fashion everyone Sue's can't put a price tag on human life for willful greed and negligence

[@sophierobinson2738]

After Bay Quake '89 you would have thought they'd learn.

[@band122005]

This is unnerving to watch after seeing a condo in Miami collapse due to similar reasons.

[@richardsullivan6258]

South OF Market, not "South Market.". Market Street is a main downtown thoroughfare. 🙂

[@LuckyBaldwin777]

What do you do if you drop your car keys on Castro St? You kick them down to Market.

[@videomaniac108]

After the experience with structures that collapsed in SF due to soil liquifaction during the 1989 quake, I find it hard to believe that they would allow such a tall and heavy structure to be built on pilings sunk in wet clay and sand. Also, with the pronounced tilting of that building and the resultant redistribution of static stresses within the load-bearing structural members, will the building meet its original strength and rigidity requirements in the event of a major future quake?

[@CarlTippins]

I used to live in SF. If I am not mistaken, the ground below the tower is landfill with the debris from the Great Earthquake of 1906. There are also several abandoned and scuttled ships from the gold rush days added to the mix of earthquake debris. They literally pushed (bulldozed) the burnt building rubble from the fire that occurred after the earthquake into the bay to get rid of it. City planning at its best. In the late 70's/early 80's, I remember they found a complete Chinese Junk (boat) when they were building one of the bank towers to the north of Market Street not far from where Millennium Tower was built. Not only is the land unstable in that area, it is possibly subject to liquefaction during an intense earthquake. I certainly wouldn't live in a high-rise building that was within a half mile of the bay's shoreline. You're just asking for trouble.