In the United States, north of Miami, are located some of the most exclusive condominiums in the world. However, a recent study revealed that many of these impressive structures are sinking at an “unexpected” rate, including the 641-foot tall Porsche Design Tower.
Opened in 2014, the Porsche Design Tower was the city’s first luxury residential building branded by an automobile company, as well as one of the first buildings in the world to feature a car elevator. This pioneering project has since inspired the creation of other similar towers, such as the 818-foot Aston Martin skyscraper and the upcoming Bentley, Mercedes and Pagani residential complexes.
A new study conducted by the University of Miami found that 35 buildings along Sunny Isles Beach and surrounding coastal areas sank up to 3 inches between 2016 and 2023. These include the Porsche Design Tower, the Ritz-Carlton Residences, and Trump Towers. This phenomenon comes less than four years after the collapse of a 12-story residential tower in Surfside, Florida, a few miles away.
“Almost all coastal buildings show signs of settling,” said Falk Amelung, a geophysicist at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science and lead author of the study, in an interview with the Miami Herald.
The researchers analyzed satellite images that can accurately detect the phenomenon of subsidence, or the sinking of land. The study revealed subsidence ranging from 0.8 to over 3 inches in areas such as Sunny Isles Beach and Surfside. Some buildings in Miami Beach, including the Faena Hotel and L’Atelier condominium, as well as one in Bal Harbour, have also been affected by the phenomenon.
Currently, experts believe that the ground sinking does not necessarily constitute cause for alarm. So far, no structural problems have been detected in any of the buildings studied. Moreover, it is normal for newer structures, such as the Porsche Design Tower, completed only 10 years ago, to experience slight sinking due to their weight.
Researchers, however, continue to monitor the situation closely to detect any significant changes that may require intervention.
