On the morning of October 1^st, everyone in NYC—and beyond—heard the news that part of building 4 of the Mitchel Houses in the Bronx had collapsed. Thankfully, no one was injured when a gas explosion caused the boiler’s 20-story brick ventilation shaft to partially collapse. SUPERSTRUCTURES’ team was among the first responders, providing engineering services under our term contract with NYCHA.

Teams from the FDNY, NYPD, NYCHA, DOB, DEP, office of emergency management, Mayor’s office, and ConEd were soon on hand to ensure public safety and assess the damage. Residents of 38 apartments adjacent to the ventilation shaft (the building’s F and G lines) have been temporarily relocated, and short-term goals were threefold: to safely remove the remaining masonry from the chimney shaft; to stabilize and temporarily waterproof affected exterior areas; and to ensure that displaced residents return to their apartments safely.

Under our supervision, contractors retained by NYCHA began removing loose masonry starting from the top of the chimney structure using a 250′ boom lift for the upper floors and hanging scaffolding on the lower floors. Working around the clock, that process was completed within a week. Next, temporary waterproofing was installed to protect wall sections exposed by the collapse.

Immediately after the collapse, SUPERSTRUCTURES began inspecting affected apartment interiors to assess potential damage. Soon, we’ll begin the process of designing a restoration of the building exterior at the affected areas. In the meantime, mobile boiler units have been brought in to provide heat and hot water for this development.

We’re proud to play a role in minimizing the impact of this emergency and facilitating the return of residents to their homes as quickly as possible.