Florida's Trump Towers are sinking, along with other luxury properties

A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Miami and other institutions has revealed that around three dozen tall luxury buildings along Florida's southeast coast are unexpectedly sinking, some due to nearby construction, according to CBS News. The sinking, measured between 2016 and 2023, amounts to about 0.8 to 3.1 inches (2 to 8 centimeters), as reported by NPR.

The study surveyed 35 buildings along an almost 12-mile stretch from Miami Beach to Sunny Isles Beach, with notable subsidence found in the Surfside area, Latin Times reported. This area is known for the collapse of the Champlain Towers South building in June 2021, which resulted in the deaths of 98 people. In this vicinity, sinking was detected in some nearby buildings, highlighting the need for monitoring building stability in coastal areas with corrosive environmental conditions.

"The discovery of the extent of subsidence hotspots along the South Florida coastline was unexpected. The study underscores the need for ongoing monitoring and a deeper understanding of the long-term implications for these structures," said Farzaneh Aziz Zanjani, the lead author, as reported by NPR.

The limestone bedrock beneath southern Florida's beaches is interspersed with layers of sand, which can shift under the weight of taller buildings or as a result of vibrations from foundation construction, NPR noted. The subsidence is most noticeable in the buildings at Sunny Isles Beach, where nearly 70 percent of new luxury developments are affected, Vice News reported.

Notable affected properties include the Porsche Design Tower, Trump Tower III, Trump International, Surf Club Towers, Ritz-Carlton Residences, and Faena Hotel, according to The Economic Times.

The study found that approximately half of the surveyed buildings are less than a decade old, with nearly half having been built in the last ten years, as stated by SIC Notícias. Scientists described their discovery as surprising because some of the changes occurred several years after construction, Observador reported.

To verify the phenomenon, the team of researchers employed satellite radar technology between 2016 and 2023 on fixed elements such as balconies, air conditioning units on rooftops, and walkways. The study used satellite images that can measure subsidence by fractions of an inch, capturing changes in the surveyed buildings, with the most notable settlement occurring in the buildings of Sunny Isles Beach, El Comercio noted.

Researchers linked Miami's fragile coastal geology and construction activities to the buildings' subsidence, highlighting the combination of natural and human causes contributing to the phenomenon, Latin Times reported. The sand layers can shift under the weight of high-rises and as a result of vibrations from foundation construction, as explained by The Epoch Times.

The scientists called their discovery surprising because some of the changes took place several years after construction, El Financiero reported. "We found that subsidence in most high-rises slows down over time, but in some cases, it continues at a steady rate. This suggests that subsidence could persist for an extended period," said Dr. Falk Amelung, who led the research, according to the New York Post.

Researchers want to further study whether different sections of the affected buildings are sinking at different rates, which could cause cracks in their walls or pipe ruptures and long-term damage, Vice News reported.

The study was conducted by scientists at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. The results were published on Friday in the journal Earth and Space Science.

Local officials and building management officials are beginning to respond to the study, with reaction pouring in from officials in Sunny Isles Beach, Newsweek reported. City officials in Sunny Isles Beach stated that Florida and Miami-Dade County have comprehensive regulations to ensure building construction and structural integrity, and the city strictly adheres to these regulations, according to NBC 6 South Florida.

"I personally feel very very comfortable with the structural integrity and the structural systems of the buildings that were mentioned in the report and how they were built," said Kobi Karp, the founder of Kobi Karp Architecture & Interior Design, according to a report by NBC 6 South Florida. He also noted that there are at least six inspectors on any high-rise development who ensure safety and that the building is settled on the ground it's built on.

"Obviously when there is a report like this publicly, we take it very seriously. We think about it, we talk about it, and we make sure it’s not impacting our buildings," said Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said, according to NBC 6 South Florida.

Experts say this raises a host of questions about development on vulnerable barrier islands, adding to concerns amid rising insurance costs and growing storm fears impacting Florida's housing market, according to CBS News.

. The Surfside catastrophe highlighted the need to monitor building stability "especially in coastal areas with corrosive environmental conditions," the scientists said, as reported by NPR.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq