An engineering firm and condo occupants reported vibrations, structural maintenance problems, poor design, water-related damage, and other problems with Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Fla., over the years leading up to its catastrophic partial collapse last Thursday. It remains unclear what caused its demise, but reports released in the past few days have painted a vivid picture of what the building was like in the years before.

Failed Waterproofing Caused ‘Major Structural Damage’

A 2018 engineering report on the south tower released by the town alleged the building had a flaw that inhibited proper drainage, allowing water to pool near its base.

“The main issue with this building structure is that the entrance drive/pool deck/planter waterproofing is laid on a flat structure. Since the reinforced concrete slab is not sloped to drain, the water sits on the waterproofing until it evaporates. This is a major error,” Morabito Consultants, which has offices in Florida and Maryland, wrote. “The failed waterproofing is causing major structural damage to the concrete structural slab below these areas. Failure to replace the waterproofing in the near future will cause the extent of the concrete deterioration to expand exponentially.”

The Wall Street Journal has no independent report that determines whether Morabito Consultants had correctly evaluated the problems.

“Among other things, our report detailed significant cracks and breaks in the concrete, which required repairs to ensure the safety of the residents and the public,” Morabito Consultants said in a statement Saturday.