One of the tallest skyscrapers in Miami is sinking right on the beachfront

One of the tallest and most luxurious skyscrapers in Miami, located right on the beach, is sinking less than 10 years after its inauguration.

This is the Porsche Design Tower, located in the upscale neighborhood of Sunny Isles Beach, an impressive 60-story building where soccer player Lionel Messi purchased a luxury apartment in 2019 to live with his family after settling in the United States.

The property, which also includes apartments owned by Maluma, Thalía, and Anuel, measured 195 meters when it was inaugurated in 2017. Now, a study from the University of Miami asserts that it has sunk 10 centimeters between that year and 2021.

The Porsche Design Tower is one of the most luxurious buildings in the city. It features three elevators with a robotic system that allows cars to be raised and lowered to each floor. Each residence includes between two and four parking spaces, eliminating the need for a communal garage.

However, its exclusivity does not protect it from the same sinking risk that affects around thirty coastal structures located between Miami Beach and Sunny Isles Beach, if the ground beneath them gives way vertically.

The research indicates that buildings are sinking broadly at a rate of between 2 and 8 centimeters, and that there is "a spatio-temporal correlation between new constructions in the area and the sinkage signal."

This is likely due to "the prolonged deformation of sandy layers within the limestone, affected by construction activities." This means that the more construction takes place in an area close to the sea, the greater the sinking risk for the buildings that have already been erected.

For now, experts clarify that there is no danger of the Porsche Design Tower collapsing, as it does not have structural issues, but geologists will continue to monitor it.

Other properties that have sunk several centimeters include the Ritz-Carlton Residences, the two Trump Towers, Regalia (where Messi purchased another apartment), and Surf Club Towers (North, South, and Hotel Tower). All of them are experiencing a phenomenon known as "subsidence," which refers to the gradual sinking of the ground due to geological and human factors.

The study conducted by the University of Miami analyzed the period between 2016 and 2023. Elements such as balconies, rooftop air conditioners, and walkways were monitored using satellite radars that measure displacement.

The recorded sinking varies between 0.8 and 3 inches, although in some buildings it reaches up to 8 centimeters. While these values may seem small, there is differential settlement (different parts of the building sink at different rates) that can lead to cracks, misaligned doors, and, in extreme cases, serious structural stability issues.

The specialists identify two key causes:

Vibrations from construction: Activities related to the construction of skyscrapers, such as excavations and drilling, compact the layers of sand beneath the buildings, contributing to ground subsidence.

Water movement: The constant interaction between water and the porous soil of Miami, whether due to tides, storms, or human activities, accelerates ground instability.

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