Residents of Rafael Viñoly-designed supertall skyscraper 432 Park Avenue in New York have reported "catastrophic" floods and getting trapped in the lifts during windy weather.
According to a report in the New York Times, complaints have been mounting as engineering issues impact the 425-metre-tall skinny skyscraper.
On 31 October 2019, a resident was stuck in an elevator of the 96-storey tower for almost an hour and a half during high winds.
Homeowners also complained about loud noises such as clicks and bangs in their homes, possibly as metal partitions shift or air whistles through the lift shafts.
Floods affect upper floors
Designed by New York-based Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly for developers Macklowe Properties and CIM Group, 432 Park Avenue completed at the end of 2015. The project's construction manager is Lendlease.
In 2016, the anonymous buyer of 84B ? an apartment covering half of the 84th floor ? reported a "catastrophic water flood" that damaged the 83rd and 86th floors leading him to back out of the purchase. Apartment 84B subsequently sold in 2017 for $44.6 million.
Two more water leaks were reported in 2018. On 22 November a flange blew out from around a high-pressure water pipe serving the 60th floor, and on 26 November a pipe failed on the 74th floor causing water to flood two of the building's four residential elevator shafts.
Supertalls at risk of technical issues
Engineers familiar with the matter warned the Times that these ...