MIAMI – Several questions remain over how a construction crew ended up removing a load-bearing wall at the Coconut Grove Playhouse, causing a portion of the historic building’s third floor to collapse Wednesday.
Construction crews were at the site adding bracing to the building.
“They are responsible to know when something is a bearing wall or not," structural engineer Allyn Kilsheimer said.
Kilsheimer, a go-to expert who was in South Florida for the Surfside and Florida International University bridge collapses, questions whether crews that mistakenly took out the load-bearing wall didn’t follow drawings, or whether they were following incorrect ones.
“You have to do little exploratory openings in the ceiling and maybe in the floor above and see where the structure is,” he said. “When the third floor partially collapses, that wall now is going 20 feet without any bracing by a floor.”
John Bell Construction is the contracted company. The exterior of the Coconut Grove Playhouse is the part of the almost century-old theater that was supposed to be saved per its designation as a nationally historic building.
“I work with city of Miami building officials every day and due to the settlement agreement, I wasn’t allowed to speak about John Bell Construction to them,” local architect William Arthur said.
Arthur questioned why Miami-Dade County chose a construction company he had sued for substandard work, which he says is exactly what happened with the absence of structural supports.
“During construction, you have loads being imposed with the construction, but also with wind enacting on the structure,” Arthur said.
Local 10 reporter Glenna Milberg asked Arthur, “How do you know that wasn’t done in the Playhouse?”
“It’s visibly not there,” he replied.
John Bell Construction has other contracts for other government buildings.
Local 10 News called and emailed the company, though we had not received a response on the Memorial Day holiday.
The experts say the mistake is fixable ― but it’s going to cost more money.
