A New York University residence hall in Manhattan is pursuing litigation and cleanup after a construction accident next door sent wet concrete surging through a wall of the building earlier this month, according to reports.
Workers constructing a 16-story residential building at 133 Third Ave. “accidentally sent wet concrete oozing through a wall” and into the NYU’s Coral Towers, DNAinfo reported, citing the recently filed lawsuit.
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@CoralTowerNYU / Twitter |
Wet concrete from a nearby construction site surged into the fourth floor of NYU's Coral Towers residence hall, reports say.
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The owners of Coral Tower Dorms (Coral Crystal LLC) reportedly filed suit Dec. 10 against the building's developer, McArthur Morgan LLC. The suit seeks $1 million in damages and an end to construction on the tower.
Coral Crystal leases the apartment-style residence hall, which houses 400, to NYU.
Structural Damage, Stop Work
NYU officials said the unwanted concrete guest caused structural damage to at least three dorm rooms. The New York Department of Buildings issued a stop work order for the building under construction on Thursday (Dec. 13), because construction was "damaging neighboring property."
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NYU.edu |
Students affected by the concrete barrage were relocated to alternative housing. NYU Coral Towers is home to 400 students.
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"During … the pouring of the concrete for the fourth floor, and as a direct consequence thereof, the northern exterior wall was severely damaged," according to court documents cited in a report.
"Indeed, the existing … walls at the third and fourth floor of [Coral Crystal's] building caved in."
As of Dec. 18, reports have not yet identified the construction company or masonry contractor involved.
Students Evacuated
Students affected by the concrete were evacuated and relocated to alternative housing, reports said.
"The damaged rooms are now safe and habitable, though the students have decided to remain in their alternative accommodations while repairs are completed," according to a statement by a NYU spokesperson.
Coral Crystal officials have said they want to put a permanent stop on construction at the residence next door.
"If [McArthur Morgan] is permitted to resume construction without providing adequate and necessary protection to [Coral Towers], the potential of extensive damage to [the dorms] and resulting injury to occupants is beyond question and irreparable," the court documents reportedly said.
"The risk is frighteningly real."
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