One Financial Plaza

Post-Hurricane Exterior Damage Assessment

For insurance claims related to natural disasters, the task is to determine how much of the damage is attributable to the event, and how much pre-existed. Hoffmann Architects + Engineers has evaluated a number of structures damaged in hurricanes, tornadoes, and windstorms to separate fact from fiction in insurance claims.

When a hurricane hit the 29-story glass and aluminum curtain wall office tower at One Financial Plaza, the strong winds blew out a portion of the north facade between the 10th and 11th floors and tore a 30-foot-wide hole seven stories high at the opposite building face. Broken windows and heavy damage to the attached five-level concrete parking garage—in large part due to falling curtain wall debris—were among the additional damages the office building sustained during the storm.

As part of a due diligence survey, Hoffmann evaluated the extent of the damage, assessed the probable cause of the considerable curtain wall failure, determined the likelihood of future damage, and weighed rehabilitation and retrofit options. Our design professionals reviewed High Velocity Hurricane Zone building code specifications and offered opinions of probable construction cost for bringing the structure up to code, as well as for repairing damaged portions of the building.

Our investigation report was instrumental both in insurance claims settlement and in restoration and prevention of future damage.