Ep 5. Disaster in Vegas

In Engineering Catastrophes season 1 episode 5 titled Disaster in Vegas, the show focuses on the story of the tragic events that happened at the CityCenter in Las Vegas. This episode explores the engineering marvel, CityCenter, which is a $9 billion development that features several high-rise buildings, hotels, condominiums, and a large shopping area. The CityCenter was developed during the height of the financial crisis and was considered one of the largest private construction projects in the United States.

However, the CityCenter had serious engineering flaws that could have led to a devastating disaster, as several experts predicted. This episode features interviews with some of the engineers who worked on the project, as well as those who opposed it. Viewers will learn about the various challenges and obstacles the construction team faced when building this massive complex.

Throughout the episode, viewers will see how the CityCenter faced multiple issues, such as fire safety problems, inadequate foundation support, faulty elevator shafts, and the use of an innovative but risky construction method called ‘top-down’ construction. The show also reveals how CityCenter was launched as an eco-friendly development but required massive amounts of energy to accomplish this title.

The experts on the show explain how the CityCenter didn’t have adequate fire safety measures and the faulty elevator shafts could trap people in a burning building. There was a plan on storing water in a tank on top of one of the high-rise buildings, but the weight of the water and the vibrations caused by the helicopter carrying it had the potential to collapse the elevator shaft and weaken the structure.

Additionally, viewers learn about the use of the dangerous construction method called ‘top-down’ construction, which involved erecting the above-ground structure without first building the below-ground foundation. The team used this method in an attempt to reduce time and costs, but it put the entire structure and surrounding buildings at significant risk. This episode demonstrates how errors during the engineering and construction phases can have catastrophic consequences.

As the episode concludes, viewers will see how the engineers worked to correct the problems at the CityCenter and learn about the various safety measures that have been put in place to prevent a disaster from occurring. Engineering Catastrophes season 1 episode 5, Disaster in Vegas, is an excellent example of the importance of thorough planning and implementation of safety precautions in any construction project.