Berkeley balcony collapse

Architect Robert Perry, the author of the as-built vs. as-designed report, focuses exclusively on rainwater entry into the building envelope, and makes observations that appear to be at odds with the evidence.

[11][12] This configuration causes the deck's joist cavities to condense water vapor supplied by the interior and retain it as liquid, creating optimum conditions for the growth of wood-destroying fungus commonly called dry rot.

On July 3, 2015, the Alameda County Superior Court rejected a restraining order bid by Segue Builders, a construction company, against the examination of evidence.

While a local law was signed in Berkeley in 2018, requiring a 15% sampling of exterior load-bearing structures with wooden supports to be inspected every six years, a broader state-level response was also enacted.

California Senate Bill 721 (SB 721) of 2018 was introduced to mandate regular inspections of exterior elevated elements, such as balconies, decks, stairways, and walkways, in multifamily residential buildings with three or more units.

This state-wide regulation, which requires inspections every six years, aims to prevent future structural failures by ensuring the safety and integrity of these critical building components.

[20] The enactment of SB 721 represents a significant step in enhancing safety standards in California's multifamily housing, building upon the local regulatory measures implemented in Berkeley.

A joint funeral service for Olivia Burke and her cousin Ashley Donohoe took place on June 20, four days after the collapse, in a church in Cotati, California.

[21] In December 2015 a court was told that the collapse happened because contractors cut corners to save costs and that the management company for the building, Greystar Real Estate Partners, ignored a "red flag" when students who rented the apartment complained about mushrooms growing on the balcony.