Engineers Uncover Significant Structural Gap Beneath Rialto Apartments: Safety Concerns Arise

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Recent investigations into structural issues at the Rialto Apartments in Orange County have uncovered a significant gap beneath a section of the building, which engineers suspect contributed to the recent evacuation of residents.

In a report dated April 1, engineers from Simpson Gumpertz & Heger detailed their discovery of “a gap between the soil and the ground-level slab” beneath a critical load-bearing wall located between units 45 and 47.

The engineers noted that this gap measures approximately 3 feet deep and spans 15 feet in diameter, raising significant concerns about the building’s structural integrity.

“Currently, we suspect that the absence of soil support beneath the slab-on-grade between Stacks 45 and 47 has led to a downward shift or similar movement of the slab and wall,” the report elaborates.

Moreover, the investigation revealed additional gaps between the concrete slab and the underlying soil across the building, with these voids varying in size from 0.5 to 4 inches, further highlighting the potential for structural compromise.

The Rialto Apartments building was evacuated on March 19 after residents reported hearing a loud “popping” noise and found some doors jammed shut, according to the engineering report. The letter says the Orlando Fire Department determined other doors in the 45 and 47 apartment stacks were also jammed and ordered the evacuation of the entire building.

The engineering firm said its initial observations found cracks in the drywall in stacks 45 and 47, along with jamming doors and floors that sloped toward the shared bearing wall between those units.

The engineers said the current priority is installing temporary shoring supports below the ground-level slab in the 45/47 stack.

They also said the building is considered safe for worker access, but not for people to live in while the investigation and repair process continues.

“The building is currently safe for worker access, and there is no concern regarding imminent failure of the structure,” the letter states. “However, the building is not suited for continuous resident occupancy while investigation and eventual remedial activities are underway.”

Orange County’s Division of Building Safety said in a statement that “no occupancy” notices remain posted on the affected structures until repairs are permitted, inspected and occupancy is reinstated, or until an engineer deems the building safe to occupy.

County officials said the investigating engineer has ordered temporary shoring work and that the county has asked for a detailed list of required emergency repairs. Once that work is complete, documentation will have to show the temporary repairs or shoring were installed as directed before the county may inspect them.

The county also said the subsurface investigation and structural analysis will continue after that. The preliminary engineer letter states the anticipated duration of that work is uncertain but may exceed 60 days.

Once the investigation is complete, engineered repair plans will still need to be submitted as part of a permit application, according to the county. Officials said the process would then continue through permitting, inspections and support work until a final inspection and certificate of occupancy are issued.

The engineering letter says the investigation is ongoing and the findings are subject to change.