A famous collapse that was not “technical”
CROSS-UK has published an editorial in Newsletter 79 dated Thursday 11 December 2025, reflecting on how structural failures shape engineering practice and public safety responsibilities.
The editorial was written by Glenn Bell, Director, CROSS-US.
Bell writes that many engineers experience an early-career realisation that mistakes can carry catastrophic consequences.
He links that awareness to his work investigating the Hyatt Regency Hotel walkways collapse in Kansas City, Missouri in 1981.
Hyatt Regency collapse framed as culture
Bell argues that the Hyatt failure is often presented as a single technical issue involving a change in the hanger rod arrangement.
He writes that this is an oversimplification, and that project conditions and culture were central to why the collapse happened.
Bell describes a fast-tracked delivery approach where construction began before design was complete.
He also writes that numerous design changes took place, two key structural engineering staff quit mid-design, the fabricator was overloaded and shop drawing review was rushed.
Missed checks and warning signs
Bell writes that two quality inspection firms were dismissed and not replaced.
He also describes warning signs during construction, including early signs of failure in a structural sunscreen wall and a portion of the atrium roof collapsing.
He writes that two independent rechecks of the atrium structure still failed to uncover the walkway problems.
Glenn Bell, Director, CROSS-US, said: “In short, the project was out of control, with many missed opportunities to catch and correct the conditions that ultimately caused the collapse.”
CROSS reporting and Surfside investigation
Bell describes CROSS as focused on confidential reporting of more frequent “lesser” failures and concerns, rather than catastrophic failures resulting in fatalities.
He writes that, by studying precursors, reporting can help prevent catastrophic failures.
Bell also writes that he is co-lead of the US National Institute of Standards and Technology’s investigation into the Champlain Towers South collapse in Surfside, Florida in June 2021, which he notes claimed 98 lives.
He writes that the investigation is tasked with determining likely technical causes, recommending improvements to building codes and standards and identifying research needed to enhance structural safety.
Recurring themes across failures
Bell writes that structures are vulnerable at every stage of their life, and that survival to date is no guarantee of future safety.
He states that, between 1978 and 1987, the US experienced nine catastrophic failures across building ages, from construction through to decades into service.
He writes that recurring themes include poor quality assurance and quality control, poorly defined responsibilities, lack of redundancy and unheeded warnings.
Readers can view the full article on CROSS-UK’s website.