In Cincinnati, Ohio we have our fair share of retaining wall failures: due to poor construction, poor design, or sometimes just age!  In this case, a number of factors contribute to a failing retaining wall that is literally shoving a building sideways!

Photo of failing old stone retaining wall pushing building sideways!

At this location, a natural stone retaining wall was constructed outside an apartment building.  The foundation walls of the apartment building and this stone retaining wall are supporting the land adjacent to them.

However, at some point in the past another retaining wall was added above!  This additional retaining wall was constructed just a few feet away from the apartment building.  The nearby wall is about 6 feet high, and adds a huge amount of loading to the basement/foundation wall and to the natural stone wall.

The basement wall is being held in place at the front of the building and at the middle of the building, because there are walls at a 90-degree angle to the basement wall.  Those walls are supporting the basement wall.

However, at the rear, where there are openings for the garage doors, there is little support.  The top of the garage doors has been shifted a few INCHES sideways, and the back wall of the apartment building is bulging outward.  Even the old stone wall is being pushed outward.

The owner is currently exploring options for repair!