1. Leaning Tower of Pisa

2. Building Details Designed as a bell tower 185 ft high
Made from limestone covered in marble
8 stories
Inside the tower is a spiral staircase
Top of tower is 17 ft off vertical

3. Timeline
Construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa begins. Much time and effort is placed into carving the individual columns that are being used.
Construction of the tower is halted with only 3 tiers completed (for obvious angle related reasons). It is determined that the lean is the result of an unsuitable clay foundation.
Construction resumes.
Construction is halted again because of political unrest. 7 Tiers are complete.

4. Timeline
The first study is convened to determine the cause of the lean.
Construction of the Tower of Pisa is completed.
In a move that nearly resulted in the collapse of the iconic tower, Alessandro Della Gherardesca dug out a walkway at the base of the tower that allowed tourists to look at the intricate base. The workers hit a subterranean water channel, causing water to flood the pathway and nearly topple the tower.

5. Timeline
Mussolini ordered to stabilize the tower. He drilled 361 holes in the base and filled them with 90 tons of cement. This shattered the base of the tower, but no one dared protest as Mussolini owned the cement factory.
Engineers decided on a way to stabilize the tower by means of soil extraction in order to coax the tower back to a perpendicular state. It didn't work.
Engineers anchor the tower to the ground with high tensile steel cable in an attempt to stabilize it. It actually made the tower lean 4 millimeters more to the south.

6. Timeline
The Leaning Tower of Pisa was closed to all tourists after the collapse of the Civic Tower in Pavia- this was a wake up call that alerted Italy to the obvious dangers of the tower. $30 million was invested for stabilizing the building, and though it still maintains the appearance of instability, the tower is more secure than it ever has been before.
The leaning Tower of Pisa was reopened for tourists and is now safer and more stable than ever. Tourists are able to climb to the top of the tower and enjoy the view of the city.

9. Identify Problem
Brainstorm
Design
Build
Redesign
Test & Evaluate
Share Solution