Engineer Blamed For Soho Scaffolding Collapse Hit With More Fines

SOHO, NY — The engineer behind scaffolding that collapsed and injured five people in Soho last year has been fined for submitting faulty sidewalk shed designs at nine spots in Brooklyn, according to the city's Department of Buildings.

Engineer Daniel Odigie was fined $16,000 in July for submitting flawed designs for the scaffolding peppered across the borough, including in Park Slope, Downtown and Bedford-Stuyvesant, city records show.

Odigie was the engineer behind the Soho scaffolding collapse on Broadway and Prince Street where high winds toppled the shoddy construction last November. The additional violations and fines stemmed from a city investigation launched after the incident, a Department of Buildings spokesman said.

"In general, when serious accidents occur we look into a contractor or design professionals other work, even if it was not directly related to the matter that caused the disciplinary proceedings," said Andrew Rudansky.

Department of Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler said the collapse was the result of “sheer negligence,” at the time.

After the collapse, the city reviewed blueprints for every project Odigie submitted plans for and issued 47 minor violations. Buildings department officials also revoked Odigie's privilege to self-certify applications, meaning a department worker will review each plan Odigie submits.

The faulty scaffolding has since been brought up to code and no longer poses a threat to the public.

Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Swaine/Shutterstock