Fort Lauderdale has filed a lawsuit against five companies it claims are to blame for the defective lighting display system that stopped working more than two years ago on the city-owned Las Olas beach parking garage.
The lawsuit, filed on Aug. 29, claims breach of contract and negligence.
The five defendants are Skanska USA Building Inc., the construction manager on the project; EDSA Inc., the architect of record; Arquitectonica International Corp., a design subconsultant hired by EDSA; GKD-USA Inc., the manufacturer and installer of the mesh screen on the facade of the garage; and Meisner Electric Inc., the subcontractor hired by Skanska to furnish and install the lighting system.
Court records show none of the defendants filed responses to the complaint as of Wednesday.
However, two attorneys based in Boca Raton filed a notice indicating they will be representing EDSA. The attorneys could not be reached for comment despite attempts by phone and email.
In late 2023, the city hired Fort Lauderdale attorney Gary Brown and his law firm to investigate the issues with the lighting system and mesh screening.
When the lights worked, they could simulate everything from ocean waves to holiday fireworks, giving the $21 million garage its glitzy image. But the garage went dark in February 2023 when its pricey light display stopped working. The cost to replace the lights: At least $3 million.
According to the 27-page complaint, EDSA’s responsibilities included recommending and suggesting materials being incorporated into the project and the processing of the submittals for those materials.
Skanska awarded a subcontract to GKD to furnish and install the decorative garage mesh at the five-story parking garage on Las Olas Circle.
The material used for the mesh system was a GKD Tigris design made of T316L Stainless Steel. After the mesh was installed, the system began to demonstrate signs of oxidation and pitting caused by exposure to excessive levels of chlorides common to coastal areas, the lawsuit claims.
Skanska, in its capacity as the project’s construction manager, recommended the use of the stainless steel system, the lawsuit states.
Skanska also entered into a subcontract with Meisner for the installation of the decorative fin lighting at the parking garage. The specific system used was a Traxon System. After the system was installed, several lights on the decorative lighting system began demonstrating issues or deficiencies, the lawsuit states.
“Several of the fin lights either do not function properly, become stuck or do not function at all,” the lawsuit says. “Additionally, due to the Traxon System that was installed at the parking garage being obsolete at the time of installation, the city is unable to obtain any replacement bulbs.”
The lighting system’s defects and deficiencies were not readily observable or discoverable by the city upon reasonable observation or inspection, according to the lawsuit.
Skanska breached its contract with the city by procuring and installing a decorative garage mesh system that was unsuitable for the marine environment at the project’s location, the lawsuit says. According to the lawsuit, Skanska also erred by installing a decorative fin lighting system that was defective, obsolete and failed to function properly.
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan
