NICOLE GLASS / THE EAGLE
Part of the canopy between MGC and Battelle collapsed in the snow Wednesday.
Part of the canopy between Mary Graydon Center and Battelle collapsed Wednesday morning.
About half the structure collapsed — and pieces were still falling. What was left standing was closest to Butler Pavilion.
After the collapse, few people were outside. No emergency vehicles were in the area either.
The bridge opened in 2008 — with the canopy opening shortly thereafter, The Eagle previously reported.
SUB Director Clay Pencek, who was working the information desk in MGC, said the collapse happened around 11:40 a.m., and that there were no injuries.
The builder of the canopy has been contacted, and plans are being developed for a repair or replacement of the structure, University Architect Jerry Gager said in an e-mail.
“We will be looking into the situation and reviewing the design and construction of the canopy,” Gager wrote.
A combination of the weight of snow and high winds caused the canopy to collapse, said Jorge Abud, AU’s assistant vice president of facilities and administrative services.
Abud said that most structures on campus are designed to hold about 30 inches of snow on their roofs. Because there was some melting since the storm this weekend, those roofs are structurally sound.
The bridge will probably re-open within a week, he said.
“As soon as the weather breaks, we can start on that,” he said.
As for replacing the canopy, it will take a minimum of “several weeks” to re-order parts, Abud said.
A much smaller canopy at the new SIS building appears to have been damaged as well.
UPDATE, 9:25 p.m.: Check out this video from The Eagle’s Sarah Parnass.
Staff writers Nicole Glass and Stefanie Dazio contributed to this report. Check back for updates.
25 Comments
e
February 10, 2010 at 1:37 PM
Why am I not surprised?
Because we wasted money on something stupid?! Oh, yeah…
b
February 10, 2010 at 2:20 PM
Probably cost like $165K, at least I know that my four years of tuition made a difference.
m
February 10, 2010 at 2:21 PM
it wasn’t stupid… I love that thing when it rains. stupid design, yes, but really, when does DC see this much snow?
K
February 10, 2010 at 2:37 PM
Nice picture. Glad to hear snow-one was injured.
M
February 10, 2010 at 2:37 PM
Rumors is that the whole thing (bridge included) was $1.4 mil. AU should be counting their blessings that no one was hurt
Chris O'Brien
February 10, 2010 at 2:47 PM
How often does DC see alot of snow?
Probably more often than California gets a 6.0 earthquake. California doesn’t get one THAT often - only once every decade or so. So why should we build buildings to withstand them? Or snow?
S
February 10, 2010 at 2:56 PM
AU got almost 30 in. The last time DC got snow like that was 80 to 100 years ago. Not in the last decade.
http://www.nohrsc.nws.gov/interactive/html/graph.html?units=0&station=38.9357_077.0848&x=-77.0848&y=38.9357
e
February 10, 2010 at 3:06 PM
Still. When you spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on something, you’d want it to last for over 100 years, right? Right?! That means taking into account freak nature accidents. And building something that can withstand 3 feet of snow. OR a way to clean snow off the top.
josh
February 10, 2010 at 3:22 PM
why is everything at AU always so political? it’s amazing nobody was hurt. hopefully insurance will cover it and something nice will go up in its place.
C
February 10, 2010 at 3:31 PM
How is wanting AU to spend money wisely political?
Mark Twain
February 10, 2010 at 3:37 PM
“..when you are in politics you are in a wasp’s nest with a short shirt-tail, as the saying is.”
homey dr dre
February 10, 2010 at 4:01 PM
lolzzzzz
good photoshopping i don’t believe it
k
February 10, 2010 at 5:28 PM
wat
E
February 10, 2010 at 6:48 PM
“AU should be counting their blessings that no one was hurt.” Perhaps you should be thankful that your roof hasn’t collapsed on you. The University isn’t going to build a sub-par structure. And when was the last time any of you did a cost analysis for bridges and canopies?
Alberto Delavega Madrileno Suenonegrolita
February 10, 2010 at 7:12 PM
I wish I was under that shit when it collapsed. I could have gotten free tuition for the rest of college. FCUK.
Dave
February 10, 2010 at 8:22 PM
I don’t expect it to hold more than 30 inches, but I do expect aramark or whoever the maintenance crew is to clear the snow from Saturday’s storm off if we KNOW there is another huge storm coming through the same week.
stret
February 10, 2010 at 8:56 PM
“Abud said that MOST STRUCTURES on campus are designed to hold about 30 inches of snow on their roofs”
so.. dc has recieved almost 60 in of snow in the past week, even though some melted.. should I be worried about the other buildings?!
V
February 10, 2010 at 9:30 PM
Aww, canopy needs a little stimulus…womp, womp.
Canopy? More like can’o FAIL.
You’re too kind, I’ll be here all week.
Alex Knepper
February 11, 2010 at 12:46 AM
This is what happens when I head home for the weekend! That’s right, bitches, I escaped. Oh, AU!
Alex Knepper
February 11, 2010 at 12:47 AM
HAHAHAHA THEY’RE GONNA REBUILD IT
AND THEN WHEN IT SNOWS AGAIN IT WILL FALL IN AGAIN
STUPID AU
L
February 11, 2010 at 3:39 AM
Wow…judging from some of the arrogant, immature, and disrespectful comments on this story, I really wonder whether AU’s admissions office could do a better job. Does anyone moderate these posts?
Former employee
February 11, 2010 at 11:53 AM
Reminds me of the 2001-02 renovation of Battelle itself: inadequate insulation around the pipes inside the building led to serious flooding and lots of property damage during a January 2003 cold snap. Spending more money for proper construction up front might have prevented costly damage later. AU: penny wise, pound foolish??
e
February 12, 2010 at 2:52 PM
Yes, these comments are moderated. I think they are, anyway.
And, we pay money to attend AU…so we have the right to voice our opinions on whether or not they made a smart spending decision. I think “Former employee” has it right—do the job right the first time, you won’t have to do it again.
L
February 13, 2010 at 3:46 AM
Voicing an opinion is very different from being a turd.
Laura
February 13, 2010 at 10:19 PM
Even though the amount of snow D.C. receives is rarely what we had last week, this was a terrible design.
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