BOZEMAN – Montana State University officials are looking into what might have caused a large concrete panel that supports a breezeway on campus to collapse Wednesday.
MSU spokesman Tracy Ellig said the breezeway, which connects the wings of the Johnstone Center, is supported by a series of arches about 20 feet apart with concrete panels in between. One of the panels fell to the sidewalk at about 3 p.m.
“This collapse is very distressing and we feel extremely fortunate and thankful that no one was injured,” Ellig said. “And we’re going to do everything we can to assess the safety of any other structures like this around campus.”
The spokesman said two pieces of rebar that hold the roof to a structural archway broke and could have been weather-damaged and weakened through corrosion.
The archway was last inspected in 2007 and is believed to have been built in 1955.
Ellig said the area would remain taped off until it can be re-inspected.