The Red and Black

Issue date: 3/3/09 Section: News

The hallway outside room 171 in the Miller Learning Center. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: JASON BROOM The roof outside room 171 in the Miller Learning Center. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: JASON BROOM A piece of the roof sits outside the Miller Learning Center Tuesday. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: WAITES LASETER University workers gather debris Tuesday from the fallen roof in the Miller Learning Center. [Click to enlarge]

The copper roof of the Miller Learning Center collapsed Monday afternoon under the weight of snow and ice, leading to class cancellations and relocations Tuesday morning.

"The snow from the upper roof fell as it melted and the weight of it collapsed the lower roof 18 inches," director of University Operations and Maintenance Mark Duclos said Tuesday. "It was like a mini avalanche."

A maintainence staff worker called Duclos Monday afternoon and reported the Miller Learning Center roof was slouching.

The Southeast portico, above classroom 171 on the first floor of the Miller Learning Center, had caved and was allowing water and ice into the building. The area was closed off and remains closed as of 11:30 a.m.

In a safety measure, areas under two other porticos have been closed as well, sealing off classroom 101 and some administrative offices.

"We're pretty fortunate this is the only campus damage," Duclos said.

Duclos said the only other structural campus problem was a power outage in married housing that lasted until 9 p.m. Monday.

Building engineers are set to investigate the incident sometime Tuesday afternoon, but what will result is undetermined.

"I really don't know [if the building will be designed]. I am not sure if the problem is based on design or not. The engineers will figure that out," Duclos said.

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