'Structurally sound' Whitley still needs work, report finds

Whitley Hall has been declared "structurally sound" by engineers that inspected the building after a section of bricks fell off the top of it last Sunday, although those same engineers suggested closing parts of the building off to students until steps are taken to secure its exterior.

The structural engineers from JQ Dallas, LLP inspected the building on Jan. 16 and found no problem with the 41-year-old residence hall as a whole.

"During our limited observations, we did not observe any deficiencies or signs of distress in the reinforced concrete frame of the building," JQ Dallas's report said. "In our opinion, it does not appear that the detached brick veneer has compromised the structural integrity of the concrete frame of the building."

However, their report also stated that due to the "lack of metal brick ties, which secure the brick veneer to the concrete masonry unit backup walls," the university should secure areas around the building until necessary steps are taken.

The report stated: "We recommend that areas adjacent to the east and west exterior walls, and the plaza area on the south side of the building be barricaded to prevent pedestrian access to these areas."

Executive Director of Facilities and Support Services for A&M-Commerce David McKenna was quoted in a university press release, saying steps will be taken to ensure the security of Whitley Hall's exterior.

"Based on yesterday's investigation, the incident was a unique situation where bricks pulled away from the building and not by structural defect," McKenna said. "Going forward, we plan to install a locking system that will ensure that the brick veneer and other exterior building elements are secure and do not pose a risk to the university community."

A&M-Commerce PR Director Ashley Johnson said the situation poses "no immediate risk to students." The south entrance to Whitley is still closed, but it should reopen shortly.

A 20x20 foot section of brick fell onto the south-side parking lot of Whitley Hall last Sunday, causing damage to vehicles. No students were injured, but the university did temporarily close the hall for safety reasons.