The Eastern Michigan University Indoor Practice Facility collapsed this morning at approximately 8:30 a.m.
According to an official statement from EMU Executive Director of Media Relations Geoff Larcom, “the fabric began to split from east to west in the Indoor Practice Facility at Eastern Michigan University and the air-supported structure began to deflate.”
“Two area soccer teams were practicing in the facility at the time and left the facility without incident and without injury,” said Larcom. “We are assessing the situation to determine the cause of the fabric split.”
Two EMU students, Megan Trapp and Rachel Washburn, were working the front desk at the time of the collapse and, along with the referees working the soccer games, were able to help evacuate everyone safely.
“We walked over to the little hole… [the opening] was a couple inches,” said Trapp. “It was a loud rip.”
“The seam immediately started ripping from east to west,” said Trapp.
The Indoor Practice Facility was built in Feb. 2010 and cost the university $3.9 million according to a EMU press release from 2011.
More updates to come
