Update on Mechanical Engineering

Updated: 7 p.m. September 24

Effective immediately, building access and exit for the Mechanical Engineering Building must take place through:

The north (University Avenue) entrances,
The connector from Engineering Research Building, or
The connector from Engineering Centers Building.
The south doors must only be used for emergency exit.

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During the overnight hours of Sept. 16-17, a piece of the Mechanical Engineering Building’s facade fell from the west side of the facility and landed on the third-floor roof.

The roof located below this piece was damaged, and some debris fell through into a lab that was unoccupied at the time. There were no injuries.

Once the damage was identified on Sept. 17, the lab was secured and closed. UW–Madison, with the State of Wisconsin and Universities of Wisconsin, immediately began the process to start a structural assessment.

Out of an abundance of caution, areas of the third floor, including the affected lab, will close temporarily until a structural engineer can review the facade, assess the cause, and determine next steps. These areas were also evacuated and secured.

The rest of the building remains open for normal operations.

More information will be shared as it becomes available, including any impacts on safety, building access, or campus operations.