1 injured as PSU balcony falls

Five hundred people attending an event for prospective engineering students on Penn State University’s main campus were evacuated Monday after part of a balcony overhang fell inside Schwab Auditorium, slightly injuring at least one person.

Building engineers and environmental health and safety teams were assessing the 112-year-old buff-colored brick structure, which was closed until further notice, officials said. It was not immediately clear what led the 2-foot by 8-foot section of plaster ceiling to drop into a center aisle and several seats.

“We haven’t yet received the report from the inspection by building engineers, so we do not know exactly what caused it,” Penn State spokesman Geoff Rushton said. “After initial inspection, current thinking is the building will be closed to the public for the month of August.”

A prospective engineering student whose name was not available from the university was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries and later released, officials said. He later rejoined the day’s activities on campus, Mr. Rushton said.

A second individual was examined and released by emergency medical technicians who responded to the scene about 11:25 a.m.

Penn State said the audience of prospective engineering students and their families had gathered for part of the “Spend a Summer Day” program by undergraduate admissions. The event was moved to the Thomas Building, the university said.

Schwab Auditorium is named for Bethlehem Steel Corp. founder Charles M. Schwab and was completed in 1903, according to the university’s website. It is located in the center of Penn State's University Park campus, and its uses include being a venue for performance arts.

Penn State says the structure was the first university building to be financed by a private gift.

Mr. Rushton said renovations to Schwab have occurred as recently as 2013, including plaster repairs and roof work, in addition to security and hardware upgrades, access enhancements and refurbishment and reconfiguration of office space.