Roof Collapse Causes Asbestos Leak at Syracuse University

February 20, 2007 - Heavy ice caused the collapse of a portion of the roof and ceiling at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, causing an asbestos leak.  According to Michael Wasylenko, Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Administration for the school, three offices on the Maxwell School's third floor were affected.

"What happened was that there was ice standing on the roof, water got in underneath the roof and leaked into the ceiling, and some of the plaster fell down," Wasylenko told the school newspaper, The Daily Orange. A malfunctioning electric cable designed to hold the ice could have caused the damage to the roof, Wasylenko added.

"There is supposed to be an electric cable up there to hold the ice," he said. "I don't know if the cable failed or if it just wasn't in that area - we are still looking into that."

The ceiling was re-plastered, but when the air quality was tested, it was determined that asbestos had leaked into the air. 

"The ceiling has asbestos in it - it's an old building." Wasylenko said. "Of course, that is an environmental hazard, so they had to vacate those people, put up shields and bring people in to clean up the area."

Wasylenko reported that no one was in the area when the ceiling collapsed and that the damage was attended to immediately.  "Everything is [now] back to normal," he said. "The building is safe and everyone is now able to occupy their offices."