MU inspection report: 5 percent of buildings had immediate concerns

Engineers hired to inspect every University of Missouri building after a walkway collapsed and killed a firefighter report the majority of buildings on the Columbia campus had no issues.

In a 500 page report, engineers detail the inspections of 376 campus buildings. 18 of those buildings were found to have structural concerns that needed immediate attention.

Of the 18 buildings cited for safety concerns, 10 were at the Tara Apartments complex. The other buildings with structural concerns were Loeb Hall, The Sinclair School of Nursing, Thomas and Nell Lafferre Hall, Missouri Theater, East Well, Memorial Student Union, the UM Teaching Hospital and the power plant on Stewart Road.

“We have addressed every issue that was brought to our attention immediately,” said Christian Basi, spokesman for the University of Missouri.

The University has fixed all issues either permanently or temporarily.

“There were a couple things in the report we felt we needed to make a temporary fix right now and allow us to take a look at some long term fixes,” Basi said. “One of those obviously is the Tara decks. Currently we’re evaluating three or four different options for those decks. One might be modifying the decks, another might be changing the support system and a third one might be removing the decks. We’re taking a look at all those options right now.”

The report describes the decks as “deteriorating.”

Another temporary fix was closing down access to two areas deemed unsafe at the power plant on Stewart Road. Engineers cited an area on the roof was deteriorating and walkways were not in good shape.

Other issues in the report included a sidewalk crack described as a “tripping hazard” at the Missouri Theater, which has been fixed.

Loose concrete panels on a stairwell at the nursing school have also been fixed.

However, MU is still looking for a permanent solution for a deteriorating staircase outside Loeb Hall. Right now, a temporary wooden staircase has been built.

See the full inspection report here.