Inspectors probe First Avenue ceiling collapse; no violations history

Updated: Aug. 13, 10 p.m. | Posted: Aug. 12, 11:20 p.m.

Minneapolis concert venue First Avenue will keep its main room closed at least through Saturday as the owner and city inspectors assess what repairs will be necessary after a 30-by-30 foot section of the ceiling collapsed during a show on Wednesday night.

Three people were hurt when sections of plaster ceiling collapsed, although the injuries do not appear to be life-threatening, according to the Minneapolis Fire Department.

The cause of the collapse still is not known, although First Avenue had a complete building inspection in 2013 and had no history of violations, city inspectors told reporters Thursday afternoon.

The building was constructed in 1936 and the ceiling is likely original, city building inspector Patrick Higgins said. First Avenue's owners have the go-ahead to begin repairs, he added.

"They have permits to demolish the rest of the ceiling, take it down and start whatever reconstruction is necessary," he said.

First Avenue general manager Nate Kranz said around 750 people were watching the Canadian metal band Theory of a Deadman around 10:15 p.m. when a part of the ceiling in the back of the main room gave way.

First Avenue's adjoining 7th Street Entry was hosting a tour kick-off event for local bands What Tyrants and Stereo Confession. About 200 fans attended, according to the Current radio station.

"We just stopped what was going on and our manager was able to mobilize the employees and get them to help all the customers get out safely," Kranz said.

City inspectors were meeting with the building's owner and a structural engineer on Thursday morning to try to figure out what caused the collapse. A city spokesperson said a full evaluation of the building and ceiling system will be required.

Because the damage was contained to the performance area of the business, inspectors say the connected restaurant will be allowed to reopen once the sprinkler system is restored.

The performance space will be allowed to reopen after repairs are made and inspections are completed, according to a spokesperson for the city.

The sprinkler system will need to be repaired and then inspected and approved before the building can reopen, said Kris Johnson with Minneapolis fire inspections services.

The building has no history of violations and the owners always been cooperative with inspections, he said.

City inspectors found no violations during the club's 2013 commercial licensing inspection, according to city records. A spokesperson for the city said inspectors are often in the facility because of the nature of the business, and would write up violations if they notice things like water damage or loose wiring.

Closing the business for several days means events at First Avenue and 7th Street Entry for both days had to be canceled.

Among the canceled events are a show on Thursday at the 7th Street Entry by Nancy's Raygun and a concert in the First Avenue mainroom Friday headlined by Ginstrings.

Late Thursday, First Avenue tweeted that a concert scheduled at its site for Saturday night had been moved to the nearby State Theatre in Minneapolis.

"Our thoughts and hearts are with those who were injured," First Avenue posted on Twitter Thursday as they announced the canceled shows. "Thank you for all of your support."

Kranz said a broken sprinkler pipe sprayed water into the room. The fire department shut off water flow to pipes in the ceiling area, and firefighters cleared the scene by 11 p.m.

Higgins, the city building inspector, said it appeared the ceiling collapse broke the sprinkler open and that it did not appear that there was water leaking in the ceiling prior to the collapse.

People inside First Avenue posted photos and videos from the scene.

The fire department tweeted that crews evacuated First Avenue and were checking the building late Wednesday night. The department said three to four people were injured and added later that two were taken to Hennepin County Medical Center for evaluation.

Concertgoer Courtney Anderson of Minneapolis said the band was in the middle of its set when she noticed that the music had stopped and heard a commotion at the back of the room.

"The house lights came on, and we thought there was a fire, because it was kind of smoky," Anderson said. "Nobody was really panicked, everybody was just moving away from this area. It was like rain falling from the ceiling."

Anderson said larger pieces started falling and some people in the crowd started screaming.

"Right away, the First Avenue people were really good about being like, 'OK, guys. Let's move out,'" Anderson said. "First Ave. did a good job of keeping everyone calm."

When Anderson and her friends went outside, first responders were already attending to the injured.

"Ambulances and cops and firefighters came immediately," Anderson said. "There was a girl that looked really injured as I was leaving, and there was another guy that was full of debris."

Kranz told Local Current blogger Andrea Swensson that the recent installation of a lighting system in a different part of the room likely didn't cause the ceiling's collapse.