Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building on the Penn State campus

By Jillian Pikora From Daily Voice

A loud noise inside Penn State’s new Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building sparked an evacuation and emergency response after a floor suddenly shifted and trapped a person, university officials announced on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 6:30 p.m.

The incident happened on Wednesday, Nov. 12, when the floor in the $128 million building dropped about 2 inches, fire officials told WTAJ at the time. The movement created a crack as wide as 1 1/2 inches stretching from the second floor to the roof, according to first responders.

Fire crews rushed to the scene after receiving reports of what sounded like an explosion and people trapped inside, Alpha Fire Company Chief Tony Berrena told Onward State. One person was rescued after the shifting floor jammed a door shut, leaving them unable to get out. No injuries were reported.

Students received an alert around 2 p.m. warning them to avoid the area, and the bomb squad initially investigated out of caution, WTAJ reported.

The building was evacuated, and a preliminary review shows “the damage is the result of a localized structural issue,” according to a statement posted by the university. Penn State officials emphasized that “no foul play is suspected.”

The building opened this spring and is the first new liberal arts structure added to the campus in 50 years, the university says.

Engineers from the Office of Physical Plant and outside experts are conducting a full examination to determine the exact cause of the failure, according to Penn State’s statement. Two University Park alerts sent Thursday evening confirmed the building is all clear, but will remain closed until further notice.

The closure affects both classes and employee workspaces. The Penn State Registrar has contacted instructors whose classes lost space in the building, and students should watch for updates on new locations and formats for the rest of the fall semester. Employees will receive direction from their supervisors, the release states.