D.C. Convention Ctr. To Open On Schedule Despite Mishap

<B>D.C. Convention Ctr. To Open On Schedule Despite Mishap</B>

By Barbara Cook

Construction resumed April 19 on the new Washington Convention Center following the collapse of a 180-ft. by 90-ft. section of steel roof support trusses two days prior.

Convention center spokesman Tony Robinson last week said that a preliminary review of the damage doesn't indicate an impact on the March 2003 scheduled opening date for the $756 million building. Engineers and city building inspectors are assessing the damage to the 16,000-sq.-ft. area of the structure and will have a report ready in two weeks to a month on the cause of the damage, Robinson said.

Convention center general manager Lewis Dawley issued a statement saying, "The amount of time to review the damage and replace the damaged area with new fabrication is being determined. Fortunately, there were no injuries."

Clark/Smoot, the joint venture firm building the new center, issued a statement saying that costs of the repair will be covered by the center's construction insurance. "An inspection of the job site and the building by structural engineers has determined that work may safely resume on the south building, which was unaffected," the companies said.

There is some speculation that the damage occurred due to heavy winds in the Washington, D.C., area during the night of April 17 and the early morning hours of April 18. Other theories pointed to possible problems with welding of the trusses.

The new center will cover five blocks at the city's Mount Vernon Square.