PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Sometime between midnight and 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, a section of the fabric roof over the Paul Bailey Pizzitola Memorial Sports Center gave way, sending accumulated snow to the tennis facility below.
No one was injured in the collapse. Crews from Facilities Management responded, and removal of the snow was underway Wednesday morning.
For the second time in recent years, the fabric roof above the Pizzitola tennis facility has given way to snow.
During the recent heavy snowfalls, staff from Facilities Management checked regularly on the roof to be sure the snow burden did not create a dangerous situation.
The current roof, installed less than three years ago, replaced the original Pizzitola roof, which failed in January 2011 after almost 25 years of service. There was much more snow on the roof in 2011 as there is now, said Stephen Maiorisi, vice president for facilities management, and there was extensive water damage then from the sprinkler system, reaching down to the basketball floor at ground level. This time, the facilities staff was able to shut off the water, lay down tarps, and prevent further damage. Other varsity facilities — basketball, squash — will not be affected.
The company that designed and installed the roof has been to the site to assess the damage. Maiorisi said temporary repairs would begin soon in hopes of returning the tennis facility to service as soon as possible. It will be closed as a precaution if there is heavy snow. Permanent repairs will get underway later in the spring.