Anne Arundel County Response & Status Report
On July 9, 2026, at approximately 2:30 p.m., the Anne Arundel County Fire Department responded to a 911 call at Empire Towers - 7310 Ritchie Highway. First responders arrived to find the parking garage beneath the privately owned, 10-story office building had been compromised during active and unpermitted construction work. Out of an abundance of caution, first responders evacuated 100 occupants from the facility, with no reported injuries.
As the structure remains unsafe, the county has created this webpage to provide updates and answer questions. For your safety, please continue to remain outside the 150-foot safety perimeter that the county has established around the building.
Frequently Asked Questions
Following a 911 call regarding the structural integrity of the building, first responders discovered that the parking garage beneath the privately owned, 10-story office building had been compromised during active and unpermitted construction work. The Department of Inspections and Permits Chief Building Inspector confirmed the building was unsafe for occupancy, and posted that determination publicly. As of today, the building remains classified as unsafe, meaning no public entry is permitted.
Due to the high structural instability risks, the county has established a 150-foot safety perimeter around the building. This distance is equal to one and a half times the building’s height - the standard measurement for a potential collapse zone. This measurement accounts for a total building collapse with a necessary buffer to account for debris bouncing, rolling, or being projected outward. Due to the risk of collapse, individuals must remain outside the 150-foot safety perimeter.
The county’s primary concern is public safety. Following the county’s determination that the building was unsafe for occupancy, the Anne Arundel County Department of Inspections and Permits, Department of Public Works, Police Department, Fire Department, and Office of Emergency Management worked together to establish a safety perimeter and coordinate necessary building and road closures. County departments continue to coordinate closely to monitor the safety perimeter, traffic control, and building conditions.
The responsibility for correcting the structural integrity of the building rests with the building’s owner and management company. The owner is working with a licensed structural engineering firm who has evaluated the site, and their contractor plans to begin remediation early this week. The county will receive regular updates from the team, and county inspectors will conduct routine inspections during remediation to ensure permitted repair work complies with the approved plan and applicable building codes.
All buildings and roadways within the 150-foot safety perimeter are closed at this time, and there is no public entry allowed within the safety perimeter. The Maryland State Highway Administration has implemented a partial lane reduction on southbound Route 2, shifting traffic to one open lane located outside the safety perimeter. The county has road closures at 6th Avenue, affecting both Crain Highway and southbound Ritchie Highway. Drivers should expect a detour via 8th Avenue and Route 648. Due to the risk of collapse, individuals must abide by these closures to remain outside the 150-foot safety perimeter.
Only a portion of Route 2 is located within the 150-foot safety perimeter, so traffic can continue southbound on Ritchie Highway using one lane.
No, not at this time. The building is currently unsafe for occupancy, and no public entry is permitted. Due to the risk of collapse, individuals must remain outside the 150-foot safety perimeter. The county will let the public know once the building is stabilized and when individuals are able to enter the premises.
The 150-foot safety perimeter will be in place until the building is no longer at risk of collapse. The building owner is working with a licensed structural engineering firm who has evaluated the site, and their contractor plans to begin remediation early this week. Once the team begins work, they estimate it will take approximately 10 days to place the structural supports needed to stabilize the building. Once the building is stable, the safety perimeter will be lifted and buildings and roads may reopen. The county will receive regular updates on this work and will provide an updated timeline as new information becomes available.
We recognize the impact that this incident has on building tenants and businesses in the area. We are working with impacted businesses to determine the best ways the county can provide support during these closures, including exploring an emergency assistance grant program to assist with expenses not covered by insurance. We encourage you to reach out to Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation at info@aaedc.org so we can work with you.
Yes. All businesses outside the clearly marked 150-foot safety perimeter remain safe and open for business. We encourage residents to continue supporting these local establishments.
Given the evolving nature of this situation, the county will continue to provide updates on this webpage as new information becomes available.