Empire Towers Structural Integrity Incident: Information & Updates

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.

Yes, this matter is under an active investigation. 

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 soon. 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. 

Phase 1 remediation will involve setting vertical shoring between the floor and the ceiling on the lowest level of the garage to support the building’s compressive weight and redistribute it more proportionally. Phase 1 is expected to take approximately 10 to 14 days once work begins. Phase 2 will involve installing lateral supports for the columns to stabilize the building. The timeframe for Phase 2 cannot be established until the contractor can assess the extent of the work needed as they move through the building in Phase 1. Both phases need to be completed in order to stabilize the building.

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. The county has opened a detour for public access via Crain Highway at 514 Crain Highway North into 512 and 514 Crain Highway North to provide employees and customers a safe route to access these businesses located outside the perimeter that were previously impacted by road closures. 

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.

This is a developing situation. The 150-foot safety perimeter will be in place until the building is no longer at risk of collapse. The responsibility for correcting the structural integrity of the building rests with the building's private 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 soon. Phase 1 of remediation is expected to take approximately 10 to 14 days once work begins. The timeframe for Phase 2 cannot be established until the contractor can assess the extent of the work needed as they move through the building in Phase 1. Both phases need to be completed in order to stabilize the building. Once both phases are completed and the building is certified by a professional engineer to be stable, the safety perimeter may be lifted. The county will receive regular updates on this work and will provide an updated timeline as new information becomes available. 

Yes, Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation has launched the Empire Towers Disaster Recovery Grant. Applications are now open at https://bit.ly/EmpireTowersGrant, with initial $2,500 grants available to eligible businesses located at 7310 Ritchie Highway or within the 150-foot safety perimeter (7300 or 7314 Ritchie Highway). Businesses that meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Documentation required includes a completed and signed Form W-9 and proof of your business address. Acceptable proof of address includes a current signed lease agreement, utility bill, bank statement, or insurance document displaying your business name and address, dated within the past 120 days.

Yes, Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (info@aaedc.org) is available to assist impacted businesses explore potential temporary operating locations and work with them to better understand their specific needs and identify any opportunities that may exist to support them. 

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.