As we reported earlier, Fredericton’s Regent Mall has been closed due to structural concerns.
theAQ is now being told that when the mall was evacuated earlier today, no part of the building’s roof ‘collapsed’ as many media outlets (include theAQ) had reported. Instead, a series of stress fractures had been discovered and the building was evacuated as a precaution while an engineer was called to assess the damage.
Mall officials and engineers will be checking to see if the stress fractures are related to snow build-up on the roof.
The initial damage was discovered at an area where an older part of the mall meets the newer construction.
The mall is expected to be closed for the rest of the evening as the building is investigated. Mall staff are being kept up-to-date with closures through the storm line.
