As a result of the deadly 2013 Center City building collapse, Philadelphia City Councilman Curtis Jones recently introduced a bill that would require anyone with knowledge of an unsafe practice at a building site to report it; specifying not just contractors, but all construction professionals. This includes architects, engineers, expediters, owners and their representatives. Failure to comply could result in $2,000 fine and suspension or revocation of any license issued by the city. Mr. Jones said he was “shocked to hear in the testimony that when architects see an imminently dangerous building, they are not legally required to report it.”
In June of 2013 a neighboring building under demolition collapsed onto the Salvation Army Store on the corner of 22nd and Market Street. The store was open and full of shoppers and staff at the time.
Video of the deadly building collapse was caught by a passing Septa bus.
