The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. has been temporarily closed due to "acute risks to public safety resulting from continued structural deterioration" of the building, according to a top official.
Matt Floca, the center's executive director and chief operating officer, stated in a federal court filing that the closure is necessary for at least seven days to "assess existing safety risks in those portions of the main building exhibiting severe structural deterioration."
The abrupt closure, which occurred without prior notice on Wednesday, is separate from a decision made Tuesday by the Kennedy Center's board to close the venue indefinitely for repairs. Floca's decision was prompted by an inspection following a partial ceiling collapse earlier this month and issues with the roof terrace canopy. The closure may be extended following the evaluation next week.
The announcement came as a response to a lawsuit filed by a Democratic congresswoman who is a trustee of the center. She had sought an emergency court hearing to prevent what she described as the building's "unlawful closing."