A brick wall at the Industrial Technology Center (ITC) building collapsed this past Tuesday, Feb. 27.

The building, constructed in the 1970s, has been in need of attention and renovation,  according to UNI administrators and ITC staff alike.

Scott Kettlesen, director of University Relations, explained that the collapsed wall was not a part of the main building.

“This [was] a very small piece of a freestanding brick wall,” Kettlesen said.

According to the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, classes were not disrupted.

“It underscores the need for some physical improvements to the building, built in 1974,” said Lisa Riedle, technology department head, in an interview with the Courier.

According to the Courier, the university has requested $36.2 million and planned to use this over a three-year period to expand and modernize the ITC.

Governor Kim Reynolds recently pushed for budget cuts, recommending that renovation projects at all three Regents Universities not move forward.

According to the Courier, some Iowa lawmakers hope they can find at least seed money for the project.

“It’s really difficult to meet the needs of the current learning style. So, our infrastructure needs a little work,” Riedle said to the Courier.

“I [do not believe] that the wall situation is connected with the request for the money from the state,” Kettlesen said. “That is a much different situation.”

Russell Roth, an electronics technician, was made aware Tuesday afternoon of the fallen wall. Roth pointed out cracks and slight buckles in the building’s interior walls to the Courier.

“The money that they are asking for is for a complete renovation to bring the ITC up to current, future standards,” Kettlesen said. “So, these incidents are not related.”