GASTONIA, N.C.
Shortly after the $10 million Gastonia Conference Center opened last November, some dancers felt a vibration as they glided along the second floor ballroom. An independent engineering firm hired by the city determined the vibration wasn't a safety issue and could be fixed.
But the same report raised potential safety concerns about a suspended ceiling, exterior walls and masonry work. The design company that did the original work disagreed with those findings, insisting the center was safe and that closing it was unnecessary.
But Gastonia leaders aren't taking any chances. City staffers have recommended that all events be canceled at the center until engineers can find solutions.
The 30,000-square-foot, two-story conference center has been seen by many as the jewel of downtown revitalization. Featuring built-in projection units and big flat-screen televisions, the Gastonia Conference Center is an environmentally friendly building.
Courtesy of The Charlotte Observer
