Downtown Sioux Falls Building Collapse

Photos by Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader

 

At about 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, the Copper Lounge building, which was being renovated, collapsed killing one and injuring another.

Emily Fodness, who was in her parents' upstairs apartment, was rescued about three hours after the collapse, and the body of construction worker Ethan McMahon was recovered later that evening with the help of a specially trained search and rescue dog.

Two dogs were rescued within the first 24 hours. Another dog was rescued more than 48 hours after the collapse, and was reunited with the Fodness family.

The collapse caused a portion of downtown to be shut down for days as crews monitored the structural integrity of neighboring buildings and cleaned up the area.

 

Joe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioJoe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioEmergency personnel on scene after the Copper Lounge building, which was being renovated, collapsed Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, in downtown Sioux Falls. Emily Fodness, who was in her parents’ upstairs apartment, was rescued about three hours after the collapse, and the body of construction worker Ethan McMahon was recovered later that evening with the help of a specially trained search and rescue dog. Two dogs were rescued within the first 24 hours. Another dog was rescued more than 48 hours after the collapse, and was reunited with the Fodness family. The collapse caused a portion of downtown to be shut down for days as crews monitored the structural integrity of neighboring buildings and cleaned up the area.

Emergency personnel on scene after the Copper Lounge building, which was being renovated, collapsed Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, in downtown Sioux Falls. Emily Fodness, who was in her parents’ upstairs apartment, was rescued about three hours after the collapse, and the body of construction worker Ethan McMahon was recovered later that evening with the help of a specially trained search and rescue dog. Two dogs were rescued within the first 24 hours. Another dog was rescued more than 48 hours after the collapse, and was reunited with the Fodness family. The collapse caused a portion of downtown to be shut down for days as crews monitored the structural integrity of neighboring buildings and cleaned up the area.

 

Joe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioJoe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioA dog is rescued from the rubble by emergency personnel on scene after the Copper Lounge building collapse Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, in downtown Sioux Falls.

A dog is rescued from the rubble by emergency personnel on scene after the Copper Lounge building collapse Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, in downtown Sioux Falls.

 

Joe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioJoe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioEmergency personnel on scene after the Copper Lounge building collapse Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, in downtown Sioux Falls.

Emergency personnel on scene after the Copper Lounge building collapse Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, in downtown Sioux Falls.

 

Joe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioJoe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioEmily Fodness is rescued from the rubble by emergency personnel on scene after the Copper Lounge building collapse Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, in downtown Sioux Falls.

Emily Fodness is rescued from the rubble by emergency personnel on scene after the Copper Lounge building collapse Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, in downtown Sioux Falls.

 

Joe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioJoe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioEmergency personnel work to recover the body of Ethan McMahon, the construction worker who died in the Copper Lounge building collapse, Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, in downtown Sioux Falls. Emergency personnel work to recover the body of Ethan McMahon, the construction worker who died in the Copper Lounge building collapse, Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, in downtown Sioux Falls.

 

Joe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioJoe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioAmy Butler, of Sioux Falls, leaves a note at a memorial at Coffea Roasterie and Espresso Bar Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, in downtown Sioux Falls the day after the Copper Lounge building collapsed killing one person and injuring another.

Amy Butler, of Sioux Falls, leaves a note at a memorial at Coffea Roasterie and Espresso Bar Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, in downtown Sioux Falls the day after the Copper Lounge building collapsed killing one person and injuring another.

 

Joe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioJoe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioA third dog is rescued by Sioux Falls Fire Rescue at the site of the Copper Lounge building collapse Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in downtown Sioux Falls more than 48 hours after the collapse. One person was killed and another injured in the collapse. Two other dogs were also rescued from the scene.

A third dog is rescued by Sioux Falls Fire Rescue at the site of the Copper Lounge building collapse Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in downtown Sioux Falls more than 48 hours after the collapse. One person was killed and another injured in the collapse. Two other dogs were also rescued from the scene.

 

Joe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioJoe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioThe third dog rescued by Sioux Falls Fire Rescue at the site of the Copper Lounge building collapse is reunited with the Fodness family and friends Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in downtown Sioux Falls more than 48 hours after the collapse. One person was killed and Emily Fodness was injured in the collapse. Two other dogs were also rescued from the scene.

The third dog rescued by Sioux Falls Fire Rescue at the site of the Copper Lounge building collapse is reunited with the Fodness family and friends Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in downtown Sioux Falls more than 48 hours after the collapse. One person was killed and Emily Fodness was injured in the collapse. Two other dogs were also rescued from the scene.

 

Joe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioJoe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioFriends, family and community members remember Ethan McMahon during prayer vigil at First Lutheran Church Monday night, Dec. 5, 2016. McMahon died Friday in a building collapse in downtown Sioux Falls.

Friends, family and community members remember Ethan McMahon during prayer vigil at First Lutheran Church Monday night, Dec. 5, 2016. McMahon died Friday in a building collapse in downtown Sioux Falls.

 

Joe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioJoe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioNancy McMahon gets a hug after a prayer vigil at First Lutheran Church Monday night, Dec. 5, 2016, for her son Ethan McMahon, who died Friday in a building collapse in downtown Sioux Falls. Nancy McMahon gets a hug after a prayer vigil at First Lutheran Church Monday night, Dec. 5, 2016, for her son Ethan McMahon, who died Friday in a building collapse in downtown Sioux Falls.

 

Joe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioJoe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioYunlont Wu watches through the window of Oshima Sushi Japanese Cuisine as construction crews work at the site of the Copper Lounge building collapse Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, in downtown Sioux Falls. Both Mama's Phried & Phillys and Oshima Sushi Japanese Cuisine on 10th Street between Phillips and Mall Avenues across from the site of the Copper Lounge building collapse opened Tuesday after having been closed since the collapse.

Yunlont Wu watches through the window of Oshima Sushi Japanese Cuisine as construction crews work at the site of the Copper Lounge building collapse Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, in downtown Sioux Falls. Both Mama's Phried & Phillys and Oshima Sushi Japanese Cuisine on 10th Street between Phillips and Mall Avenues across from the site of the Copper Lounge building collapse opened Tuesday after having been closed since the collapse.

 

Joe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioJoe Ahlquist 2016 PortfolioAll that remains of the Copper Lounge building in downtown Sioux Falls after construction crews demolished what was left Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016, after it collapsed last Friday killing one and injuring another.

All that remains of the Copper Lounge building in downtown Sioux Falls after construction crews demolished what was left Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016, after it collapsed last Friday killing one and injuring another.