Shell Collapse Injures Two

Two demolition workers were injured October 5th when part of the shell collapsed at Canandaigua, N.Y.’s Constellation Brands – Marvin Sands P.A.C. (formerly Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center).

“We are in the middle of a $12 million renovation and while they were tearing it down, a couple of steel beams let go and came down in the backstage area,” venue executive VP John Parkhurst told Pollstar. “There were no serious injuries.”

The workers – Christopher Charmey and Edward Cunningham – suffered a sprained ankle and a sprained shoulder, respectively, while trying to escape five or six 50-foot steel beams that fell down.

“If anybody was underneath, they would’ve been seriously injured,” Parkhurst said. “They had just moved the crane into position and were about to lower the beams.”

The men, who are iron workers, were taken to the hospital and released shortly thereafter. Both are back at work, according to Parkhurst.

The facility, located on the Finger Lakes Community College campus, launched the multimillion dollar renovation project August 28th. It will double the amphitheatre’s covered seating capacity to 5,000. Seating for 10,000 on the lawn will not change.

Parkhurst said the venue is moving forward and is on schedule to open June 1st.

— Mitchell Peters