Firm: Texas A&M facility wasn’t built to code

By DANNY ROBBINS, Associated Press WriterNov 4, 5:46 pm EST

DALLAS (AP)—Texas A&M University’s tentlike athletic complex wasn’t built to withstand the maximum winds prescribed by the building code, according to an engineering firm hired by the university to evaluate the $35.6 million structure.

The analysis by Haynes Whaley Associates of Houston suggests that the McFerrin Athletic Center was built using a flawed design similar to that linked to the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facility, which collapsed in May, injuring a dozen people.

Both of the steel and fabric structures were designed by Summit Structures LLC of Allentown, Pa.

Documents obtained by The Associated Press under the Texas Public Information Act show that Haynes Whaley executive vice president Mark Thompson informed Texas A&M in September that his firm didn’t believe the McFerrin Center could withstand the 90 mph winds, as specified by national standards.