The Vila Penteado building, historic headquarters of USP's Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, was closed after part of the ceiling collapsed. The closure brought forward works already scheduled for July.
The collapse affected about 10 square meters in the kitchen circulation area of the palace, with no injuries. The FAU direction described the incident as "not very important", but ordered the suspension of activities to ensure safety.
The building, designed in 1902 by Swedish architect Carlos Ekman and donated to the university in 1948, hosts post-graduate activities and academic events. Listed as state heritage since 1978, it faces issues such as infiltrations and access restrictions in some areas.
Director João Sette Whitaker Ferreira stated that the closure advanced planned works including ceiling repairs, gutter enlargement, water tank replacement and fire protection system installation. The works are expected to last six months, with possible extension, and already have approval from CONDEPHAAT.
