Baylor University Construction Accident Injures Two

During the construction of Baylor University’s new Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center, two workers fell 35 feet after a scaffolding collapse and were taken to the hospital on Wednesday, March 2, in Waco, Texas, according to local authorities.

The Waco Fire Department received a call at 9:26 a.m. that morning reporting a partial structure collapse at the construction site, said Fire Lt. Keith Guillory. Officials reported that the workers were in a scaffold basket when they fell. Firefighters arrived at 9:29 a.m. and were able to reach the injured workers without incident. “It looked like there were metal beams on the ground, and they fell between the metal beams,” said Guillory. “They were actually pretty fortunate.”

Local news reports that the two workers were taken to Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Medical Center. According to the Baylor student newspaper, witnesses said the two workers sustained “minor injuries.” No other injuries were reported, according to Guillory.

“The accident affects every member of the Baylor community, and our prayers go immediately to the two individuals who were injured, as well as their family, friends and coworkers,” read a statement released by Baylor University. “We are deeply appreciative of the rapid response of Baylor University Police Department, Waco Fire and AMR [American Medical Response]. The university is actively supporting the agencies investigating the circumstances of the accident.”

Local news also reports that Vaughn Construction Project Manager Jon McPeters declined to comment as of Wednesday.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • FGCU Breaks Ground on New Health Sciences Building

    Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) has launched construction on a major new academic facility that leaders say will reshape healthcare education in Southwest Florida for decades to come, according to university news.

  • Cleveland High School Breaks Ground on Modernization

    Portland Public Schools in Portland, Ore., recently announced that construction has begun on a modernization project for Cleveland High School, according to a news release. The existing building will be replaced with a new, 300,000-square-foot facility at the same site.

  • St. John Fisher University

    Classroom Revitalization – Basil Hall Room 216

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. St. John Fisher University's Basil Hall Room 216 Classroom Revitalization has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of Spaces.

  • Universities Continue to Launch Multimillion-Dollar Campus Transformations

    What makes the current wave of campus development especially noteworthy is its emphasis on multi-use functionality and community integration. Institutions are no longer investing solely in academic or athletic facilities in isolation. Instead, they are creating destinations that blend recreation, health, housing, and event-driven economic activity.