Once the tallest structure in Anne Arundel County, the Empire Towers building on Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie is no longer “structurally sound,” according to the county’s fire department.

The determination means people who work there can’t reenter the building until the problem is resolved, said Gabby Reed, a spokeswoman for County Executive Steuart Pittman, in a statement.

On Thursday, maintenance workers operating in the parking garage reported that the floor above them began to collapse, said Fire Department spokesman Steven Bishop on Friday.

When first responders arrived Thursday afternoon, they discovered the parking garage beneath the office building “had been compromised” during construction work. They evacuated the 100 people inside the building and no injuries were reported, Reed said.

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Multiple county departments coordinated to close the area around the building’s perimeter, and the chief inspector of the Department of Inspections and Permits later declared the property unsafe.

“Responsibility for correcting the structural integrity of the building and determining next steps rests with the building’s owner and management company,” said Reed, adding that they will need to hire a licensed structural engineering firm to evaluate the property.

When that contractor begins remediation, the county will conduct routine inspections to make sure the repairs comply with the building’s approved plans and codes, she said.

The property management company, Sawhney Commercial LLC, declined to comment.

The Anne Arundel Economic Development Corp. is notifying nearby businesses that are impacted.

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Officials said to expect traffic congestion in the area. The Maryland State Highway Administration has closed Crain Highway’s northbound lanes between Sixth and Eighth avenues, as well as its southbound lanes between Eighth and Virginia avenues.

The Department of Public Works also closed nearby parking areas and county roads leading to Crain Highway. Northwest Sixth Avenue between Ritchie and Crain Highway is still closed.

The building is home to an American Red Cross blood donation center and several other businesses.

This article may be updated as more information is made available.

Banner reporter Cody Boteler contributed to this report.