A seven-story parking garage under construction for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) collapsed, killing three members of Ironworkers Local 401 and prompting a multi-agency investigation into the cause. The collapse occurred when a precast concrete stairwell section failed, setting off a chain reaction that brought down much of the structure.

Emergency crews quickly arrived on the scene and began search and rescue operations that continued for several days. Three workers were pulled from the debris; one later died at the hospital, while two were treated and released. Two additional workers remained unaccounted for as shifting conditions and instability complicated access to the site. Recovery operations concluded April 13 after crews located the remaining victims following controlled access and repeated structural assessments. The deceased were identified as Stepan Shevchuk, Matthew Kane, and Mark Scott, Jr.

In a statement, the Iron Workers Union said: “Stepan, Matthew, and Mark were not only skilled ironworkers, but brothers, friends, and proud members of our Local 401 family. This tragedy is deeply felt across our union, the Philadelphia Building Trades, and the entire organized labor community. Their loss leaves an immeasurable void in the lives of all who knew and worked alongside them.”
Engineers repeatedly paused operations due to the risk of additional instability. Controlled demolition was used in select areas to stabilize the site and allow recovery work to proceed, followed by removal of other compromised sections during cleanup.

Philadelphia officials described a coordinated response involving fire department urban search and rescue teams, structural engineers, drone surveillance, cadaver dogs, and heavy equipment operators working under persistent risk as site conditions continued to shift.

The Philadelphia Fire Department said the incident affected surrounding blocks for days, forcing road closures, evacuations, and temporary business disruptions before gradual reopening.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is leading the investigation with state and city partners. Officials are reviewing construction sequencing, installation practices, design integrity, and compliance with safety requirements. A parallel forensic engineering review is examining materials, permits, inspection records, and contractor procedures to determine how the failure progressed through the structure. The city of Philadelphia has also launched an independent review, with final findings expected within 180 days.

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