By Matt Sepic and Jon Collins

MPR.org/90.1 FM

Minneapolis — Minneapolis concert venue First Avenue will be closed at least through Saturday as the owner and city inspectors assess what repairs will be necessary after a 30-by-30 foot section of the ceiling collapsed during a show on Wednesday night.

Three people were hurt when sections of plaster ceiling collapsed, although the injuries do not appear to be life-threatening, according to the Minneapolis Fire Department.

The cause of the collapse still is not known, although First Avenue had a complete building inspection in 2013 and had no history of violations, city inspectors told reporters Thursday afternoon.

The building was constructed in 1936 and the ceiling is likely original, city building inspector Patrick Higgins said. First Avenue’s owners have the go-ahead to begin repairs, he added.

“They have permits to demolish the rest of the ceiling, take it down and start whatever reconstruction is necessary,” he said.

First Avenue general manager Nate Kranz said around 750 people were watching the Canadian metal band Theory of a Deadman around 10:15 p.m. when a part of the ceiling in the back of the main room gave way.

First Avenue’s adjoining 7th Street Entry was hosting a tour kick-off event for local bands What Tyrants and Stereo Confession. About 200 fans attended, according to the Current radio station.

“We just stopped what was going on and our manager was able to mobilize the employees and get them to help all the customers get out safely,” Kranz said.

City inspectors were meeting with the building’s owner and a structural engineer on Thursday morning to try to figure out what caused the collapse. A city spokesperson said a full evaluation of the building and ceiling system will be required.

Because the damage was contained to the performance area of the business, inspectors say the connected restaurant will be allowed to reopen once the sprinkler system is restored.

The performance space will be allowed to reopen after repairs are made and inspections are completed, according to a spokesperson for the city.

The sprinkler system will need to be repaired and then inspected and approved before the building can reopen, said Kris Johnson with Minneapolis fire inspections services.

The building has no history of violations and the owners always been cooperative with inspections, he said.

City inspectors found no violations during the club’s 2013 commercial licensing inspection, according to city records. A spokesperson for the city said inspectors are often in the facility because of the nature of the business, and would write up violations if they notice things like water damage or loose wiring.

Closing the business for several days means events at First Avenue and 7th Street Entry for both days had to be canceled.

Among the canceled events are a show on Thursday at the 7th Street Entry by Nancy’s Raygun and a concert in the First Avenue mainroom Friday headlined by Ginstrings.

Late Thursday, First Avenue tweeted that a concert scheduled at its site for Saturday night had been moved to the nearby State Theatre in Minneapolis.

“Our thoughts and hearts are with those who were injured,” First Avenue posted on Twitter Thursday as they announced the canceled shows. “Thank you for all of your support.”

Kranz said a broken sprinkler pipe sprayed water into the room. The fire department shut off water flow to pipes in the ceiling area, and firefighters cleared the scene by 11 p.m.