Ceiling collapse forces Basel-Landschaft parliament out of government building

The Basel-Landschaft cantonal parliament must meet elsewhere after a ceiling collapsed in a government meeting room in Liestal, SRF reported. Inspections found that other ceilings in the building could also be at risk of collapse, while moisture damage and pests were discovered in wooden beams and walls.

The ceiling covering in the government meeting room fell across the entire surface shortly before the summer holidays. The incident initially went largely unnoticed. Thomas Zaugg, the deputy cantonal architect, said people had been holding a workshop in another meeting room and had heard nothing.

Investigators concluded that the collapse was caused by a pull-out failure in a screw connection, according to Basel-Landschaft Construction Director Isaac Reber. The screw threads had lost their grip. Similar faulty connections were found in the foyer and cafeteria near the parliamentary chamber in the same government building, which was constructed at the end of the 18th century.

Authorities also found moisture damage and pest infestations in historic wooden beam structures and walls, including in the government meeting room. Because the cantonal parliament chamber is directly above that room, it cannot be used until repairs are completed. Parliament will therefore continue meeting elsewhere at least until the autumn holidays.

The government building was closed for safety reasons after the ceiling collapsed on June 22. The latest findings have also raised questions about renovation work completed in 2024. Reber said it had been a partial renovation and that there had been no earlier indications, such as cracks or discolouration, pointing to structural or moisture problems. The damage only became apparent during targeted, detailed inspections after the collapse.

Reber said the precise cause of the fastening failure remained unclear, but added that whoever installed the ceiling had not done so according to professional standards. The authorities are examining who may be responsible and whether legal action is possible.

Zaugg said the canton had been lucky twice: no one was injured, and the inspections revealed further damage that might otherwise have remained hidden for a long time.