RALEIGH — North Carolina State University has received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to demolish Poe Hall in Raleigh. The building has been closed since November 2023 after tests revealed the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), toxic chemicals linked to increased health risks, including cancer.
Preparation work for the demolition will begin soon, including the installation of fencing around the building. The university plans to construct a new facility for the College of Education on the site after demolition.
In March, a report from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reaffirmed the presence of PCBs in Poe Hall. The report found that exposure levels to PCBs exceeded U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards in some cases but not all. It also noted that the rate of melanoma among female employees who worked in Poe Hall was double the expected rate among women overall, and the rate of breast cancer among employees was slightly higher than expected.
However, the NIOSH report did not directly attribute the higher cancer rates to PCB exposure, noting that cancer takes time to develop. “There are many reasons why one group of people might have more cancer than another. It could be due to exposure to harmful substances at work. It can also be because of other factors like differences in access to medical care and cancer screening, lifestyle differences, general variability in the occurrence of cancer, or limitations in evaluation methods.”
Toxic chemicals were discovered in the HVAC system of Poe Hall. The university initially planned to remediate and renovate the building before deciding on full demolition. The timeline for demolition was shaped by construction planning, EPA approval, and efforts to minimize disruptions to the academic calendar.
North Carolina State University has filed a lawsuit against the chemical company that created the toxic substance used in Poe Hall’s construction. Hundreds of former students and faculty are suing the university, claiming their illnesses are related to time spent in the building.
Student Jimmy Mullarkey said, “It's definitely good that it's getting knocked down if there are all those toxins in there.” Another student, Alex Currin, who took multiple classes in Poe Hall while studying Secondary English Education, still has health concerns. “I go to the doctor, do blood tests. So far, nothing's come up.”