Pipe bursts in CBIS ceiling, floods lab hallway

The heavy sound of water gushing was heard from laboratories located on the second floor of the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies building at around 4:45 pm on Friday, October 16, 2026. Students and researchers stepped out to investigate the sound to find that a couple of false ceiling tiles had fallen through, with steaming hot water pushing the line down.

The Department of Public Safety was called by a student at 4:49 pm to respond to the incident, and Troy Fire was subsequently informed. RPI Physical Plant and CBIS administration was appraised about the incident at around the same time. DPS arrived on the scene at approximately 4:56 pm with Troy Fire following soon after.

RPIAlert sent out an update at 6:17 pm that the area had been cleared and the building was safe to "re-occupy," with an additional warning to "avoid affected areas" until Environmental and Site Services had completed cleanup.

In an email to the CBIS community, Director of Business Operations Max Morton said the main waterline failed at the “elbow” of the labs in the 2300 to 2400 rooms hallway. Water flowed onto the second floor and down to the first, causing extensive damage near the microbiology core and dark room, the MRI room, and the stem cell core room.

Morton credited the emergency response, writing that DPS dispatch and on-site officers handled “what could have been a far worse and chaotic situation.” He said Facilities staff remained on site into the evening to oversee cleanup crews. Morton noted that another researcher reported a smaller leak on the third floor the following day. “This fast response likely saved lots of additional water damage, and cost,” Morton wrote.

Dehumidifiers and fans were running in affected areas and stayed as such until the moisture reached acceptable levels. Furthermore, Morton urged lab users to report any leaks, however small, particularly those with no obvious source.

Affected hallway with the 2300 and 2400 rooms. Meher Randeria/The Polytechnic

Editor's Note: This article was updated on Tuesday October 20, 2026 at 6:30 pm to include Morton's response, as well as update the title and subdeck, and include photographs of the affected area.