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St. Paul police and fire officials on Thursday cordoned off the area around Seventh and St. Peter streets in downtown St. Paul — the Ecolab Corporate Center — after a large piece of metal cladding came loose from the roof of the company headquarters, some 20 stories above ground.

Firefighters and inspectors from the Department of Safety and Inspections on Thursday afternoon responded to 1 Ecolab Place, where a piece of sheet-metal flashing measuring roughly 4 feet by 8 feet was discovered to be loose about 200 feet off the ground. A contractor had attempted repairs Wednesday, but rain, snow and winds complicated access, according to city officials.

Emergency crews secured the sheet metal Thursday and closed the section of Seventh Street below it, with the expectation more permanent repairs will take place Saturday.

Firefighters and inspectors from DSI responded to Ecolab Place where a large piece of sheet metal was discovered to be loose about 200’ above. Crews secured the sheet metal and 7th Street has been closed below. Repairs will happen Saturday. Wind most likely caused the damage. pic.twitter.com/PRda8SOvb8

— Saint Paul Fire Dept (@StPaulFireDept) April 8, 2022

“It was a significant danger to the area below and we are not out of the woods,” said Suzanne Donovan, a DSI spokeswoman.

The damage was most likely caused by this week’s high winds, according to the Fire Department.

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