WASHINGTON — A section of ceiling collapsed inside the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' Grand Foyer Friday evening following a severe storm that swept through the nation's capital, prompting the venue's leadership to renew its push for a controversial two-year renovation closure.

The collapse occurred around 5 p.m. Friday, with Kennedy Center staff first noticing pieces of the ceiling falling into the Grand Foyer as the storm passed through the region. Photographs from the scene showed a visible hole in the ceiling and debris scattered across the floor of the venue's main hall. No injuries were reported in connection with the incident.

The overnight storm that preceded the collapse brought widespread damage to Washington, D.C., toppling trees and cutting power to tens of thousands of residents across the city as heavy rainfall continued into a second day.

Following the collapse, Kennedy Center staff received an email announcing that the Main Building would be closed for the remainder of Friday night. The Grand Foyer itself is expected to remain closed through the weekend while repairs are made, though the rest of the building is expected to reopen for normal operating hours on Saturday.

Kennedy Center Vice President of Public Relations Roma Daravi framed the incident as further justification for the venue's long-planned renovation, attributing the structural failure to years of insufficient maintenance under prior leadership.

"Another example of the urgent need to close for........

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