There is an old saying that what goes up must come down.  Sometimes architects and contractors refer to the tendency of structures to return to their natural state.  If you think about the remains or ruins of old buildings and structures, you get the point.  Portions of the original construction may survive for centuries, but with time, remnants of the structure eventually tumble to the ground.  While this “return to a natural state” makes sense where older structures are concerned, we don’t expect the schools where our children spend their days to return to their natural state.  Sadly, this is exactly what happened when suspended ductwork fell from the ceiling of Shaler Elementary’s crowded cafeteria outside suburban Pittsburgh.  Miraculously, there were no deaths due to this incident, but a number of students sustained serious injuries. Read the rest of this entry »