Peer review confirms science centre disrepair: province
CBC
The provincial government says a new peer review of the engineering reports it commissioned confirms the structural issues at the Ontario Science Centre — which it says justifies the choice to shutter the building.
But engineers CBC Toronto spoke to this month said the initial report actually indicates the science centre could be worked on and its lifespan extended.
The original engineering reports nor the peer review recommend a permanent closure of the science centre.
"There is a great need of repair in order to fix the existing science centre it would cost half a billion dollars," said Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma at the news conference Thursday.
It's why the government has decided to close the building and build a new facility, she said.
The original engineering reports were conducted by Rimkus Consulting Group and focused on the use of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in the science centre, which is a lightweight substance popular with building construction in the 1960s, when the structure was built.
RAAC is a lightweight material, but is also weaker and has a shorter lifespan than normal concrete, engineers told CBC Toronto earlier this month.
The peer review, which Ontario says is standard practice in engineering, was conducted by engineering firm VanBoxmeer & Stranges Ltd., said the province Thursday.
That review found the original engineering Rimkus reports on the science centre, "...was a concise and comprehensive narrative that adequately addresses the risks associated with RAAC element in existing building," the VanBoxmeer review, which was released by the province Thursday, states.
"The peer review confirms the original engineering report published on June 21, 2024, was conducted in accordance with standard engineering practices," the province said in a news release Thursday.
The VanBoxmeer review says it agrees with Rimkus that "immediate remediation" is needed on critical risk and high risk roof panels before October 31 to keep the building safe.
On Thursday, John Carmichael, the board chair of the science centre and Paul Kortenaar, the CEO, released a joint statement that said confirms their agreement with the province's choices.
The centre's Board of Trustees voted to close the building after a recommendation to do so from the Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure, they said.
"We look forward to announcing the site of our interim location as soon as possible," they said. "Our future is bright, and we are excited for what lies ahead," they said.
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