TORONTO — The Ontario Science Centre is abruptly closing at the end of the day Friday, after engineers found structural issues with the roof.
The news from provincial infrastructure officials comes amid plans from the government to move the science centre from its current home in east Toronto to a new location at Ontario Place on the city's waterfront, but that isn't slated to be open until 2028.
The engineering firm Rinkus Consulting Group said fully negating the risk would require replacing each of that type of roof panel at a cost of between $22 million and $40 million and that would take two or more years to complete with the facility closed. The building is still safe over the summer, the government said, with an"enhanced process for rainwater monitoring and roof facility management," it is being closed now so staff can spend the summer vacating the building.
A business case released last year by the government found that the current building is facing $369 million in deferred and critical maintenance needs over the next 20 years. A building condition report found"multiple critical deficiencies" in roof, wall, mechanical, electrical and elevator systems, interior finishes, site features, and fire and life safety equipment.
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