Roof panels key to Science Centre shutdown

Technical report outlines years of deferred maintenance while critics want closure reversed

- ROB FERGUSON

The Ontario e Science Centre - must be f vacated by - Oct. 31, before rain and snow to create the risk e of a roof collapse. In the f meantime, staff - will pack up and move to a temporary science centre e * e or pop-up exhibitions.

The path to the shockingly sudden shutdown of the Ontario Science Centre after 55 years in operation began quietly last fall.

While controversy swirled over Premier Doug Ford’s plan to open a new science centre — and a spa — at Ontario Place in 2028, an engineering firm hired by the provincial agency Infrastructure Ontario sent experts to the iconic building as winter approached.

What they found prompted last week’s technical report detailing problems with poorly maintained and crumbling aerated concrete roof panels at risk of failing. Several pages of photos were included.

“We had received notification about the specific type of concrete and the specific type of panels being used around the world in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s,” Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma confirmed Monday.

“We had every intention on keeping the Science Centre open until the new science centre is built, but I cannot ignore the health and safety warning,” Surma added, pushing back at growing suspicions about the closure. “I have an obligation to protect the public.”

Despite the report, which points to water infiltration of the concrete panels causing it to deteriorate and reinforcing the bar inside it to rust, critics smell a rat over the closure and want it reversed.