Opened in 1969, the Ontario Science Centre was designed by architects Raymond Moriyama and Ted Teshima. Photo by Elsa Lam
In late November last year, the province released its business case for relocating the Ontario Science Centre?and it?s full of holes.
It argues that the Ontario Science Centre will require $369M in maintenance, and $109M to upgrade its exhibitions and public spaces, for a total of $478M. In comparison, it says that the cost to build a new science centre and exhibitions at Ontario Place would be $384M.
But the Ontario auditor general?s report, released in December, finds that ?information provided to support the decision [to relocate the Science Centre] did not include a complete list of costs.? It adds that the Province failed to consult with key stakeholders, including large school boards in the GTA?students make up 25 percent of attendees?and had only limited discussions with the City of Toronto. How do these problems play out when you look at the numbers"
The cost of building a new science centre, which the business case pegs at $384M, doesn?t include allowances for soft costs, including consultant and project management fees, and the cost of change orders?which amount to an estimated additional $100M.
The building?s program relies on a full floor?s worth of underground functional space, but its price tag does not include the shell cost for that floor, nor any type of parking, basement, or foundations. The 2,000-space underground parkade on whi...