Construction fences were erected on Friday, June 21 around the perimeter of the Ontario Science Centre, following a provincial announcement of the Centre’s immediate and indefinite closure. Photo by Elsa Lam
On Friday June 21 at 4 pm, the Ontario government announced that the Ontario Science Centre’s landmark 1969 building, by Japanese-Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama, would be closed immediately, for an indefinite period of time. It cited an engineering report by Rimkus to justify the closure, saying that the report found ?serious structural issues with the Ontario Science Centre building.? While these issues would not be expected to materialize until the winter, according to Infrastructure Ontario, the intervening months were needed ?for staff to safely vacate the building.? But a deep dive into the report reveals a different story. It suggests that the building?s key exhibition areas could continue to operate safely for years to come?even if the Ontario government chooses not to invest in any structural roof repairs this year.
The issue at stake is the presence of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) roof panels, sold under the brand name Siporex, which make up 57% of the Science Centre?s roofs. A popular material in Ontario from the mid-1950s to mid-1970s, the lightweight panels were made form an aerated blend of sand, Portland cement, and aluminum.
A palette of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) blocks. Photo by Leo Miregalitheo via W...