![Iconic attraction closes for good](https://cdn.magzter.com/1704825715/1719038167/articles/dgblIPa2Y1719052415936/ICONIC-ATTRACTION-CLOSES-FOR-GOOD.jpg)
Workers erect fencing around the Ontario Science Centre Friday after the province announced it was closing for safety reasons.
The Ontario Science Centre has been abruptly closed for good after a new engineering report found the roof is in danger of collapsing.
In a stunning move Friday afternoon — first reported by the Star — the Ministry of Infrastructure announced the iconic 1969 Don Mills building designed by the late Raymond Moriyama will no longer be structurally sound within a few months.
That meant Friday was the last day of operations for the once-popular tourist attraction that successive Progressive Conservative and Liberal governments have allowed to deteriorate for years.
“The actions taken today will protect the health and safety of visitors and staff at the Ontario Science Centre while supporting its eventual reopening in a new, state-of-theart facility,” said Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma.
About 250 workers — including 200 members of the Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union — will be affected but they are not immediately losing their jobs.
Closure of the facility comes against the backdrop of Premier Doug Ford’s controversial decision to move the science museum to Ontario Place as part of the redevelopment of the lakeside park, which includes a privately owned Therme water spa.
Political opponents charged Ford wanted the 55-year-old building to become unusable so he could more easily relocate the science centre to the waterfront by 2028.
But the 52-page Rimkus Consulting Group engineering report found the air-filled concrete used in its construction — similar to that in more than 100 now-closed British schools built in the same era — is nearing the end of its life.
While the report said the building isn’t unsafe right now, the risk of rain or snow buildup could make it so sooner rather than later because it would corrode the reinforcing steel underneath.
This story is from the June 22, 2024 edition of Toronto Star.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 22, 2024 edition of Toronto Star.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![A comfortingly disquieting presence](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/nH-Yc-Po21719913154431/A-COMFORTINGLY-DISQUIETING-PRESENCE.jpg)
A comfortingly disquieting presence
Whatever the medium, comedian mastered the art of always being right for the job
![A half-baked publicity stunt](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/9XkkGSJkS1719912907080/A-HALFBAKED-PUBLICITY-STUNT.jpg)
A half-baked publicity stunt
‘The Last Timbit’ is just a 75-minute commercial
![Canada's telecom sector betting on AI](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/WCFjmEQeR1719912817561/CANADAS-TELECOM-SECTOR-BETTING-ON-AI.jpg)
Canada's telecom sector betting on AI
Customers increasingly likely to encounter technology
![City lacks funding to alleviate shortage](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/RPX0K02P51719912648561/CITY-LACKS-FUNDING-TO-ALLEVIATE-SHORTAGE.jpg)
City lacks funding to alleviate shortage
Chow says Toronto has capacity to operate more beds, but needs support from province following closure of Parkdale location
![The Costa doing business](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/bs7FUCKHE1719912463507/THE-COSTA-DOING-BUSINESS.jpg)
The Costa doing business
Portugal keeper thwarts three straight to beat Slovenia on penalties
![Predators make the biggest splash](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/mGxlDnoam1719912313691/PREDATORS-MAKE-THE-BIGGEST-SPLASH.jpg)
Predators make the biggest splash
Nashville commits more than 100M in new salaries, adding Stamkos, Marchessault and Skjei
![Spending on defending](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/onvpQhOiA1719912212724/SPENDING-ON-DEFENDING.jpg)
Spending on defending
Tanev headlines bolstered blue line, while Stolarz joins Woll in crease
![Family-sized dwellings in short supply](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/f9H_SAf4q1719912056980/FAMILYSIZED-DWELLINGS-IN-SHORT-SUPPLY.jpg)
Family-sized dwellings in short supply
The cognitive dissonance could scarcely be more jarring.
![Hurricane Beryl wreaks havoc](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/tD3s9MsWJ1719911906629/HURRICANE-BERYL-WREAKS-HAVOC.jpg)
Hurricane Beryl wreaks havoc
Category 4 storm hits southeast Caribbean, warning in effect for Jamaica
![Israel orders Palestinians to evacuate Khan Younis](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/iLBSUn0Ew1719911780637/ISRAEL-ORDERS-PALESTINIANS-TO-EVACUATE-KHAN-YOUNIS.jpg)
Israel orders Palestinians to evacuate Khan Younis
The Israeli army ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians from much of Khan Younis on Monday, a sign that troops are likely to launch a new ground assault into the Gaza Strip’s second-largest city.