The restoration of Montreal City Hall should be completed by the end of 2023, but the costs are still rising, and the bill will reach $ 211 million, said the administration of Valérie Plante Monday.
Started in 2019, the restoration work on the town hall proved to be complex. While the initial project announced by ex-mayor Denis Coderre in 2015 only aimed to bring the building up to standard at a cost of 22.5 million, the City realized in 2017 that it would have to replace the electromechanical equipment and the heating network. The delays caused by the pandemic, rising construction costs and unforeseen events discovered during the work gradually increased the bill.
During a visit to the site on Monday, the head of infrastructure, buildings and asset maintenance on the executive committee, Émilie Thuillier, indicated that an additional sum of 28.5 million would be necessary to finalize the work, which brings the city hall’s heritage restoration bill to 196.5 million. Added to this is an amount of 14.5 million for information technology equipment and furniture, for a total of 211 million.
“The main reason is that we had delays which extended certain deadlines. We must extend Pomerleau’s contracts, construction insurance and professional contracts until the end of 2023, ”she explained.
Mme Thuillier believes that the costs are worth it given the heritage value of the building and the facilities that will better accommodate residents. “We are changing all the electromechanical equipment, but above all it is an exemplary heritage restoration project. It is extraordinary as a building. We want to preserve it for future generations,” she said.
The work should be completed by the end of 2023. Employees and elected officials, who have occupied the Lucien-Saulnier building since 2019, will then be able to return to City Hall. “The December 2023 city council will not be at city hall. That’s for sure, ”warned Émilie Thuillier, however.
Meticulous work
Built between 1872 and 1878, Montreal City Hall had been ravaged by fire in March 1922. It had subsequently been rebuilt, and a floor had been added to it.
According to Menaud Lapointe, associate architect responsible for the restoration project, this is one of the largest heritage restoration projects in Quebec. In particular, it was necessary to renovate the exterior facades, examine all the stones and restore them one by one.
Inside, despite the scaffolding and materials piled up here and there, we can already see the changes made to the layout of the premises. On the ground floor, the spaces have been completely redesigned. The imposing marble counter behind which municipal employees greeted the public has been dismantled. The restored marble pieces will be incorporated into new, more user-friendly layouts. The new open spaces will also house a multifunctional room and a café.
The work also uncovered an exterior wall dating from before the 1933 expansion. The five bay windows it contains will host artists’ projects as part of the 1% public art policy.
In the municipal council chamber, the stained-glass windows illustrating scenes from Montreal life have been temporarily removed while they are being restored. Just like the chairs of elected officials, which will be renovated and should be more comfortable for those who spend long hours there during assemblies. The crucifix that has adorned one of the walls of the enclosure since 1937 has been taken down and will not return, as the City announced in 2019.
In order to increase the energy efficiency of the building, the gas heating network was replaced by an electric system, and the 169 wooden windows were restored to make them more airtight. “In terms of energy efficiency, City Hall will be compared to a modern building,” assured Menaud Lapointe.
The ceiling mouldings, which in some rooms were concealed behind several layers of gypsum, will be highlighted. However, it was necessary to remove the asbestos present throughout the building, which required special precautions.
The increase in the cost of the work startled the leader of the opposition, Aref Salem. “During the presentation of the City’s latest budget, the Plante administration lied to Montrealers by assuring them that there would be no new cost overruns. It only took a month for the truth to catch up with her, when we learned today via a presentation that there will be new expenses of around 30 million, ”he thundered. “This project is a blatant example of mismanagement by the administration, which is spending taxpayers’ money as if there was no tomorrow. »