The Montreal Insectarium is expected to reopen this spring, nearly a year behind initial plans.
Posted at 4:14 p.m. yesterday
The popular institution has been closed since March 2019 for major works. These were to last two years. They will ultimately have lasted for nearly three years.
“The work is 99.5% complete,” said Julie Jodoin, who heads Espace pour la vie, on Wednesday. “We hope to be able to receive the building in February so that we can start a 2-month, 2-and-a-half-month commissioning work. So that brings us to a public opening planned for the spring [2022]. »Space for Life is the organization that brings together the Insectarium, the Biosphere, the Botanical Garden, the Planetarium and the Biodome.
The delay is attributed to the impacts of the pandemic, which led to a temporary closure of construction sites, as well as to the shortage of construction materials. “I don’t think we’re the only ones to experience this issue,” said Julie Jodoin. She pointed out that the Insectarium was an extremely complex building, especially because of the environmental criteria that its greenhouses must meet.
The Biodome, which had been renovated just before the Insectarium, had also suffered delays in reopening.
Mme Jodoin answered questions from elected municipal officials within the framework of the City of Montreal’s Finance Commission.