Roof and technical ring | A project costing at least 750 million at the Olympic Stadium

Replacing the Olympic Stadium’s roof and technical ring would cost at least $750 million, it has been learned The Presswhile the enclosure has just been closed and events canceled.

The Olympic Park swears that this unexpected decision is not linked to security issues, but rather to the carrying out of exploratory work in preparation for the titanic project, which notably provides for the replacement of the “keystone” of the concrete skeleton.

According to our information, the public body is currently finishing negotiations with the consortium selected to carry out the project, led by Pomerleau and Groupe Canam.

The parties’ current positions reportedly range from $750 million to nearly $1 billion.

The terms of the contract discussed would provide for sharing the risks of cost overruns between the Olympic Park and the consortium. This type of public contract is rare in Quebec, but is gaining popularity in Ontario.

“I have no, no comments,” said Michel Labrecque, big boss of the Olympic Park. I’ve been at the Olympic Park for ten years, eight years on this file. I have never commented on any amount or price. It’s really up to the government if it approves the business case. »

The consortium also did not want to comment on our information, nor did the minister responsible, Caroline Proulx.

Recently decided closure

Before finalizing its final proposal, the Pomerleau-Canam consortium, however, wants to know the current state of the structure, hence the exploratory work which is forcing the closure of the heart of the Stadium.

This was decided in the very last weeks, admitted Michel Labrecque, who assures that it was however “not at all” improvised. However, it will prevent several long-planned events from taking place.

“The exploratory work that will be carried out includes design, engineering and architectural analyses, surveys, corings, inspections, as well as preventive maintenance of the drainage system of the enclosure,” indicated the Olympic Park by press release.

Mr. Labrecque added that if the government refuses to move forward with the replacement of the roof and the technical ring, steps would be taken to reopen the playing area. In the event of a positive response, the Olympic Park intends to maintain the closure and begin work quickly.

“We are aware of the repercussions of this decision, but we have the responsibility to take the required actions with our partners, including CF Montreal, to minimize the consequences of the temporary inaccessibility of the Stadium,” Mr. Labrecque indicated in a press release. We work closely with the developers concerned to support them in the search for alternatives. »

Congresses and matches moved

CF Montreal’s opening match, scheduled for next April at the Olympic Stadium, will instead take place at the Saputo stadium, the club announced. Training sessions planned during the winter are also canceled.

“CF Montréal has been informed by the Olympic Park that it must begin work,” the team indicated on social networks. The playing area will therefore be unusable for the Club for the duration of the work. » At the end of November, the team was still selling tickets, indicating that the match would be held at the Stadium.

The organizers of the Electric Auto Show and other major events planned for next spring should also find a new location.

“The Minister of Tourism Caroline Proulx asked the Olympic Park to submit a business file for the replacement of the roof of the Olympic Stadium, her office indicated Tuesday afternoon. The work in progress is part of the necessary steps to develop this file. The steps taken by the Olympic Park to review its events calendar in no way presume the decision of the Quebec government in the matter of replacing the stadium roof. You will be informed of the outcome in due course. »

Technical ring

The saga of the roof of the Olympic Stadium took on a new dimension last summer, when the Olympic Park let it be known, without fanfare, that the project now included the replacement of the technical ring. This immense concrete tube, located at the top of the concrete structure, constitutes the keystone of the monument.

“It is imperative for the replacement of the roof to also change the technical ring. This is a request from the Régie du logement du Québec (RBQ), said Minister Caroline Proulx in a telephone interview. The RBQ standards have changed, the calculation of bearing loads has changed. »

“It’s an obligation that was made to us by the Régie du logement du Québec,” she added.

Problems with the Stadium roof have been in the news for more than 30 years.

The first canvas, retractable and installed in 1987, tore the year following its installation. It had to be removed 10 years later.

The second canvas was installed in 1998 and also tore the year after its installation, which led to a snowfall in the Stadium.

It is this roof that has covered the Stadium ever since, but more than 12,000 repairs have had to be carried out over the years.

Since 2002, the owner of the Stadium has been more or less actively seeking to build a third roof. In 2017, the government of Philippe Couillard announced a new roof for 2023, which represented a bill of 250 million.

In 2020, only the consortium formed by Pomerleau and Canam had shown interest in the design of the next stadium roof, while the Olympic Park hoped to attract at least three competing teams. At the time, the organization mentioned an inauguration of the roof in 2024. No new date has been mentioned since.