Olympic Stadium awards $254K emergency waterproofing contract after experiments left roof exposed

Olympic Park has awarded an emergency contract worth $254,000 to Aquabloc to waterproof one of the 35 concrete structures that make up the Olympic Stadium's exterior. The work is meant to stop water infiltration and freeze-thaw damage before winter sets in.

The urgency comes from a trial. Olympic Park officials said they were testing a longer-lasting waterproofing solution on a 372-square-metre section, aimed at reducing regular maintenance. Testing required removing the existing membrane in that area, and analyzing alternatives took longer than expected, leaving the concrete unprotected as winter approached.

Olympic Park says the emergency repairs are separate from the stadium's roof replacement and do not affect that schedule. The roof replacement is costed at $870 million and expected to be completed in 2028.

Avi Friedman, an architecture professor at McGill University, called it a classic example of poor project management and said waiting until the last minute adds expense and rush work. He said the repair work would have to be repeated.

Montreal residents were divided. Normand Cayer said the spending was a lot of money for a building that houses no one while many people live on the streets. Jérémie Gelb said the stadium has to be lived with and needs planning from the start. Sylvain Larivière said it is difficult to turn back once commitments are made.