Labor costs for the Montreal City Hall restoration have virtually doubled since work began in 2019, rising from $116 million to $211 million.
The final bill has continued to grow since the start of the project announced under the Coderre administration, when it was estimated at $30 million in 2015, as of May 2022.
“We created an amended budget for the completion of the work, an increase of $28.5 million,” said Emilie Thuillier, the city executive committee’s person in charge of the files, during a site visit Monday.
The project therefore costs $196.5 million, to which must be added the $14.5 million for projects related to the restoration work itself, such as: B. the creation of a museum space. The total sum therefore reaches 211 million US dollars.
Delays on certain projects have extended contract and site insurance deadlines, justifying this further increase for the work, which was initially due to be completed in spring 2022 but will end in late 2023.
“The city council of December 2023 will not be in the city hall, that’s for sure. We finish the work in 2023 and then get there in 2024,” she added.
“During the presentation of the city’s latest budget, the Plante administration lied to Montrealers by assuring them there would be no new cost overruns. It will only have taken a month for the truth to catch up with you as we learn through a presentation today that there will be new spending of around 30 million,” Aref Salem, leader of the official opposition, reacted to Montreal City Hall.
Working on “one of the largest” construction sites in Quebec
Assistant architect Menaud Lapointe, responsible for the renovation project, has been working on the site of the listed building since 2017.
“We see the time that is being invested as necessary,” he argued in the middle of the renovated rooms in the town hall. “There are hours of research to figure out what action to take.”
Renovation and expansion while retaining the original parts was the motto of this work in order to promote the preservation of the original windows, ceilings and lighting fixtures as much as possible.
The public will therefore be able to find a new “less compartmentalized” space, notably with a public café, a new multipurpose room and a family lounge.
Montrealers will soon be able to admire the building’s exterior as well, as scaffolding work has been underway since September 2022 and is expected to be completed in early March.