Public safety a concern after an Ogilvy building wall collapses,
Additional traffic lanes closed off as demolition expected to continue
Workplace safety inspectors and city building code inspectors are investigating the partial collapse of the Ogilvy department store building in downtown Ottawa on the weekend.
The intricate demolition of the historical building, part of the Rideau Centre expansion, went askew Saturday night when a wall about six metres by six metres fell and sent a cloud of dust through the busy shopping area.
No one was injured and workers inside were evacuated, but public safety is the primary concern for Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury, who says the owners, Cadillac Fairview, will work closely with the project manager to prevent further accidents.
Building code inspectors reviewed the site and will now require an additional lane of traffic around the building to be closed off.
“We don’t want anyone to get injured at work, nor do we want to compromise public safety,” Fleury said on Sunday.
The western lane of Nicholas Street was already closed to vehicles as the demolition of the building moved ahead several weeks ago, but now a portion of Rideau Street will also be closed as the project is expected to continue.
Demolition has involved the careful removal of facade bricks for several floors of the heritage building, which was the home of Ogilvy’s department store for much of the 20th century. The business had several owners since first being sold in 1984 and was closed for good in 1992.
Once a new building is erected, the bricks, which were numbered as they were removed, will be put back in their exact order.
Fleury said he was told all the bricks had been removed before the collapse.
Councillors also expect to see a detailed proposal from engineers outlining what happened and how the project would continue.
“They have to propose a plan on what to do next,” Fleury said. “We expect the demolition to continue with the preservation of those bricks.”