ROYAL OAK, Mich. (WXYZ) — The Detroit Zoo says the Polk Penguin Conservation Center will close for at least 9 months beginning September 9 to make repairs that are necessary because of faulty waterproofing.
The closure will last through mid-June 2020.
A press release says a construction contractor didn't properly waterproof the building, which opened in April 2016. The faulty waterproofing has made it necessary to pump 9 gallons of groundwater from the building a day.
“Unfortunately, the contractor failed to properly waterproof the foundation, was aware that groundwater water was seeping into the building throughout construction, didn’t fix the problem and failed to inform us,” said Ron Kagan, DZS executive director and CEO, in press release. “What we initially observed as a leaky basement was more serious. We only learned of the faulty waterproofing through an independent investigation by a team of engineers and through the legal process.”
The Zoological society settled a lawsuit through arbitration against general contractor DeMaria/Wharton-Smith related to the faulty waterproofing. The company is now required to make repairs at their expense.
A spokesperson for DeMaria/Wharton-Smith issued the following statement on the situation:
DeMaria is proud of the quality work we have completed for the Detroit Zoological Society over the past two decades.
The joint venture of DeMaria/Wharton Smith has received numerous accolades from industry trade media on the work performed on the Polk Penguin Conservation Center. Regrettably, work completed by subcontractors on the Center resulted in leakage requiring repairs.
The Detroit Zoological Society and the Joint Venture of DeMaria/Wharton Smith agreed through mediation to make repairs to correct the issue of water infiltration. The repairs will be performed by the Joint Venture, mutually agreed upon with the Zoo.
The penguins will be returned to their former home at the Penguinarium while the work is being completed. However, it will not be open to the public.
