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Richmond sued by contractor over delays in Minoru centre construction

The company that built the Minoru Centre for Active Living is claiming the City of Richmond was at fault for an almost two-year delay in construction and is suing the city for $7.04 million. Stuart Olson launched a civil suit against the city on Feb.
minoru centre

The company that built the Minoru Centre for Active Living is claiming the City of Richmond was at fault for an almost two-year delay in construction and is suing the city for $7.04 million.

Stuart Olson launched a civil suit against the city on Feb. 10, claiming it caused delays by providing late, “error-filled and incomplete” designs, as well as making changes beyond what was reasonable.

Furthermore, it claims the city and its consultants didn’t adequately coordinate the design and managed communications poorly.

The design “delays, deficiencies, errors, omissions and changes” resulted in delays to procurement and the progress of the work; furthermore, this was done without regard for Stuart Olson’s project work plan and schedule, the suit claims.

The claim continues that the project design “greatly changed” which resulted in “cumulative impacts and cascading delays.”

The seniors centre at the Minoru Centre for Active Living opened last March after several delays, but the aquatic centre portion remained closed because of a crack in one of the lap pools.

Stuart Olson claims the failure of the lap pool was also a result of the city’s negligence.

The company explains in the lawsuit that the delays have resulted in numerous lawsuits against it by subcontractors, for which it claims the city is liable.

Stuart Olson is seeking compensation for, among other things, its “time and effort,” the increased scope of the work, the extended duration of the project and lost productivity. Specifically, the company is demanding $2 million in holdback funds, $438,000 in unpaid changes and $4.58 million for breach of contract and negligence.

The project, which the city claims was on budget, cost taxpayers $80 million.

The city has not responded to the suit and none of the claims have been proven in court. The city will not comment on the matter as it is before the courts, said city spokesperson Clay Adams.