Edmonton science center closed for months after severe flood damage, staff laid off

The TELUS World of Science in Edmonton faces a prolonged closure, potentially until November, after severe flooding caused extensive damage. Water backed up through sewers and sinks, inundating the main floor within 30 minutes during a powerful storm.

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As we got here, we saw the sign, and now my little guy’s disappointed.

Restoration teams discovered the damage extended beyond initial assessments, affecting the lobby, exhibits, ceilings, walls, and even elevator shafts. The contamination is classified as Category 3, or black water, due to the presence of hazardous agents like raw sewage and bacteria, necessitating the removal and replacement of building materials to prevent mold.

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Very quickly, our main floor was completely covered in water. Anyone’s that visited the science centre will know we have a very big building, so to say that within 20-30 minutes the entire main floor was filled with water is pretty astounding.

As a result of the extensive cleanup and repairs, which are being handled by specialized remediation workers, the science center has laid off nearly 150 staff members. While the earliest estimated reopening is November, the center is exploring possibilities for a partial reopening sooner in the fall, though no firm date has been set.

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We should expect the science centre to be closed until November of this year. We are working with those teams to see if we can accelerate that process at all.