Some electrical equipment in the nearly completed Queen’s Centre needs replacing after sustaining water damage in a flood earlier this month.

A torrential downpour flooded one area of the facility on Aug 11. The severe storm also caused flooding in several campus buildings, as well as homes and businesses across Kingston.

The extent of the problem in the Queen’s Centre was reported to the university by PCL, the company that’s building the complex, on Monday.

It was initially believed that damage was mainly limited to the varsity gym’s wood floor, which has to be replaced. But an inspection by electrical engineers has concluded that some electrical distribution panels, circuit breakers, and other related electrical equipment got wet and will also need to be replaced.

Water from the building’s roof was draining properly through a pipe to the storm sewer, but the volume of water during the storm was so great, that the built-up pressure in the pipe popped off an indoor cap, causing the water to flood into the building at the gym level.

This will likely affect the timing of the move-in and opening of the pool, the food court and the student life facilities, including the Common Ground and club rooms.

"This is very disappointing news and sets us back,” said Bill Bryck, Acting Vice-Principal (Operations and Finance). "The water damage is more substantial than first thought. This was a highly unusual storm. We will be working closely with the site managers to get the electrical equipment replaced as soon as possible."

All costs are covered by insurance.

The Queen’s Centre user groups will be working together on a new plan and timeline for the move-in and opening of the facility.

In the meantime, the Physical Education Centre (PEC) will stay open and all current programs and services moving to the Queen’s Centre will remain in their existing locations.

For more information about the Queen’s Centre and recent pictures, visit www.queensu.ca/queenscentre