Rusty screws create safety problem at Plaza of Nations

The glass canopy on Vancouver's Plaza of Nations on False Creek, one of the legacies of Expo 86, is in bad shape and needs urgent repairs, says a city building inspector.

A recent inspection found extensive corrosionof thescrews attaching the aluminum canopy frames to the steel space frame of the massive glass structure covering the outdoor plaza.

The inspector's order says that corrosionhas "deteriorated the structural capacity," creating a potentially unsafe condition.

The owner of the building has been ordered to fix the roof by Dec. 18.

Demolition not an option: inspector

The company that owns the property says it's working with the city to figure out whether to repair or remove the huge canopy.

But building inspector Ron Dyck says he understands that demolition isn't an option.

"My understanding was that the building has been declared a legacy building because it was part of Expo 86. So I'm led to believe they don't have the option to demolish it.

"However, if it's deteriorated to thepoint where they can't correct it,thenthat could be the second option. But at this point, I don't believe we've given them that option."

Not a long-term facility: city councillor

The Plaza of Nations has been used since Expo for a variety of public functions, including markets and concerts.

VancouverCoun. David Cadman says the building was intended to be just a temporary structure, so it shouldn't be a surprise that it's fallen into disrepair.

"I think the trouble with the World's Fair is things are built with the idea of a six-month fair. If the idea was that these were supposed to be legacies that would stay after the fair, then they should have been built with a permanence to make them that."

Cadman citesthe extensive maintenance that has been carried out on another legacy of Expo 86, the nearby Science World building the "silver ball" at the head of False Creek.