The partial collapse of a downtown Ottawa parking garage in the winter of 2025 was caused by “excessive snow loading” on the parkade, according to an independent investigation. A section of the top level of the parking garage partially collapsed on Feb. 26, 2025, sending slabs of concrete, piles of snow and other debris down three levels to the ground. Approximately 50 vehicles were stranded inside the parking garage for weeks. GWLRA owns the parking structure on Slater Street. In a statement, GWLRA said an independent investigation determined the partial collapse was caused by “excessive snow loading, meaning the weight of accumulated cleared snow exceeded the structure’s design loads.” “The investigation concluded that the collapse was not related to the garage’s design, construction, maintenance or repairs.” GWLRA says the investigation by an independent firm with “global technical and engineering expertise,” reviewed “historical condition assessments, inspection reports, repair records and weather data, and conducted on-site examinations.” City of Ottawa officials previously said the snowbanks on the top floor of the parkade were “without a doubt” a contributing factor. The company plans to begin work to rebuild portions of the parking garage with upgrades to the structure before it reopens to vehicles. “GWLRA is moving forward with plans to rebuild portions of the 265 Laurier parking garage, with safety guiding every stage of the project,” GWLRA said in a statement. “The entire structure has undergone a comprehensive assessment by independent engineering firms, and GWLRA will obtain the necessary occupancy permits and approvals from the City of Ottawa before reopening. As part of construction, GWLRA is accelerating planned maintenance and upgrades to refresh the overall structure and extend its lifecycle.” In March, a spokesperson for the company said engineering work was ongoing before construction work began.
