Media Statement - LeClair Construction Management

Update regarding the Rosseau Lake College Recreation Centre investigation

With the onsite investigation now complete, LeClair Construction Management wants to clarify important facts about the unfortunate incident that occurred at the Rosseau Lake College Recreation Centre on March 7. As a proud alumnus and as the owner of the company entrusted to build this facility, I want you to understand what happened so that an event like this is not repeated. Over the previous 44 years, this community and this school have contributed greatly to shaping who I am, and I have tremendous regard for this legacy.

What we did when the problem was identified

LeClair Construction Management dutifully managed the construction of the recreation centre in accordance with plans drafted by the engineering firm that designed the structure. When we were notified about cracking in the roof trusses, LeClair Construction Management took the following steps:

1. We treated the situation as serious and unprecedented.
   On February 21, we were notified of cracking in the roof trusses. In more than three decades of completing complex builds, we had never been involved in a build with a concern of this nature. We immediately contacted the engineering firm that designed the mass timber structure and advised Rosseau Lake College that the building was at risk, even though the engineering firm initially stated it was safe to occupy.
2. We acted to protect people first.
   On February 26, after receiving indications that the conditions were worsening, we insisted that the building be cleared of occupants and that the area be treated with caution while the situation was assessed.
3. We brought in an independent engineering firm.
   We engaged Tacoma Engineers to conduct a third‑party technical review of the mass timber structural design so that the school would have an independent assessment of the building’s safety. Tacoma Engineers also advised that the building be restricted to occupants.  
4. We designed a way to save the structure.
   We hired a specialized company whose sole expertise is designing temporary support systems—called a “shoring system”—that holds up buildings when there’s a risk of structural failure. Working with them, we developed a shoring system that could have supported the Recreation Centre so repairs could be made safely. That system was fully designed and ready to install by March 2, and we presented this solution to the college.

What happened

Senior leadership at Rosseau Lake College decided to follow the original engineering firm’s judgment and did not proceed with the shoring installation. Shortly after, the building collapsed.

Tacoma Engineers has since concluded that the mass timber structure was not designed to adequately resist the loads placed upon it, and that the shoring system we proposed in their opinion would have provided a viable option to preserve the structure. After a long career of delivering projects, all without incident, watching this building be demolished at my alma mater has been extremely difficult.

This outcome was preventable. We remain hopeful that the facts established through this investigation will make clear what happened so that the lessons of this loss are not forgotten. Rosseau Lake College helped shaped who I am, and LeClair Construction Management remains ready to support the school and our resilient community in rebuilding when the time comes.

Darren LeClair
Owner, LeClair Construction Management