Hydro deal with library kept under wraps
The deal to be made between Hydro‑Quebec and the BaNQ over building a huge electrical substation on the same block as the Grande Bibliothèque is being kept under wraps. This piece is worth reading for Lise Bissonnette’s sentiments about the project.
Tim 21:57 on 2024-05-14 Permalink
More public space being sold off for a one time cash grab?
Kate 22:51 on 2024-05-14 Permalink
They’re both entities of the Quebec government. I don’t know if the real issue is that they’d be taking money out of one pocket and putting it another, or if Bissonnette’s concern – that we’re going to have a massive eyesore in the Quartier Latin – is the real problem.
qatzelok 07:48 on 2024-05-15 Permalink
I do see her point, but where else in the area could a large structure like this be built?
In a corner of parc Lafontaine?
Could this large structure be built UNDER a new building, or does it have to be exposed to the air?
qatzelok 08:19 on 2024-05-15 Permalink
Luc Ferrandez unpacks the issues:
https://www.985fm.ca/audio/624756/hydro-quebec-derange-autour-de-la-bibliotheque-de-montreal
dhomas 08:55 on 2024-05-15 Permalink
Hydro-Quebec has a large building right across Ontario street on Berri:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/K12CHHbnBJ7tAHjaA
This existing site runs 125KV and the new station would be upgraded to 315KV. The existing site needs to remain active while the new one is built.
It would be immensely costly and time-consuming, but in theory they could build a temporary station on the plot next to the BAnQ, upgrade/replace the existing building, then decommission the temporary one.
There’s a huge discussion about this on AgoraMTL:
https://forum.agoramtl.com/t/reconstruction-poste-hydro-quebec-berri/6156
PatrickC 09:40 on 2024-05-15 Permalink
Do they really think the BAnQ won’t need any expansion space down the line? That was the reason for leaving the lot open. This seems short-sighted to me.
Not directly related, but why is the construction on de Maisonneuve in that area taking so long?
CE 09:45 on 2024-05-15 Permalink
I was hoping the library would eventually be expanded onto that site because it’s been crowded since day one.
@PatrickC, that worksite was in the news a couple weeks ago. It’s taking forever because the STM keeps finding new problems the more they work. I think they’re hoping to have it done sometime this year.
Alex L 10:00 on 2024-05-15 Permalink
There’s a page on the HQ website where we can comment on the project. For what it’s worth: https://conversation.hydroquebec.com/nouveau-poste-berri
DeWolf 16:29 on 2024-05-15 Permalink
How about — wait for it — a new wing of the BAnQ built on top of an underground substation?
It’s entirely possible to build these things underground. In 2016 Toronto built one underneath a historic roundhouse and park:
https://www.torontohydro.com/improving-reliability/copeland-station
Kate 17:00 on 2024-05-15 Permalink
Any chance that the vibes from a substation would mess with the library’s computer network or cause some kind of actual physical vibrations in the building above it?
James 09:20 on 2024-05-16 Permalink
Interference can certainly be attenuated with a combination of acoustic baffles, vibration dampers, and RF shielding (it is 315kV so pretty high voltage).
Another consideration would be explosion and fire mitigation with concrete seperators and blast deflectors around the transformers. It is standard practice to have a concrete barrier between transformers in a substation to mitigate against fire propagating to the adjacent transformer. As this would be an indoor installation, additional measures would be needed.
Definately would add cost but not impossible if the desire is there.