Jacques-Lemaire Parking lot closed for summer

Work replacing the freon refrigeration system of the Jacques-Lemaire arena with an ammonia-based device has just started and will continue through October. Costs for this replacement have reached $3.96 million and will be financed by the City of Montreal, except for $180,000 which will come from the Energy Fund.

During the entire renovation period, the arena’s parking lot will be closed. A small section will be reserved for the use of residents who play tennis and use the pool. Regular inspections will be carried out to ensure that this regulation is respected. Freon is a greenhouse gas which will be prohibited beginning 2020 and will almost be non-existent in businesses starting 2011.

The Jacques-Lemaire arena is part of the first group of public arenas to be renovated by Montreal. The work requires the construction of a separate freezing room which is possible for LaSalle because the borough has the necessary space for this expansion. Replacing a refrigeration system is not an easy task; it includes not only expanding the arena but also breaking down the concrete slab and replacing the pipes underneath. The work integrates an energy-efficiency method which includes several aspects - heating, ventilation, heat recovery and saving-generating measures.