Calgary

Calgary's Old City Hall gets fencing after sandstone chunks fall

Temporary fencing has gone up at Calgary's old city hall because a piece of sandstone fell from the building.

'It's still fine. I work in it every day,' says Mayor Naheed Nenshi

Temporary fencing keeps sandstone from falling off Calgary's Old City Hall. (Scott Dipple/CBC)

Temporary fencing has gone up at Calgary's old city hall because a piece of sandstone fell from the building.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi says the chunk of porous sandstone that fell last week was about the size a softball.

“Which means that we just want to make sure that any more sandstone doesn't fall off of the building and if it does it doesn't hit somebody," he said. 

"So there are a number of safety fences and barriers put in place. Now the building's still safe. It's still fine. I work in it every day.”

Nenshi said the barriers will remain until the city can assess the building. He says sandstone is porous and can suck up water.