Part of the site on which Habitat was built was
reclaimed from the St. Lawrence River by landfill.
The main supports of the structure are reinforced
concrete piles that penetrate down to the bedrock level.
The foundation, basement and second floor plaza were
cast directly on site. Triangular cut-outs on the plaza
level allow natural light to penetrate the covered parking
and service areas located below.
Most of Habitat was completed in time for Expo '67.
Its first precast concrete box was hoisted into place on
April 7, 1966, and its last on February 28, 1967.
The entire structure of this first phase was erected
in ten months and twenty-one days. Each box-module
weighed 63.5 metric tons (70 tons). Habitat's north
cluster was only completed after Expo '67, in 1970.
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