The Detroit Zoo's acclaimed Polk Penguin Conservation Center will close in September for at least nine months to allow for waterproofing repairs, according to a news release from the zoo.

The repairs are needed because of faulty waterproofing by the construction contractor of the $32-million facility, which debuted in April 2016.

Approximately 9 gallons of groundwater daily has been seeping into the building and is being pumped out each day, the zoo reported.

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“Unfortunately, the contractor failed to properly waterproof the foundation, was aware that groundwater water was seeping into the building throughout construction, didn’t fix the problem and failed to inform us,” said Ron Kagan, Detroit Zoological Society executive director and CEO.

The zoo won arbitration against DeMaria Wharton Smith, the contractor responsible for the problem. DeMaria is required to make the repairs at its own expense, the zoo reported.

The zoo’s reference to "DeMaria Wharton Smith" named a joint venture of two companies that built the penguin habitat: Detroit-based DeMaria Building Co., a family-owned firm ranked 12th largest among general contractors in Michigan by a trade publication; and Florida-based Wharton-Smith Inc., another major general contractor, known for building schools, government buildings, sports arenas and “themed attractions,” according to its website.

After completing the unusual project, both builders received numerous industry awards that they continue to celebrate on their websites. On Thursday afternoon, in response to Free Press inquiries, the companies issued a combined statement:

“DeMaria is proud of the quality work we have completed for the Detroit Zoological Society over the past two decades.

“The joint venture of DeMaria/Wharton-Smith has received numerous accolades from industry trade media on the work performed on the Polk Penguin Conservation Center. Regrettably, work completed by subcontractors on the Center resulted in leakage requiring repairs.

“The Detroit Zoological Society and the Joint Venture of DeMaria/Wharton-Smith agreed through mediation to make repairs to correct the issue of water infiltration. The repairs will be performed by the Joint Venture, mutually agreed upon with the Zoo.”

The Polk Penguin Conservation Center will remain open through the summer and close Sept. 9. It will reopen in mid-June of next year after repairs are complete.

The penguins will live in the zoo's former penguinarium while the new facility is being repaired. The penguins will not be available for visitor viewing during that time.

The 33,000-square-foot Polk Penguin Conservation Center is home to 75 king, rockhopper, macaroni and gentoo penguins.

Contact Elissa Robinson: erobinson@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @lissa218. Want to read morefrom Elissa? Click here — and then sign up for our Woodward 248 and Joint Venture newsletters.