The penguins have left the building.

The Detroit Zoo's Polk Penguin Conservation Center will remain penguin-free for the next nine months as the center closes to undergo waterproofing repairs.

A zoo spokesperson confirmed that the repairs started Monday right on schedule, and the penguins had been removed from the center. They'll live in the zoo's old penguinarium, away from visitor viewing, while their newer exhibit is repaired.

More: Detroit Zoo to close penguin center for 9 months due to 'faulty waterproofing'

The zoo reported several months ago that about 9 gallons of groundwater were seeping into the conservation center and being pumped out each day. The flaw was because of faulty waterproofing by the construction contractor that worked on the $32-million facility.

It's expected to reopen in mid-June of next year after repairs are complete.

“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 center's contractor, DeMaria Wharton Smith, will be making the repairs at its own expense after undergoing a mediation process and agreement with the zoo.

"DeMaria is proud of the quality work we have completed for the Detroit Zoological Society over the past two decades," the joint contractor said in a statement. "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."

Repairs to the conservation center, which houses 75 king, Rockhopper, Macaroni and Gentoo penguins, should be complete by June 2020.

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