Council is moving forward with the next steps in designing a new Community and Recreation Centre.
Staff has been directed to develop and issue a Progressive Design Build Request for Proposals to be issued early in the first quarter of 2024.
“That model is one where you are actually going out with one Request For Proposal for the design and contractor at the same time,” says Andrea Findley, Managing Director with Colliers Project Leaders. “You’re going out to refine the design with them and you’re able to look at the construction methodologies, you’re able to refine it and come up with a fixed price together. It gives you the highest chance to be able to deliver a project to a schedule that is agreed upon and is constructible.”
Findley also says all of the participating companies that took part in the market sounding report said the current budget of $52 million was likely insufficient.
It’s estimated meeting the Net Zero energy requirements could bring the project total to $60 million, but there’s no guarantee.
Some suggestions around cost optimization in the report include a side-by-side design, potentially moving the location closer to Lakeshore Drive, pre-engineered structures and more.
Chair of Infrastructure and Operations Lana Mitchell says it’s time to make decisions about the project.
“I think we’ve reached a point where we need to draw a line in the sand and we need to go forward and we’re either building an arena or not, to put it bluntly,” she says.
The motion was amended to include the original designs around the facility being barrier-free.
Staff will also prepare budget target options for council early in the new year.
Councillor Jamie Lowery was the only dissenting vote.
