Let's dive in...
Why is this project necessary?
The Aquatic Centre is nearing its 30th anniversary which means it needs significant infrastructure upgrades to ensure it's in great shape for years to come. The pool has entered the infrastructure replacement phase which is the normal life cycle for all civic facilities.
This work isn't due to a lack of maintenance -- the pool undergoes regular, annual maintenance and upgrades including replacing the movable floor, boiler replacement, structural repairs, and tile refurbishment in the steam room in 2018. This work simply comes down to the age of the building.
How much does this cost?
The total project cost is $37 million.
In April 2024, City Council approved funding for several improvements and upgrades to the Prince George Aquatic Centre. Phase one of the project had already secured funding of $14.88 million, which includes a $6.3 million grant from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure program-CleanBC Communities Fund. In July 2024, the City underwent the Alternate Approval Process (AAP) to get approval from the public to borrow $22.15 million for the remaining phases. The AAP passed and the funding was secured.
What does the work include?
- Replacement
of the entire building envelope (walls, doors, windows, roof, soffits,
louvers, etc.) to improve energy efficiency, exceeding BC Building Code
requirements, and repairing structural steel columns
- Installation
of metal panels on exterior walls, repairing entry columns, and exterior
lights and emergency system lighting
- Adding
a dehumidification system and new electrical transformer with associated
electrical system upgrade
- Replacement
of air handling units, adding energy recovery, and related cooling coils,
replacement of the HVAC system controls, and water heating system
improvements
- Replacement
of the acoustic baffles (the panels that hang from the ceiling and control
the noise inside the building), moveable pool bulkheads, overhead and
underwater light fixtures, and hydronic (heat) piping reconfiguration
- Installation
of tiles in the leisure pool and replacement of tiles in the lobby, change
rooms, and pool deck and interior repainting
- Increased access controls, accessibility improvements, interior signage, reconfigured reception desk, and replacement of the fire alarm system and sprinkler heads
What will the upgrades look like?
Note that the interior images do not include finishing details like paint or tile colours.
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