Let's dive in...
Project progress
Once the Aquatic Centre closed for construction on January 1, 2026, a significant effort was required to empty the building of all furniture, aquatics equipment, and maintenance materials. The pool water was also super-chlorinated and allowed to run through the pipes, pumps, and surge tanks before draining, which took approximately three weeks. This entire clean out, packing, and relocation phase took about three months to complete.
To date, the following construction and demolition activities have taken place:
- Interior finishes demolition including reception area fixtures, tile and carpet, washroom and changeroom fixtures, etc.
- Mechanical and electrical equipment demolition, removal, and disconnection
- Construction site and safety measures including safety barricades, storage setup, and shoring design work
The project currently remains on schedule and under budget due to the City’s methodical approach during the value-engineering phase. Read more in the April 23, 2026 project update.
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Project background
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.
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.
- 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
