INNISFAIL – Town council wants to have a peek at what a multiplex for the community would look like.
But the big multi million-dollar vision is just a peek to be included in the three other pre-design options for the modernization project to upgrade the 34-year-old facility.
At council’s regular meeting on Nov. 9, administration presented an update on the project work by HCMA Architecture + Design, an architectural and design firm based in Vancouver and Victoria, B.C. Council approved the firm last July to create pre-design options for the aquatic centre’s modernization project. The cost for the pre-design work was $69,550 plus GST.
As part of the process, HCMA engaged with council with a project update outlining preliminary concepts of the three options prior to the information being released publicly as part of the stakeholder engagement process, said Todd Becker, the town’s chief administrative officer, in his presentation to council.
Becker added that through one of council’s “visioning sessions” it was decided council needed more information for the ambitious project.
“During the process and discussion amongst council and information present by HCMA it was felt that a fourth option was required,” said Becker. “The fourth option being in the form of a multiplex, recreation community centre inclusive of the aquatic centre.
“They want to know what that looks like compared to the other three options,” added the CAO.
Council was told the additional pre-design work for the fourth multiplex option would cost an additional $14,000. Council was told there was still $17,000 remaining from the funds approved last July but that needed to go towards additional public engagement and final design.
Council approved the project scope change along with the $14,000 cost, which will come out of the town’s Recreation Reserve fund.
"It is a concept right now that we are exploring and we may decide that it is too expensive," said Mayor Jim Romane
The early estimated costs for each of the four options is in the multi millions of dollars.
The least expensive option is a straight renovation with an estimated price tag between $4 and $6 million.
The second option is renovation plus expansion, and the early estimated price tag is between $6 and $8 million.
The third option is new build, and the price tag for that could be between $14 and $16 million.
And finally, there is now the fourth option, the multiplex. The cost of that is projected to be in the same range as a new build but possibly more depending on the wanted amenities.
When the pre-design work for the new fourth option is complete, council will be asked to choose its desired choice and the aquatic centre modernization project will then move into the schematic design stage, the final step prior to going into detailed design and construction.
It’s expected the public will be asked for more input as the project moves into the more advanced phases.
