FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Prince George, B.C. – The City of Prince George is preparing to move the Aquatic Centre renovation project into the next phase as construction tenders are open.
IDL Projects was awarded the contract for the pre-construction work last fall and are continuing as the prime contractor through the project. Since the closure of the Aquatic Centre on January 1, staff have removed all equipment from the building and drained the pools to make way for construction.
“Since pre-construction work started in October, crews have inspected the building from the inside out to better understand just how much work is required to ensure we can enjoy this space for years to come,” said civic facilities and events director, Andy Beesley.
“The exploratory phase of this work has been critical to ensuring the project stays on time and on budget, as we had the opportunity to adjust priorities before jumping into construction.”
The project budget is $37 million. Building upgrades and safety improvements 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
The City and IDL are now accepting bids from contractors to carry out specific construction tasks. While interior work will be done throughout the year, exterior work is expected to begin once the snow melts in the spring.
The Canfor Leisure Pool is the site for all aquatic activities during the two-year closure of the Aquatic Centre. More information about the project can be found on the City website.
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Media contact:
Kendall Robertson, senior communications advisor
Mobile: 778-349-5393
Email: media@princegeorge.ca