RDCK announces renovation schedule to NDCC pool
By Nelson Daily Staff
The Nelson and District Community Complex Aquatic Centre pool users have until the closing of business on (Saturday) September 19 to swim a few laps after the Regional District of Central Kootenay announced the schedule for renovations Friday.
“As of right now, our project team is completely focused on getting our staff ready for the aquatic centre closure and cooperating closely with our project management firm so we can begin the demolition stage of the project,” said Joe Chirico, General Manager of Community Services in a media release Friday.
Pool renovations begin (Thursday) October 1.
“We’re at the 43-year mark in the life of a very well-used facility,” Chirico added.
“Our construction managers at Unitech have now confirmed what our operations staff already knew: this pool is going to close itself unless we close and fix it now.”
The RDCK said in August the project design team lead by Bruce Carscadden Architects, along with Unitech, RDCK/NDCC representatives and potential trade contractors held a value engineering/cost savings meeting to discuss further cost savings and efficiencies to the existing design.
The RDCK Board has approved a $4.83 million budget for construction alone, with borrowing not to exceed $4.5 million for all renovations.
The total project budget including all planning, design, construction management and renovations is $5.32 million.
Renovations to the aquatic centre will include new mechanical systems, electrical panels and equipment, a relocated lifeguard station, new sauna, pool decks, tiles and new water proofing membranes.
Chirico said Items currently on the project “wish list” that can be added back into the project at strategic points in the schedule if budget allows include renovations to the administration area and addition of a 2.4m platform for diving.
The RDCK said Unitech will hire contractors to begin removing previously identified hazardous materials in October and start mechanical demolition to prepare for the first stages of construction.
Chirico said determining the condition of the facility below the level of the pool tiles will be the first important step and the construction schedule will be updated as soon as demolition is completed.
