Aquatic and Arenas Recreation Centre is being built on the south east edge of the city. Developers are currently preparing the land for construction. (Submitted photo/City of P.A.)

By Alison Sandstrom

Major project

Council approves conceptual design for new multimillion dollar rec complex

Mar 30, 2021 | 8:00 AM

Prince Albert city council has unanimously approved key design elements for the new multimillion dollar recreation complex being built on the southeast edge of the city.

The complex will feature two arenas and an aquatic centre under one roof. Council selected the “single-building” design from three of options presented by the project’s architects in January. They also made a number of modifications to the design recommended by the architects and city administration in January. These included enlarging the aquatic centre, upping the seating capacity in the arenas and adding 2,000 square feet of commercial space to the facility.

Coun. Dennis Ogrodnick told council he was happy to support the single-building design.

“That’s what I campaigned on, that’s what I said we were doing and then when we got our first public documents, it was totally different,” he said. “So I’m glad that we were able to get back to the original design and that’s because of the hard work of members [of council] in this room along with administration.”

“I think this is going to be a good facility moving the city forward for the next 40 or 50 years,” he said, noting the facility would likely outlive him and several of his council colleagues.

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Council modified this “single-building” design option presented in January. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

Features

The aquatic centre will be 51,500 square feet with an eight-lane pool, 200 spectator seats, a lazy river, two water slides, a whirlpool, and a combined leisure, splash and wave pool.

Councillor Blake Edwards noted it will allow Prince Albert to host major swim meets, something that can’t currently be accomplished at the 5-lane Frank J Dunn pool.

“We’ll be able to host all the meets that we really need,” he said, adding that provincial championships may even be an option.

The twin arenas will be 77,159 square feet, with two NHL size ice surfaces. One arena will have seating for 270 people, the other will have a seating capacity of 540. Each arena will have additional space for a further 90 people standing. The arenas will have player dressing rooms totalling 6,720 square feet and referee dressing rooms totalling 800 square feet.

The recreation complex will also feature a 14,700 square feet common area with a multipurpose room, seating, and 2,000 square feet of leasable space – enough to accommodate up to four businesses.

‘Back on course’

At the same meeting, council approved the creation of a steering committee for the project. The committee will be made up of four members of council, along with Gord Broda and Russ Clunie of Signature Developments Corporation – the company currently developing the rec complex site.

Speaking to paNOW after the meeting Mayor Greg Dionne said “it feels really good” to be moving ahead with the project.

Monday night’s decision comes just over two months after the initial conceptual design options were presented to council. During that time, council and city administration met privately to discuss facility components. User groups were also consulted.

“We’re going to get back on course,” Dionne said. “We got a little bit off-course, but I still believe we can still hit our time frame because now the steering committee’s job is to make sure that the i’s and t’s are crossed and that we pick up the pace and that council is well informed.”

Cost and next steps

The plan approved Monday night does not include an estimated cost.

Questioned about the cost by Coun. Terra Lennox-Zepp, the city’s director of Community Services Jody Boulet said the project’s architects would provide council with more information on the matter as part of the detailed design process.

“That is going to be a more accurate reflection of what the costs are going to be for the project,” he said.

The federal and provincial governments will contribute $44 million to the recreation complex. The remainder, initially estimated at $16 million, will be paid for by the city.

The City of Prince Albert has also launched a new page on their website to provide updates and information on the Aquatics and Arenas Recreation Complex.

The project’s architects will now complete the facility’s detailed design. After tendering for construction, the city hopes to break ground on the new recreation centre this fall.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom