Council this week agreed to award a $354,844 contract for detailed design and construction administration services for the Ladner Leisure Centre natatorium repairs.
Staff earlier this year discovered an issue at the facility where an outside section of swimming pool chamber roof (natatorium), specifically the soffit, had detached from the building.
A report to council notes staff initiated an immediate assessment of the damage and potential causes for the failure. The city hired a roofing contractor to remove the debris and temporarily secure the building envelope.
Facility operations were not impacted and the facility has remained open while staff continued their investigations into what additional repairs are required.
As part of the 2022 capital budget, council approved funding for design work associated with the anticipated repairs, while the repair work is slated in 2023.
The architectural firm awarded the detailed design and construction administration contract had also been selected by the city for the schematic design services, which cost almost $60,000.
“The detailed investigations have confirmed that the extent of required rehabilitation work involves replacement of: windows (glazing) throughout the pool area, stucco covered exterior walls systems, structural steel roofing components, the pool area metal roof, and the pool skylight. It has been identified that portions of the required rehabilitation work, such as the pool area metal roof, may not be immediately necessary as part of the envelope repairs; however, due to their current condition and structural connection with the failure zones, the work must be completed as part of the overall rehabilitation work,” the report explains.
It is anticipated that the work required will be extensive and will likely require an extended closure of the facility once a plan is developed.
The report adds it is anticipated construction would commence in February 2023 and be completed in 12 months.
The anticipated construction cost has not been revealed yet.
The ice arena portion of the Ladner Leisure Centre was built in 1976. It was expanded to include the pool in 1992 and the fitness centre in 2004.
