Design plans for the Gibsons ice-based community centre have now moved to the working drawings stage, after which they will go to tender for contract bids. The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) board approved the architects' design report at its April 20 community services meeting. The board had previously passed a motion allowing the board to make its decision at the committee meeting.
Project co-ordinator Brian Storrier told the committee that it appears the project design can be done within the budget.
Gibsons council brought up at a special council meeting April 19 a number of items for further discussion, which were brought forward to the SCRD committee. One item was the potential of a second storey on the community centre. Storrier presented TASK construction management's estimate that redesigning the building for a second storey would cost an additional $1.87 million. During discussion, the committee established the second storey to be out of the question at this late stage in the design process, and passed a motion to provide Gibsons council with TASK's cost estimate.
The CEI Architecture design report that the SCRD has approved includes an NHL-sized arena and one storey. The report does not include a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified design; however, it does state the design team will use any practicable sustainable design practices, systems and materials within the budget. Council and the board will discuss Gibsons' other design detail issues further along in the construction process.
The design allows for either bench or bucket seating in the arena. The SCRD will discuss with the Gibsons and Area Community Centre Society the potential for fundraising for bucket seats.
The design report states the SCRD and design team will continue to discuss with the wood industry the possibility of incorporating wood and timber into the design.
The official ground-breaking at the site in Brothers Park is tentatively set for the week of May 15. The target opening date is September, 2007.
