City council has approved $140,000 in additional funding to complete the design work on a $12.4 million reconstruction project for Brian Orser Arena – but the fate of the arena has yet to be decided.
At Monday’s council meeting, city politicians were tasked with deciding between completing the design work for the project, with the reconstruction work itself to be discussed during the 2024 budget, or decommissioning and demolishing the 50-year-old arena over the next several years.
With aging components, anticipated local growth, and no immediate plans for a new arena, city staff recommended council move the project along, as the upgrades could bring 20 to 25 years of additional life to the arena on Gill Street.
“The arena foundation and structure have an estimated service life of 75 to 100 years, while the refrigeration equipment and ice surface infrastructure have an estimated service life of 20 to 25 years,” said Roger Young, the city's general manager of environment and infrastructure services.
“We therefore plan to replace these equipment systems a number of times throughout the arena's useful life.”
The alternative option, which city staff recommend against, is to decommission and demolish the arena over the next several years. Staff warn that is not a good idea as the city is poised for growth, which will increase the need for the ice surface on Gill Street. At present, city staff note there is not a need for a fourth rink in the city.
The proposed work for the arena, currently estimated at $12.4 million, is as follows:
- New ice surface pad, sub-slab refrigeration piping, dasher board system, bleachers, players benches, penalty boxes and timekeeper’s box, new scoreboard and time clocks.
- New air-sourced refrigeration dry cooler and chiller, and corresponding refrigeration room components. Supporting infrastructure to implement electric ice resurfacer (Zamboni) to transition from propane fuel. Expanding the room and adding exterior snow melt pit.
- Multi-purpose room, dressing rooms, washrooms, offices, main entrance: enhanced layouts to meet accessibility requirements, new partition walls, upgrading of flooring, finishes, plumbing and electrical fixtures, windows and doors, insulation of flat roof areas and walls (non-rink). Insulation of entire cold area walls and roof.
- New high efficiency mechanical equipment and upgrades supporting multi-purpose room (efficient rooftop unit), change rooms (heat recovery unit) and refrigeration system (evaporative condenser).
- New and/or enhanced building automation system, PA system, sprinkler system, fire safety and security systems. Electrical system upgrade. New LED lighting throughout.
- Construction mobilization, administration, and management. Contingency, allowances and site testing. • Additional designs to reach construction phase and contract administration services.
- Demolition of all features to be replaced.
While a number of council members supported the proposed work, Coun. Ralph Cipolla winced at the idea of spending $12.4 million on an aging asset.
“I think, to spend $12 million to refurbish something that was built in 1973, in my business opinion, is not conducive to profiting,” Cipolla said. “Bracebridge built a 1,000 seat arena, multi-purpose room, lobby, public washrooms, site work, and everything else, for $16,291,384 … in 2016, and I can appreciate that (figure will) go up.”
As an alternative, Cipolla proposed forming a working group to look at the viability of building a new arena as part of a second phase at the Orillia Recreation Centre, and discussing the potential for grants from the provincial and federal government.
Cipolla suggested approving the funding for the design work, while also tasking a working group to look at the possibility of a new arena.
“I will not support a $12-million renovation … but I would support a new arena,” he said. “We could look into phase two of the (recreation centre) down on West Street.”
Other council members were open to the idea of a working group, but were still supportive of carrying out work on Brian Orser Arena.
“I don't have any issue if Ralph wants to convene a group to look at phase two down the line. Personally, I think what's unique about Brian Orser is it is in a residential neighbourhood,” said Coun. Jay Fallis. “I think it's good planning, but also just good investment to try to fix the facility if you have some life left in it.”
Coun. Tim Lauer agreed.
“I’m in favour of this reno, as well,” said then long-time Ward 4 councillor. “I think if somebody wants to look into another facility at the rec centre, or a brand new facility somewhere else, I think it would be a very short process of checking into the actual costs — today's costs — and I think the results of that research would indicate what a reasonable value this one is.”
Given the foundation still has 25-50 years of life left in it, Young also said the work will help the city get the most value out of the arena’s potential lifespan.
“The expected life (following the upgrades) would be another 25 years,” he said. “The structure itself, that foundation has (a) 75- to 100-year life, so running one more renovation does really optimize the other elements of the asset, right? If we walk away from that now there's sort of value we're losing.”
The city has also applied for grant funding through Infrastructure Canada’s Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program — which has not yet been approved — that could bring in up to $6 million for the project.
Although no decision has been made yet, Young said discussions are going well.
“We're hearing the right questions back from the reviewing agency that indicate potential success here,” he said. “It's been a good conversation to date.”
Council ultimately approved the funding for the design work, as well as forming the working group — which will be composed of Mayor Don McIsaac, and councillors Jeff Czetwerzuk, Ralph Cipolla, and Luke Leatherdale — to look into the feasibility of a new arena, as well as grant opportunities, along with city staff.
The working group will report back to council at its Nov. 20 meeting.
Coun. David Campbell said, come budget time, he would like to have as much information as possible about the best path forward.
“If, by some miracle, we have all the answers come budget time, we'll have the exact number on Brian Orser, if we had the answer to whether we're getting a grant or not, that changes things tremendously,” he said.
“If we had even a close, rough idea of what a phase two (at the recreation centre) would cost at budget time, then we could keep that in mind when we're making this decision.
“If all those things could come together, when we're sitting at the budget table, I will be a happy guy and it will be a much easier decision.”
As part of council's decision, Moon Matz Limited will be funded with up to $140,000 in additional funding to complete the design work for Brian Orser Arena. Council originally approved $190,000 for the design work during the 2020 budget deliberations.
