The official opening date of the new Orillia Recreation Centre remains a bit of a mystery.
During a July tour of the facility, Orillia Mayor Steve Clarke said he was hoping for a late November opening.
While nobody is committing to a specific date, in an update from the project team to city councillors this week, staff say work is continuing and, according to some of the timelines included in their report, the facility may not quite be ready by late November.
Specifically, staff noted leak tests of the pools began this week. That is a two-month process.
During that process, the pools are filled very slowly and closely monitored. If that process is successful, the pools are them emptied so that they can be tiled. Once tiling is complete, the pools will re-filled again.
According to the report, multiple milestones have been checked off in recent weeks.
In addition, there is still money in the contingency component of the $55.5 million project budget.
To date, 224 change orders have been approved for various site works as the result of sub-surface soil conditions and building design co-ordination modifications, notes the report.
The current value of all change orders is $2,901,170 of the $3,485,000 total available for contingency.
So, what has been accomplished in recent weeks?
The installation of the interior stud wall, rock board and stucco continues around the perimeter of the pool area and is about 95 per cent complete
Wall tile in the pool change rooms and the lower gymnasium and fitness area changerooms is about 90 per cent complete
Pre-formed concrete benches are installed on the east wall of the pool viewing area.
Work continues with framing the ceiling and bulkheads for the upper level running track.
Installation of piping for the therapy, leisure and lap pool continues.
Plumbing and heating installations continue on all levels.
Installation of the gas membrane and final top layer of concrete on the gymnasium floor has started.
The application of the final caulking to seal all the exterior windows has begun.
The final roof membrane ‘cap sheet’ is complete.
The installation of all exterior wood soffit has begun.
The installation of the large video board in the pool area has begun.
The installation of glass walls around the gymnasium entry level and the fitness area entry level has started.
The installation of interior doors continues.
When it comes to site work, tree planting at the front of the building and along the main entry boulevard has begun.
The installation of the main entrance electronic sign is about to commence.
Preparations are being made for the construction of the two retaining walls on the west side of the building.
Decorative paving stones are being installed to complement the concrete courtyard at the rear of the building.
Trees are being planted in the back courtyard.
The north parking lot is being prepared for paving.
In the memo to council, staff say within the next two months, the following is expected to be completed:
- Pool basin leak tests will be completed for all three pools;
- Telephone and data cable installation will be complete;
- The video display/scoreboards will be installed in the gym and the pool area;
- Wall and floor tiling will be complete in all change rooms;
- Wall and floor tiling will have commenced around the pool;
- Final site grading will be complete;
- All stairways will be complete;
- All lighting and electrical circuitry will be installed;
- All drywall and painting of the interior walls will be complete;
- Installation of the wood floor in the gym will have started;
- The entrance sign and reader board sign will be installed at the West Street South entrance;
- The final course of asphalt will be installed in the main parking lot; and
- Final landscaping and seeding will have commenced.
