A proposed schematic design for the Sam Ketcham pool upgrade will be ready for the public to view on Aug. 5, promised Darron Campbell, manager of community services for the Cariboo Regional District.
“The pool working committee will meet with the design team on Aug. 4 to view the plan, and then we will have an open house the next day,” Campbell said during the Central Cariboo City of Williams Lake Joint Committee meeting Wednesday.
At the meeting members of the design team, comprised of Victoria-based Vic Davies Architect Ltd. and Tango Managment Group, said the community can expect the $11.3-million upgrade to be delivered on time and on budget.
“We have designed beautiful cost effective buildings that meet the community’s needs,” said Kevin Klippenstein with Vic Davies Architect Ltd. “We will work closely with the community.”
City councillor Scott Nelson told the team the city has achieved a zero per cent tax increase because the people wanted the pool and stressed the importance of keeping the project to budget.
“The firehall went $750,000 over budget and people lost seats on council during the next election because of it,” Nelson said.
Responding project manager Lewis Reilly of Tango Management Group said between 2000 and 2008 construction costs went through the roof and it was impossible to budget projects.
“Costs are now stable and we are confident we can budget construction costs,” Reilly said.
Campbell told committee members the project will go to a construction management procurement route and a request for proposals will be going out in about two weeks.
“It doesn’t change the cost of the project, it’s just a different way to build it,” he said.
A total of six responses to the Design Consultant Request for Proposals were received and the SKP project working group conducted on-site tours and interviews with four short-listed candidates. Vic Davies Architecture was the most experienced firm and design team having completed forty 25-metre lap/competition pools, and 15 combined lap and leisure facilities for a total of 40 aquatic centres.
The timeline will see the design development completed by September and construction beginning Spring 2016.