VERNON – At a recent regular open meeting (December 12, 2016), Vernon City Council received an update on the progress of the Multi-Use Facility Expansion project at Kal Tire Place and had a first look at the proposed facility from Doug Ross, Director of Recreation Services, and members of the design team from MQN Architects.
A list of features that were contractually required in the Design Build Operate and Maintain Agreement with the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) have all been included in the design. In addition, the design includes enhanced features that the public and user groups brought forward during the referendum process including additional dressing rooms, an additional storage area, a secondary lease space and an expanded transitional space between the existing Kal Tire Place and the new facility.
The project is currently on schedule and final drawings are being done. It is anticipated that the project will be tendered on January 9. There will be a mandatory site meeting for prospective contractors on January 24 and the tender process will close on February 15.
Following the closing of tenders, bids will be reviewed and negotiations will begin with a preferred contractor with the goal of construction starting sometime in March 2017. The project is planned to be a 15-18 month build with a targeted opening date of September 1, 2018.
“At this time, the design team believes that the project is within the budget target,” said Ross. “The actual cost to complete the project will only be determined by putting the project out to the construction market. Should the project come in over the fixed budget amount, the design team with consider a combination of value engineering and/or negotiations with the preferred contractor to bring the project in on budget.”
The project has a fixed budget price of $13,000,000 and throughout the design process a Quantity Surveyor has been utilized to ensure the designed building can be completed on budget.