Community Centre Update: “On schedule and within budget”

A couple of weeks ago, Bill Gibson, Chair of Pelham’s Meridian Community Centre Oversight Committee, presented another upbeat update to Council.

You will recall that Council listened to suggestions from the public for proper project supervision by establishing Community Centre Oversight Committee two years ago. The committee includes two community members (Gibson and Bill Sheldon), one Council rep (Councillor Accursi), and the Chief Administrative Officer (Darren Ottaway). This committee works to ensure that the Town receives value-for-money in every aspect of the project and that the project gets delivered on time and on budget, and to provide the community with consistent and timely updates.

You will also recall that Ball Construction serves as the project’s construction manager and works with the committee, the architect, Town staff, and the various contractors to manage the project’s timing and construction.

Mr. Gibson provided updates on the project’s milestones, and finances. He showed pictures of the significant progress on the Meridian Community Centre. He outlined that the rink boards, glass, and netting were already installed in the Duliban Insurance Arena. He showed the painting and finishing work in the activity centres (named the Lucchetta Homes Courts). He spoke about the great work of local contractors – like Star Tile, which has tiled each of the washrooms and change rooms. He showed photos of the glass along the Walker Industries Upper Viewing Galleria and around the Mountainview Homes Upper Arena Lobby. He outlined improvement in the Dr. Gary & Mal Accursi multi-purpose room. His pictures showed progress along the Lookout Ridge Walking / Running Track and final preparations for the 1,000 seats in the Accipiter Arena.

He also outlined some imminent construction milestones like installing the basketball nets and divider curtains in the activity centre and installing the centre scoreboard in the Accipiter Arena. He said that most of the porcelain tile floors on the second floor would be completed by the end of April and, depending on the moisture levels, Ball Construction would also oversee the start of the wood floor installation in the activity centre. Later in May, workers would commence installation of the rubber “skaters” flooring and the poured rubber walking / running track floor.

Mr. Gibson said that the Oversight Committee was forecasting that this project will be within budget and will reach substantial completion on time – on June 1, 2018.

“Substantial completion” means that Ball Construction will “turn over the keys” to Town staff. Over the summer, staff will re-test systems, move in furniture and equipment and work with volunteer user groups so they can move furniture and equipment into their rooms and storage spaces. We are also planning for tours and open houses over the summer – but they have yet to be scheduled.

Obviously, all of this is great news for our community! Council and I look forward to opening the new Meridian Community Centre so that it can become the place for residents of all ages to gather and enjoy a wide-variety of recreational, social, health and community activities for many, many years.

To review the presentation by the Oversight Committee, please click here. You may contact Mayor Dave at mayordave@pelham.ca.

“Ahead of schedule and under budget”

A couple of weeks ago, Bill Gibson, Chair of the Pelham Community Centre Oversight Committee, presented an upbeat update to Council.

Looking East into Accipiter Arena (from second floor)

You will recall that Council addressed suggestions from the public for proper project supervision by establishing Community Centre Oversight Committee. The committee includes two community members, one Council rep, and the Chief Administrative Officer. This committee works to ensure that the Town receives value-for-money in every aspect of the project, the project gets delivered on time and on budget, and to provide the community with consistent and timely updates.

Mr. Gibson provided updates on the two tender packages, project milestones, and finances.

The first tender package included pre-grading site work, building excavating, site servicing, foundation, structural steel, elevator and stairwell shafts, sprinkler system, roof deck, and hollow core slabs. Tender package two covered the concrete floors, reinforced steel (for masonry and slabs), interior/exterior masonry, spray insulation, roofing, insulated metal siding, zinc paneling, metal doors and frames, finish hardware, glazing, drywall/acoustics, dash boards, and seating. These two tender packages account for 77% of the total project.

Atrium Lobby (facing South)

Working as the construction manager, Ball Construction did not just tender the entire project. Rather Ball works with the committee, the architect, and the various contractors to manage the project’s timing and construction.

The presentation indicated that this value engineering process, led by Ball Construction, and the work of the committee, “has resulted in a project that, as of this date, has in excess of 75 percent of all sub contracts awarded (including work completed) which results in the project being ahead of schedule and under budget, including the 9,000 square feet of additional space.”

The presentation made clear that it was Ball Construction that suggested adding 9,000 square feet to the community centre in June 2016 to increase accessibility in hallways, common areas, and areas with heavy foot-traffic. They based this recommendation on their experience building more than 30 recreational / community centres in Ontario. Because it was so early in the process, the architect changed the plans well before issuing final drawings. Further, Ball signed on to the $32.5 million construction price cap in September 2016 – which includes these changes. Finally, since Ball tendered the project with these improvements, there will be no additional costs to improve the Centre.

Activity Centre (double gymnasium) looking South

The work is on target to enclose the building by the end of December, and for the project to be “substantially complete” by June 2018.

This construction update, the recent fundraising announcement – “Thanks a Million, Pelham” – and the recent signing of 5-year, binding agreements with major user groups demonstrates great progress!

Council and I look forward to the Pelham Community Centre becoming the place for residents of all ages to gather and enjoy a wide-variety of recreational, social, health and community activities for many, many years.

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Accipiter Arena - July 2017

Duliban Insurance Arena & Walker Industries Viewing Galleria - July 2017

Activity Centre (double gymnasiums) - July 2017

Dr. Gary & Mall Accursi Multipurpose Area - July 2017

To see recent videos and pictures the Pelham Community Centre construction process, please visit www.pelhammayordave.blogspot.ca. You may contact Mayor Dave at mayordave@pelham.ca.

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14 July 2017 Correction: The initial post cited Mr. Bill Gibson as Bob. I apologize to Bill for the error, but greatly thank him for his service as Chair! D

Amazing Support for Community Centre!

Last Thursday, we celebrated two very generous local family businesses for donating significant funds to support the new Pelham Community Centre.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of Dr. Tim Nohara and his company, Accipiter Radar Technologies, “Arena A” will be named the “Accipiter Arena.” Accipiter donated $250,000 to the Community Centre’s capital fundraising campaign. The Accipiter Arena will feature an NHL-size ice surface with a 1,000-seat spectator area. This arena will be capable of hosting major sporting events, tradeshows, concerts, and other commercial affairs.

Dr. Nohara re-located Accipiter Radar Technologies from Waterloo to Pelham in 1995 and, through hard work and diligence, developed the company into a global leader in advanced avian and security radar technologies.

Because of the generous contributions of the Duliban Family and the Trillium Mutual Insurance Company – who donated $125,000 and $25,000 respectively – “Arena B” will be named “Duliban Insurance Arena.” This NHL-size ice surface with 100-rinkside seats – will host hockey, figure skating, lacrosse and many other events sporting and cultural events. The Duliban Insurance Arena will be visible from the Upper Viewing Area, which will allow spectators easy viewing from above the ice.

With a long history in Pelham and Niagara, Duliban Insurance recently relocated their head-office to Uptown Fonthill (on Hwy 20 between Haist and Lookout). Since the Duliban Family supported the fundraising campaign for the existing arena, it’s wonderful that they so strongly support the new Community Centre.

On behalf of Council, I deeply appreciate the generosity of these amazing donors! Not only do their gifts signal that the Community Centre continues to move forward, they also demonstrate significant support for the new facility.

Each donor spoke so well about their involvement in the community over the years and about how they want to see our community continue to progress and grow.

Again, I deeply appreciate the generosity of these amazing donors!

There are many opportunities for other donors to support the facility’s campaign. For example, the gymnasiums, the viewing areas, the multi-purpose spaces, the change rooms, the atrium, and then entire facility may be named to honour the generosity of other donors.

Following this capital fundraising campaign, volunteers will begin a community fundraising campaign phase in late 2017 or early 2018. Every community member will have an opportunity to contribute to this once-in-a-lifetime project, by pledging his or her support for the Pelham Community Centre.

For more information about the Pelham Community Centre and fundraising options, please check-out the special website at www.ourpcc.ca.
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Thanks to TV Cogeco Niagara for this great video of the announcements!