Validation Report & Business Plan
A Special Council Meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 9, 2023. At this session Township staff will present a Validation Report which summarizes the proposed design for the W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre Renewal project along with the costs, strategies, and timelines for the implementation for the first phase of the Community Hub project. This first phase will focus on the creation of a new aquatic facility as well as renovations to the existing building.
The report has been prepared in collaboration between the Township and a multidisciplinary team of partners. These include:
- MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects (the Project Architect)
- Chandos Construction (the Lead Contractor)
- Modern Niagara
- Acapulco Pools
- Introba
- Entuitive
The information contained in this report will allow Council to assess the short-term and long-term implications of this project and make an informed decision on whether or not to proceed with its implementation.
Meeting Agenda
Contractor Selection
Loyalist Township has taken the next step toward presenting Council with a validation report and business case for the development of the Community Hub at the W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre in Amherstview.
On May 19, 2023 Loyalist announced that Chandos Construction has been selected as the contractor for the development of the Community Hub at the W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre in Amherstview.
“Loyalist is pleased to welcome Chandos to the Community Hub project team. Chandos has extensive experience in building modern, energy-efficient, and accessible recreation facilities in communities across Canada”, stated Loyalist Township Mayor, Jim Hegadorn. “This is a vital step as the Township proceeds toward validation”, Hegadorn added.
Chandos, which was founded in 1980 and currently has offices across the country, specializes in collaborative projects and has been a champion of the Integrated Project Delivery model in Canada. The company has completed many recreation centre projects, from new builds to major renovations, including the Drayton Valley Aquatic Centre, a $23 million net-zero energy facility consisting of an 8-lane 25 metre pool and a leisure pool which was completed in February 2023.
The Chandos team will join Loyalist Township and MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects (MJMA) to deliver the renewal of the W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre using an integrated project delivery (IPD) model.
The IPD process involves several phases, the first of which is referred to as the Validation Phase. During this phase, the project team will advance the facility design and develop cost estimates for the construction and operation of the facility, which is expected to occur between May and August 2023. This information will be summarized in a validation report and business case which will be presented to Council in Q3 of 2023 and will allow Council to make an informed decision on whether to proceed with the project.
“After working closely with Loyalist Township to engage with the community, advance the planning and secure funding we are delighted to now be moving forward on this exciting and innovative delivery path to revitalize the W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre. The renewed space will be transformative for the life of the community”, stated Chris Burbidge, Principal with MJMA.
“Chandos Construction is thrilled to be collaborating with Loyalist Township and MJMA for the W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre Renewal Project. As a company with a strong reputation in both pool recreation facility construction and IPD project delivery, we’re excited to bring best value outcomes to the community through our experience”, stated Dominic Ries, Technical Solution Director with Chandos.
The use of IPD by municipalities is becoming increasingly prevalent when delivering large-scale infrastructure projects. For example, the City of Kingston successfully employed this method for the construction of the Waaban Crossing, which was completed last year both on budget and on schedule.
Funding Announcement – GICB Canada
Today, December 8, 2022, Mark Gerretsen, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands and His Worship Jim Hegadorn, Mayor of Loyalist Township, announced more than $16.5 million in funding to retrofit the W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre in Loyalist Township.
"Quality community and recreational infrastructure is vital to community well-being and development. Today's important announcement will provide residents in Loyalist with an accessible, modern and green facility they can enjoy for years to com." - Mark Gerretson, MP for Kingston and the Islands
The Government of Canada is investing over $16.5 million in this project through Infrastructure Canada’s Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program (GICB).
Funding will support upgrades to the W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre to improve the safety, accessibility, and environmental performance of the facility. Work will include replacing the aquatics facility, improving accessibility and mechanical systems, renovating the arena and library, and installing energy-saving components. These improvements are expected to reduce the facility's energy consumption by an estimated 38.6% and greenhouse gas emissions by 207 tonnes annually. An additional significant aspect of this retrofit is to create a Legacy space to deliver education, and spread awareness about Indigenous history and the path towards reconciliation.
Once complete, this community hub will provide residents with a state-of-the-art facility and recreation programs and services that encourage inclusivity, fun, health and well-being, and accessibility for all ages and abilities.
W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre Pool Closure
On April 19, 2022, based on a structural engineering assessment, Council directed staff to close the pool until further notice. Staff were directed to work with regional partners to source interim aquatic options for Township residents and report back to Council with updated capital costs and financial options for Council consideration.
Over the past several years, the pool at the W.J Henderson Recreation Centre has experienced many infrastructure failures as it continues to operate beyond its lifecycle. Early in 2022, significant cracks in the pool revealed an underlying structural problem with the pool basin. The pool had initially closed with issues related to water chemistry.
A structural engineering assessment of the pool basin concluded that the pool basin and slab had lost uniform load distribution. Serious water leakage at the top of the pool walls was ultimately causing the cracking with water penetration causing erosion of the sand under the slab. This erosion caused channels to form under the building that followed the contours of the underlying bedrock. The concrete does have some strength but has reached a tipping point of stress resulting in load redistribution which, in turn, caused the cracking to spread. The basin slab is not uniformly supported and without that, serious cracking had occurred and would continue to occur. The pool is no longer operational. You can find further information in the Report to Council on April 19, 2022.
Interim aquatic programs are available through partnerships with BGC South East and the YMCA of Eastern Ontario with the focus for summer 2022 being children’s and adult’s swimming lessons.
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