Strathcona Regional District Awards Next Design Work for REC-REATE Project

Campbell River, BC – The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board is moving forward with more detailed design work for the proposed redevelopment of Strathcona Gardens. The SRD Board directed the contract for schematic design be awarded to HCMA Architecture and Design. Schematic design will build upon the concept developed through previous studies and community engagement. The concept includes a new aquatic centre, a new wellness area, expanded seating and improvements to facilities in arena one, and the relocation of the fitness centre to the main floor.

HCMA won the contract through a competitive bidding process. The Vancouver based firm specializes in community recreation infrastructure and are familiar with the project through their involvement in previous project phases.

“All of the proposals received had merit and different areas of strength, but the HCMA submission provided the best value and demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of the project scope, linkages and schedule,” says Michele Babchuk, SRD Board Chair and Chair of the Strathcona Gardens Commission. “We are pleased to work with HCMA again granted the high-quality work they provide, as well as their commitment to meeting community needs through ongoing engagement and consultation. We will also benefit from the firm’s deep understanding of the project.”

HCMA’s proposal also demonstrated an understanding of how the recent $4.6 million in funding awarded by the federal and provincial government for the Energy Recovery Project can be incorporated into the design. This is key as proper integration of the Energy Recovery Project could provide further REC-REATE cost offsets.

“We are meeting with HCMA shortly to solidify next steps. This phase of the project is where we really see the work already completed start to pay dividends and position the project to attract future grant funding. We have done our homework, we know what is required from a structural and mechanical point of view for the facility to continue to be able to safely and reliably serve the community. We also know from our community engagement work what residents and facility users want to see from the facility moving forward,” says Victoria Smith, Strategic Initiatives Manager for the SRD.

The contract award amount of $346,567 is fully funded through reserves accumulated for the redevelopment project. The schematic design is scheduled for completion later this year and is expected to coincide with an intake for federal infrastructure funding programs.

For information about the REC-REATE project, including the proposed facility design, visit recreatesg.ca or email recreate@srd.ca. The Strathcona Regional District is a partnership of four electoral areas and five municipalities providing services to approximately 43,000 residents.

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Media Contact:

Amy Jonsson

Communications Manager

Phone: 250-830-6720

Email: ajonsson@srd.ca