EllisDon is nearing a major milestone in the construction of North Bay’s brand-new, $63-million recreation centre.
On Aug. 28, the contractor hosted a beam-signing ceremony as it approached the completion of the steel framing of the building, situated at the Steve Omischl Sports Complex in the city's south end.
“Once the steel frame is complete, construction crews will move on to steel decking and finishing work, followed by the building envelope phase, which includes roofing and exterior walls,” the city reported in a news release.
Designed by North Bay’s Mitchell Jensen Architects in partnership with MJMA of Toronto, ground broke on the 85,000-square-foot facility in December 2024 and is on track to be completed by August 2026.
The year-round facility will include two ice pads, a walking track, a multi-purpose community room, and 14 dressing rooms to support both indoor and outdoor sports. There will be 408 parking spots available, including 14 accessible spaces.
It’s designed to conform to the Zero Carbon Building Standards as set out by the Canada Green Building Council, which includes all-electric building systems, a high-performance building envelope, and a CO2 refrigeration system.
The recreation centre is said to be one of the first in Canada to meet these standards.
Funding for the facility has come from a number of sources, including $25.77 million in federal grant money, $1.5 million in contributions from Ontario Lottery and Gaming, and a portion from the city’s Municipal Accommodation Tax revenues.
Another $24.8 million will be funded by taxpayers.
Built into the budget is a guaranteed maximum price of $61.4 million, a contingency of $1.1 million, and $500,000 in internal costs.
