Project Details
The Town of Saugeen Shores is building a new aquatic and wellness centre at 600 Tomlinson Drive in Port Elgin, just east of the existing municipal hall and Plex Arena. As part of the project, the town is also refurbishing the municipal hall and council chambers. The project went through an extensive stakeholder and public engagement process before gaining the approval of council in December 2022.
Architects of the project are Salter Pilon Architecture and Lett Architects, Inc. Ball Construction is the construction manager. The two recreational facilities are world-class and will generate tremendous economic benefits; they will serve residents of Saugeen Shores and vicinity for decades to come. Renovation of the municipal hall and council chambers will allow government functions to be carried out much more efficiently and make it much easier for the general public to engage with them. Construction on the project will start later this year and is expected to be completed in 2025.
The main elements of the new centre include:
- An aquatic facility (eight (8)-lane, 25-metre pool; leisure/therapeutic pool; pool viewing area)
- A walking track
- A wellness centre (conditioning centre with weights and fitness equipment, gymnasium and storage, fitness studio, and multi-purpose rooms)
- Common use areas (change rooms/washrooms; offices/customer service areas; mechanical/filtration/storage)
One of the biggest challenges with the project was that the original design was over budget by about $10 million—a showstopper! This is where Ball’s long experience in the construction industry came to the fore as we assisted with consultants on value engineering the design to realize cost-saving opportunities.