Construction on the new Active Living Centre in Vernon, BC, officially kicked off with a ground-breaking ceremony after the council endorsed the final design, budget, and construction schedule. Randy Kyrzyk, Senior Vice President of Operations, joined City of Vernon staff, council members, and members of the architecture firm, Group2 Architecture Interior Design, to celebrate the symbolic beginning.
“This is an exciting day for Vernon,” Mayor Victor Cumming said. “The community has shaped this facility. The ALC will be a tremendous asset to our community and the region and will provide people with an accessible and welcoming space to be active, learn, connect, and have fun.”
Clark Builders has a long and successful history of building sports and recreation centres over the past 50 years.
“We’ve completed over 50 similar projects as this one,” Kyrzyk said at the event. “Our employees are dedicated to building community through our work and are focused on maximizing the value for our owners through Lean construction practices.”
The multi-purpose facility will include an aquatic centre with an eight-lane 50-meter pool with a moveable bulkhead, two diving boards, and a 'Ninjacross' course. There will also be a leisure pool with a beach entry, spray features, a lazy river, a Wow WaveBall, a waterslide, and a family hot tub, along with a warm-water 25-meter teaching pool, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pool, and an adult's only hot tub.
The centre will also feature a fitness centre, a double gymnasium with multiple sports courts, a 185-metre walking and running track and eight multipurpose activity program rooms.
“Council’s endorsement of the final design, budget and construction schedule represents a significant milestone for the ALC project,” says Doug Ross, Manager, Project Program. “The Integrated Project Delivery team worked hard to achieve a versatile design that celebrates the community-building potential of recreation that both meets the everyday needs of the community and has the ability to host events.”
Mobilization to the site will begin soon, and heavy equipment will arrive in the next few weeks to begin earthworks and site services.
For more information on the Active Living Centre project, please visit vernonalc.ca.
From left to right: Manager, Project Program Doug Ross; Coun. Teresa Durning; Coun. Kelly Fehr; Coun. Brian Guy; Stephen Faust, Project Architect Group 2; Mayor Victor Cumming; Randy Kyrzyk, Senior Vice President Operations, Clark Builders; Coun. Kari Gares; Coun. Akbal Mund; Coun. Brian Quiring; and Senior Manager, Project Chris Sheel.
