Prince George Aquatic Centre renovation remains on track despite added mould and corrosion repairs

The City of Prince George says the $37-million renovation of the Prince George Aquatic Centre remains on time and within budget, despite unexpected construction challenges uncovered after the facility closed earlier this year.

In a report heading to council on April 27, city staff say additional water damage, corrosion and mould were discovered once the building was fully opened up for inspection — issues that could not be properly identified while the pool was still operating last fall.

Those findings initially pushed projected costs higher and forced the city to revise its approach in order to keep the project from going over budget.

City adjusted plans to control costs

According to the report, the construction manager advised the city that the original cost estimate would increase once the newly discovered issues were factored into the project.

Rather than accepting a higher price tag, the city directed its consultant to revise the plans and specifications to absorb the additional work without exceeding the approved budget.

That decision delayed the tendering process, but city officials say the more cautious approach has helped keep the overall project financially on track.

In the report, director of civic facilities Andy Beasly said the project is now projected to come in under budget.

Work moved ahead after January closure

The Aquatic Centre closed to the public on Jan. 1, and city staff say preparations for construction began immediately.

Although contracts for major construction work were not finalized until March, staff spent the early months of the closure getting the building ready for renovation.

Current work includes demolition of interior finishes in the reception area, washrooms and changerooms, along with the removal and disconnection of mechanical and electrical systems.

The city says those early steps allowed progress to continue even while tender delays were being worked through.

Three weeks to drain the pools

Preparing the facility for renovation was itself a significant undertaking.

The city says it took three weeks to fully drain the Aquatic Centre’s three pools.

Before draining, the water was super-chlorinated and circulated through pipes, pumps and surge tanks as part of the shutdown process.

Beasly’s report says staff also had to remove and store furniture, vending machines, maintenance supplies, spare parts and attic stock, while clearing out decades’ worth of accumulated materials from the building.

That cleanout, packing and relocation process took about three months in total.

Programs shifted during long-term closure

Renovations at the Prince George Aquatic Centre are expected to be completed in early 2028.

During the closure, aquatic programming in the city has been shifted to the Canfor Leisure Pool, which is operating with extended hours and expanded programming to accommodate demand.

Council has also previously approved $36,000 for three new dive platforms at the Canfor Leisure Pool so it can host competitions while the Aquatic Centre remains closed.