The price tag for the new Cameron Community Centre and Library in Burnaby’s Lougheed town centre has ballooned to $267 million, 18 per cent more than its original estimate.
The number comes after a project team worked to lower the “substantially overbudget” cost estimated in October.
The original estimate was $227 million; last October, the cost review came in at $297 million, according to a report going to council today (July 22).
The community centre is just one of a slew of the city’s major civic projects to come in overbudget.
But staff say the existing Cameron recreation complex, built in 1980, is “unable to adequately serve the growing needs of the community.”
“Issues include accessibility, inefficiencies without a centralized administrative area, a general lack of recreation space, code deficiencies and increased maintenance costs with the aging building,” said the report.
Cost consequences for Cameron
The capital cost isn’t the only concern on the horizon, according to the report.
The future operating costs for the facility when it’s up and running in 2028 could increase homeowners’ property taxes by 2.09 per cent.
The facility’s new activities, including public swims, swimming lessons and fitness programming, and new food services and enhanced outdoor landscaping, will cost the city $7.3 million more annually than today, until revenues increase.
(The Burnaby Lake Recreation Complex is also expected to open in the same time frame, a “significant undertaking” expected to put “further pressure on the tax rate,” said the report.)
None of the current budget for Cameron includes the facility’s new furniture and fixings, which are expected to cost an additional $15 million, or six per cent of the construction cost.
The money for that will be added to next year’s capital plan, along with any other budget requirements for project management and internal staff costs.
'Civic heart of Lougheed': amenities
The new rec centre will be four times the size of the existing complex at 238,140 square feet.
Staff say it will become “the civic heart of Lougheed town centre.”
The three-storey building, on top of a two-storey parkade (with 288 parking stalls costing $23.4 million at $81,100 per stall), will have a two-level library in the east wing and an aquatic facility in the west.
The library will be almost four times its current size and include community rooms for programs and meetings, specialized spaces for school-age children, teens and younger kids, a digital creation space, a sensory room and an Indigenous storytelling room.
The pool side of the complex includes a six-lane, 25-metre lap pool, a leisure pool with a lazy river and a hot tub with accessible ramps.
The changing rooms will be “universal, accessible and inclusive.”
The rec area will include a basketball court built to international standards, changing rooms, a strength training and cardio equipment area, a three-lane indoor walking and running track and various sized fitness and indoor cycle studios.
It will also include:
- Multipurpose rooms
- Banquet facilities
- Community teaching and catering kitchen
- Café with outdoor patio
- Preschool programs room with secure outdoor play area
- Childminding room and indoor play area
- Youth area
- Music lesson studios
- Seniors 55+ lounge with snooker room
The report noted an analysis from last December showed “there was a risk that the city was overbuilding aquatic capacity for approximately 10 years.”
Staff said they now anticipate a surplus of pools, “which is likely to result in less-than-optimal user volumes and higher operating costs,” and estimate the Cameron rec centre will require a higher level of tax subsidy for upwards of 10 years while the surrounding population catches up to the oversupply of aquatic capacity.
The city is also planning for rooftop solar panels ($350,000) for its net-zero emissions goals, and a green roof ($1.7 million) for rainwater management for “a more resilient and biodiverse environment.”
What’s next?
If council approves the contract Monday, construction activities will begin in September.
The executive committee of council would begin the process of determining a new name for the facility.
Staff provided a projected timeline as well, contingent on council approval, including:
- July 23: begin a four-week communications plan
- Aug. 17: farewell closing event at the old Cameron facility
- Aug. 18: last day of operations for old Cameron
- Aug. 19: begin moving to the temporary location at Lougheed Mall (two weeks pause in programs/service)
- Sept. 3: soft opening of recreation at Lougheed
- September or October: grand opening at temporary Lougheed facility
Current Cameron programs will be relocated to other city facilities as follows:
- Seniors and preschool program to temporary Cameron rec centre at Lougheed mall
- Some preschool programs to Charles Rummel Recreation Centre
- Summer camps to Charles Rummel Recreation Centre
- Fitness programs to Charles Rummel Recreation Centre
- Additional badminton play time will be available at Christine Sinclair Centre
- Indoor sports (e.g. pickleball, basketball, squash, racquet ball) available at other Burnaby recreation centres
- Rentals and user groups will be accommodated at temporary Cameron rec centre at Lougheed mall
