On the surface you could call the project at the Trail Aquatic and Leisure Centre finished.
But it’s not.
Underneath the heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrade at the city’s recreation centre still has a few pieces left to fall into place, said the city’s parks and recreation director, Trisha Davison, but on the surface it looks done.
The multi-million dollar City of Trail-funded project was up and running in mid-December, pumping heated and cooled fresh air throughout the facility, and lighting the way with new energy efficient lights in the pool area.
Although the original hope was the project would be done in mid-September, the various contractors ran into all kinds of equipment delay issues, with the suppliers of the necessary components not being able to deliver on the schedule they had been given, said Davison.
The city had six separate contracts in place for the project, she explained, so those concerns did not affect the overall project.
“We had contingencies built into our budget knowing that was going to be the case,” she said about the installation.“But it appears to be working well. It’s all up and running.”
Currently, the project has reached substantial completion, she said, although there are still some deficiencies that will be tidied up in the month of January, with some being completed in spring.
However, despite the delays the project is still within its $2.783 million budget from the city.
Major interior elements being worked on and that have been now completed in the centre include drywall work in change rooms, hallways, bathrooms, and multipurpose rooms, with doors and door hardware been replaced on most doors in the pool and atrium area.
New ceiling tile, electrical panels, interior painting in some places and new lights highlight more of the visible work.
The patron recognition program that started Jan. 1 is still on, recognizing the project went on longer than was anticipated and compensation for patron comfort is being made.
“Over time some of those things could have become irritable or uncomfortable for people,” said Davison.
For anyone who is a member of the facility, they were automatically given different degrees of extensions on their pass, and recognition that the facility wasn’t offering an optimum experience.