The cost of demolishing the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre has been estimated at $250,000.
Once consultant fees and other expenses are included the cost could jump to $300,000.
The figures from Architecture | Arndt Tkalcic Bengert and consulting engineers Read Jones Christoffersen – both of whom assessed the pool several years ago – were disclosed at the Monday, April 14 meeting of Barrhead Town Council.
In answer to a question from Councillor Don Smith, Frank Cavaliere, a principal at Read Jones Christoffersen, said the demolition estimate was a ballpark figure.
“The number comes from past experience,” he said. “The bulk of that number, given that it is a pool, is in mechanical decommissioning. There is a fair amount of electrical in the building that needs decommissioning as well, before the physical demolition of the building can occur.”
Cavaliere said once the project goes to tender costs could fluctuate.
The council decided to move forward on decommissioning and demolishing the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre in two phases.
Councillors agreed to budget $25,000 plus $2,500 contingency fees and GST for the consultants’ assessment. They then agreed to budget about $250,000, plus a $25,000 contingency fee and GST for demolition.
In a report to council, Chief Administrative Officer Martin Taylor said since the pool was closed on Friday, Feb. 14, the Parks and Recreation department had been working with Architecture | Arndt Tkalcic Bengert to prepare a report on the scope of work necessary to decommission and demolish the building.
To demolish the centre it is essential preliminary consultant work be undertaken first, said Taylor.
This involves a detailed assessment on structural, mechanical, electrical and civil work required to salvage and/or remove useable materials and ensure the building is taken down safely while safeguarding the shared wall with the Curling Rink.
It was also important to ensure environmental standards were met, said Taylor.
“Another consideration will be the fate of the Multi-Purpose Room given that the current footprint would not be big enough to accommodate the new proposed aquatic centre based on the preliminary designs,” he added.
Writing to council, Brian Bengert, from Architecture | Arndt Tkalcic Bengert, gave a breakdown on fees related to demolition. These were: architecture, $7,000; structural, $8,500; mechanical, $3,500; electrical, $3,000; and civil, $3,000. The total, excluding GST, comes to $25,000.
Bengert recommended a small contingency be set aside for unexpected site conditions.
“The estimate for the demolition is $250,000 and Architecture | ATB and the consultant team will prepared all necessary documents to tender the demolition scope to determine the actual cost for demolition,” the architects said. “We recommend a 10 per cent contingency to be carried on this total as well.
“Architecture | ATB and the consultant team will assist the Town of Barrhead with items to be removed, turned over to the Town, and/or salvaged within the price indicated.”
At last week’s meeting, Taylor asked Cavaliere how long it would take before a request for proposal to knock down the building could be submitted.
Cavliere replied it could take three or four weeks.
He added an assessment would need to be done on possible hazardous material, such as asbestos.
“I don’t know if there has been any asbestos testing done or whether we know whether or not any asbestos is in the building,” he said. “Of course, that would have to be removed before wholesale demolition happens.”
Coun. Ryan Warehime asked for more details on mechanical and electrical decommissioning.
“Obviously, disconnection from the service,” said Cavaliere.
There could be complications, he added, if the pool shared service with other parts of the Agrena complex.
Other work would involve such matters as draining tanks and identifying anything salvageable.
Coun. Roy Ulmer wondered about the implications for the cement wall shared by the pool and the Curling Rink.
“Right now we are expecting that that wall has to remain,” said Cavaliere.
He added it would not be difficult to leave the wall up while bringing the rest of the pool building down.
Barrhead Mayor Gerry St. Pierre asked whether any part of the facility was salvageable.
“Quite likely the roof structure could be reused,” said Cavaliere. “… the building as a whole is salvageable, depending on how much money you want to spend. That’s really what it comes down to.
“I know in our original assessment we put in a number for it, somewhere in the region of $4 million to keep it going as a pool.”
St. Pierre asked what challenges would be thrown up if the new pool was built at the existing site.
“The first problem you would encounter is if the existing foundations are not completely removed from the existing building you will have to avoid them with the design of the new pool,” replied Cavaliere.
“We have no idea what condition the soil is in or if any of the tanks at the pool have been leaking over time.”
It was possible, said Cavaliere, that soil would have to removed and replaced.
“With pool chemicals, I’m not sure what systems are in there and whether they could have caused any contamination,” he said. “I don’t know.”
At this stage, it was impossible to say with certainty what issues might arise with relocating the pool at the present site.
Coun. Leslie Penny wondered whether salvageable items from the pool – such as copper – could bring down costs.
Cavaliere said the demolition contractor could credit any recyclables to the project.
Coun. Ty Assaf moved that council press ahead with decommissioning and demolition. The motion passed unanimously.
Present during the discussion were Barrhead County Reeve Bill Lee and County councillor Marvin Schatz.
