City council has approved the construction of a Kin 4 arena, rather than rebuilding the Kin 1 arena.
Coun. Shari Green brought the motion forward, after substantial outcry from local hockey groups calling for more ice surfaces in the city. The proposed upgrade to Kin 1 was part of the city's bid package to host the 2015 Canada Winter Games.
"The Canada Winter Games Council has been supportive of any change that will... increase the legacy in the community," Green said.
Green also called for the formation of a council committee to review the costs, and find ways to reduce them.
PBK Architects reported the cost difference between building the new arena and upgrading Kin 1 is $6.4 million, once the necessary upgrades to existing Kin Centre included. The Kin 4 arena will cost $22.2 million, compared to $15.8 million for an upgraded Kin 1.
The primary cause for the difference in cost is $1.8 million to prepare the site and the additional arena would be 1,957 square meters larger than a renovated Kin 1, PBK Architects spokesperson Ian McKay said. A new refrigeration room, mechanical/electrical room, lounge space and additional exterior wall area all contribute to $4.3 million of the additional cost, McKay said.
"It needs a new refrigeration system, it can't use the existing system because it is too far," McKay said. "They are not just building square foot costs. As part of a stand-alone facility, Kin 2 still needs to be upgraded."
In addition to the capital cost difference, the PBK report reported the cost of operating an additional arena would be approximately $204,765 per year - about $200,000 more than rebuilding the Kin 1 arena.
The approximate timeline for building a new arena would see Kin 4 operational by September, 2014, Rebuilding Kin 1 was estimated to be complete by October, 2013.
"I think we have a chance to have a real legacy," counc. Garth Frizzell said. "It's not going to be cheap, but I think the 2015 Canada Winter Games are going to be great."
"At least 820 individuals took the time to e-mail council to ask for an additional arena," coun. Debora Munoz said. "I think there is a potential for a committee to be struck to bring the cost of a stand-alone arena down,"
Mayor Dan Rogers and coun. Don Bassermann opposed the change to build a new arena.
"We need to build this and have it ready by 2014," Mayor Dan Rogers said. "Where do we get the money? Before we've even started, we've exhausted all the capital [budget.]"
The city has very little time to get construction started, Rogers said.
Anthony Everett, chairperson of the 2015 Canada Winter Games Host Society, said the host society has no preference between a renovated Kin 1 and new Kin 4.
"Our number one concern is we meet the capital facility timeline," Everett said. "At the end of the day, the community has to make the decision."
