Society sets sights on Phase 2

Cliff Calvert, left, and Lindsay Pratt show the preliminary schematic for the proposed phase 2 of the High Prairie Sports Complex. This schematic was on display in the Gordon Buchanan Recreation Centre during the grand opening April 4.

Mac Olsen
South Peace News

Fresh from the grand opening for the Gordon Buchanan Recreation Centre, thoughts are now turning to the second and third phases of construction work on the sports complex. A preliminary architectural schematic of Phase 2 was on display at the Gordon Buchanan Recreation Centre on April 4. Kurt Ostermann, the vice-president of Seko Construction Ltd. in Edmonton, explained how the construction work could proceed. The Sports Palace and the curling rink would be torn down, and the concrete floor would be removed as well. As an alternative, the space for the curling rink could be made into an indoor soccer facility, or some other use could be found for it. Ostermann says it would cost $2.5 million for the foundation and the metal building. This doesn’t include the interior, electrical and mechanical work, which could cost up to $6 million. However, he points out the new ice plant has the capacity to run the entire sports complex, which was very good for facility planning. “That’s a huge expense they’ve gotten out of the way,” says Ostermann. The new arena would accommodate between 1,500 and 2,000 people, making it bigger than the Sports Palace. There would be bleachers on both sides, and the centre section between the two arenas would have several dressing rooms. When all the work is finished, the sports complex would be in excess of over 100,000 square feet. Seko Construction Ltd. has a subsidiary, Permasteel Projects Ltd., which provided the steel for the Gordon Buchanan Recreation Centre, and would do the same for the second and third phases. Permasteel makes pre-engineered steel buildings, whereby the structural, sub- structural, roof and wall systems come together in one package. “So it’s a very economical way to build large structures,” says Ostermann. Cliff Calvert was the project manager for the Gordon Buchanan Recreation Centre. He is enthusiastic about Phase 2, and would like construction to start as soon as possible. However, it’s up to the M.D. of Big Lakes, the Town of High Prairie and the sports committee to make the decision, he says. Calvert also says the reason it took two years to complete the Gordon Buchanan Recreation Centre was that it was done with the available money. The building shell went up, and then more money came along for things like the ice surface, the dressing rooms and so on. In other words, the new building was bought by the yard. “That really slows construction down. But on the other hand, it’s a good way because grants then become available for certain phases,” says Calvert. It would be more cost effective to complete the second and third phases simultaneously, he adds. Lindsay Pratt, a member of the Sports Complex Society, says the community has to push for completion of construction. “At the end of the day, the pressure still has to come from the community,” says Pratt. “The Town and the M.D. have to step forward and help with it. (But) one group can’t push it through and do it all. Everybody has to come together ...” Pratt is not concerned it will take a long time to proceed with the next phases of construction, or that there will be reluctance to proceed given the experience of building the Gordon Buchanan Recreation Centre. “The residents of the area found out that it isn’t as difficult as it seems, and we can do these things within our town. I think we proved ourselves … by going forward with this. Now, we’re not as timid to try some new things.”

Copyright © 1999-2005 South Peace News. All Rights Reserved.
No part may be reproduced without written permission.

View our Privacy Statement.
Send website suggestions to the Webmaster