Iqaluit's $40M aquatic centre on time and on budget

Iqaluit's new aquatic centre is on time and on budget. That's what the project's manager told city council during a presentation on June 14.

"Overall the work has progressed very well and everything is on schedule," said Pierre Meredith, senior project manager for Colliers Project Leaders.

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He said the laundry list of major milestones have already been met, including structural work, exterior insulation, pool water tests and the installation of all major mechanical equipment. In the last few weeks metal siding has begun to be put up, and work on interior mechanical and electrical rough-ins has started.

Meredith told council that a total of $25 million has been invoiced to date, with the project forecast to cost just over $40 million.

"Some people like to just refer to the construction costs and the construction costs are closer to $32 million, but there are a lot of other costs associated with the project," said Meredith.

"As an overall budget envelope it's $40,680,508 and we will definitely come in within that budget." 

The only hiccup on the project, Meredith said, has been getting approval to connect the facility to the Qulliq Energy Corporation's district energy system. 

The plan was to connect the pool to a system powered by excess heat produced by QEC's nearby diesel generating plant. 

"We were told very early in the project that [QEC] was receptive," Meredith said.

"We have been told multiple times it was being presented to the board of directors for approval but it seems every time it is presented it gets defered."

Meredith said a meeting is being planned between city officials and George Hickes, the minister responsible for QEC.

If the project stays on schedule the new pool is projected to open on Jan. 1, 2017.