Report to: General Committee                                               Report Date: November 16, 2009

 

 

SUBJECT:                          Angus Glen Indoor Tennis Structure (RInC Fund) Update

PREPARED BY:               Linda A. Irvine, Manager, Parks and Open Space Development, ext. 2120

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

1)                  THAT the report entitled “Angus Glen Indoor Tennis Structure (RInC Fund) Update” be received;

 

2)                  THAT the conceptual site plan as presented herein for the Angus Glen Tennis Structure and parking lot be approved in principle;

 

3)                  THAT staff proceed with further detailed design work, preparation of working drawings, tendering, and tender award as required to insure that construction of this facility commences as soon as possible;

 

4)                  THAT the tendering process be waived in accordance with Purchasing By-Law 2004-341, Part II, Section 7, 1(b), Non Competitive Procurement, where there is only one source of supply for the goods to be purchased, and that Council authorize staff to negotiate a contract for the supply and installation of a tension frame structure from Cover-All Building Systems to an upset amount of $750,000, including all mechanical and electrical works;

 

5)                  THAT staff seek confirmation from the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) Program to waive the requirement for a competitive process where the equipment, services or supplies that are to be purchased is specialized or not readily available;

 

6)                  AND THAT staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

 

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to update General Committee on the status of the Angus Glen Indoor Tennis Structure project that received Recreation Infrastructure Canada (RInC) funding. Further, the purpose is to seek approval of the conceptual design of this facility as well as authorization to negotiate a preferred supplier contract for the supply and installation of a tension frame structure with Cover-All Building Systems.

 

 

BACKGROUND:

In September 2009, Council approved funding for three applications to the 2009 RInC Program. The projects included: Saint Roberts Artificial Turf and Bubble project; Indoor Tennis Courts at Angus Glen Community Centre & Library project; and, the Outdoor Civic Centre Skating Rink project.

 

The indoor tennis courts project at the Angus Glen Community Centre and Library includes:

·        Construction  4 tennis courts and running track

·        Construction of a permanent structure over the facility

  • Construction of a small clubhouse facility for user groups
  • Provision of adequate parking
  • Appropriate site landscaping

 

In addition, this tennis facility will include washrooms, change rooms, storage rooms, all appropriate lighting, heating and cooling and furnishings. The small clubhouse will be comprised of an office, mezzanine meeting room, elevator and storage. The consultant team that has been hired to complete the design, working drawings and contact administration of the Angus Glen Community Park has also been engaged to provide professional services for the Angus Glen indoor tennis facility. A committee representing the tennis community has been established and staff continues to meet with this committee to discuss design considerations and operating practices. The committee includes representation from each of the Markham Tennis Clubs.

 

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

Permanent Tension Frame Structure vs. Inflatable Air Structure or “Bubble”:

While the original RInC Fund application contemplated a “bubble” structure over the tennis courts, staff and the consultants have met with three Ontario suppliers to assess the pros and cons of permanent tension frame structures vs. inflatable air structures or “bubbles”.  

 

Based on the Town’s facility and programming needs, staff recommends that a permanent tension frame structure be specified for the following reasons:

  • It is permanent;
  • It provides for year-round use in any weather;
  • The structure will not ‘deflate’ if the fabric is cut or ripped;
  • There are no seasonal operational costs to take down, store and put back up;
  • Typical foundation construction is used; and,
  • Trusses support several types of lighting, heating, cooling and signage systems.

 

Staff reviewed a number of similar indoor tennis facilities in the GTA including making a visit to a similar tension frame structure at Crescent School in Toronto. This structure was manufactured and installed by Cover-All Building Systems and has been in operation for about 10 years. Staff was very impressed with the facility, its durability and overall performance. Attached is a photograph of this facility (Figure 1) which is very similar to the type of structure being proposed at Angus Glen.

 

 

Preferred Supplier Recommendation:

Clause 5.6 of the RInC Contribution Agreement relating to Competitive Process provides that the requirement for a competitive process may be waived with prior written approval by the RInC Program in Ontario if the equipment, services or supplies that are to be purchased is specialized or not readily available.

 

Only five companies from across Canada are member companies of the Membrane Structures Manufacturers Association (MSMA). Two of these companies are in Ontario. One of the companies is Cover-All Building Systems in Lucknow, Ontario who specialize in sports-related tension frame structures of the type, scale and quality required at Angus Glen. The other company from Ontario does not specialize in structures of this kind.

 

Consequently, staff recommends that Cover-All Building Systems -- the only Ontario supplier of a building of this type -- be approved as a “preferred supplier” (subject to permission being obtained from the RInC Program in Ontario to waive the competitive process in this instance) and that the Town negotiate a contract for the supply and installation of a tension frame structure with Cover-All Building Systems.  In doing so, the structure can be ordered now, be fabricated over the winter and ready to be installed in the spring of 2010. The General Contractor, to whom Cover-All will be a sub-contractor, will oversee construction of the entire project and will be hired through a competitive process in early 2010.

 

Conceptual Site Plan and Additional Parking:

Attached is a conceptual site plan (Figure 2) of the indoor tennis structure showing it located behind the Angus Glen Community Centre and Library on a portion of the existing parking lot to the edge of the completed soccer field. Orienting the structure north-south is space efficient, permits it to be as low as possible on the site, takes economical advantage of the existing sloping grade across the site, and allows for the construction of a parking lot immediately to the east of the new facility to serve the community park as well as the tennis courts. While some parking spaces will be removed at the existing westerly parking lot, no net loss of parking will result with the construction of the new parking lot to the east. The small clubhouse facility will be a two storey structure that can be entered from the existing parking lot at the mezzanine level, and at the lower level from the new parking lot.

 

Compatibility with the Angus Glen Community Centre and Library:

The clubhouse facility and tennis structure will be designed to be as compatible as possible with the existing architecture of the Angus Glen Community Centre. This will be done by choosing similar building materials and building colors whenever possible. Landscaping, paving, site furnishings and exterior walls will also be designed to be compatible and complimentary to the community centre.

 

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND TEMPLATE:

This award will be funded from the Design Capital Account #81-5350-9527-005, which has been established for the “Angus Glen CC Tennis Courts and Bubble” project. The entire project cost is $1.7 million and there are sufficient funds allocated to complete the project satisfactorily.  

As part of staff’s analysis, two quotes were received, one from an air structure and another from a tension frame structure manufacturer even though these products and the services provided are not entirely the same nor are they directly comparable. Not surprisingly, there is, however, a cost premium of about 10%- 15% for frame structures over air structures. A frame structure of the size proposed (with footings but excluding heating and cooling) will cost approximately $500,000. An allowance has been requested of $250,000 to cover any additional costs for mechanical, electrical, HVAC, and other ancillary components that are integral to the structure.

 

Furthermore, there will be annual operational cost savings (of about $20,000) with a tension frame structures because it does not have to be taken down, stored and put back up each year. These annual cost savings will more than compensate for slightly higher initial product costs over the life time of the product. 

 

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

The Purchasing, Finance and Recreation Departments have been consulted in the preparation of this report.

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Figure 1: Photograph of “Cover-All” Structure at Crescent School.

Figure 2: Location of Proposed Indoor Tennis Facility in Future Park

Figure 3: Conceptual Site Plan of the Proposed Indoor Tennis Facility

 

 

RECOMMENDED

                            BY:

                                      ________________________         

                                      Ronji Borooah                                   

                                      Town Architect

 

 

                                      ________________________         

Glen Taylor

Acting Director, Recreation

 

 

                                      ________________________         

                                      Jim Baird                                           

                                      Commissioner, Development Services

 

 

 

Q:\Development\Design\linda\Parks\Angus Glen Tennis Structure update report Nov. 16.doc