Report to: General Committee                                  Date Report Authored: December 2, 2009

 

 

SUBJECT:                          Thornhill Community Centre & Library Expansion & Renovation Project

PREPARED BY:               Glen Taylor, Acting Director of Recreation Services

 

                                 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

1)                  THAT the report and presentation titled “Thornhill Community Centre & Library Expansion & Renovation Project” be received;

 

2)                  AND THAT staff be directed to proceed with tender release and report back to Council for approval to award tender upon closure;

 

3)                  AND THAT staff be delegated authority for site plan approvals;

 

4)                  AND THAT the extension of the library elevator be included in the design but be separately priced;     

 

5)                  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 Council on action items coming out of the October 19, 2009 General Committee meeting, seek council approval to proceed with tender release, to delegate site plan approval to staff, and to inform Council about developments that have the potential to impact overall project budget.

 

 

BACKGROUND:

The Town of Markham applied for funding under the Federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund to renovate the Thornhill Community Centre.  The Federal and Provincial Governments have each committed $2 million, totaling $4 million, for this project.  However, there is a strict timeline that the project must be completed by March 31, 2011, in order to receive the funding.

 

Thornhill Community Centre is a multipurpose facility serving Markham residents in Thornhill since 1975.  Current amenities include twin pad arenas, a library, gymnasium, fitness centre, therapeutic pool, seniors centre, hall space and multipurpose rooms. 

 

The expansion and renovation of the Thornhill Community Centre will reconfigure this well-used facility to provide enhanced meeting and programming space, improve visibility, accessibility and attractiveness, add more natural lighting, provide additional learning and study opportunities, and will facilitate implementation strategies for efficiency and customer satisfaction, and keep pace with increasing usage.  The project includes:

 

  • Renovation to the basement to add four additional multi purpose programming spaces, a programming space for youth, an indoor toddlers area and a new fully accessible elevator
  • Addition of a new entrance that will improve visibility, access and natural light
  • Retrofitting the existing double-height library theatre/auditorium into a two-storey structure comprising multi-purpose rooms and a new quiet study room - aligns the current library with modern library standards and the Markham Public Library building strategy
  • More study space – for quiet study and group study
  • Improvements to the library’s children’s area to create an engaging learning space, supporting early literacy development and inclusive program delivery
  • Expansion of the library’s computer training room to improve computer learning opportunities
  • More library self-service options, including automated check-in and sortation of returned items, to improve efficiency and customer convenience

 

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

The Library and Recreation project user groups have reviewed and signed off on the Conceptual Design, indicating confirmation that their functional needs are met.  Feedback was also received from Council at the October 19, 2009 General Committee Meeting, on the conceptual drawings.  As well, a subsequent meeting was held on November 3, 2009 with Councillors Moretti, Shapero and Burke.  Based on all of this feedback the following considerations will be incorporated into the detailed design and tender release:

 

-         Allocation for a space for nursing mothers

-         An additional children sized washroom stall in the basement women’s washroom

-         Signage installed at tender award to advise of landscape plans to mitigate concerns raised by the required removal of trees

-         Appropriate and adequate lighting

-         Mitigation of any obtrusive lighting in glass dome

-         Accessibility considerations, including review by the Accessibility Advisory Committee

-         Review of exterior glazing using FLAP

-         Review of the new south east entrance addition roof design

-         Future renderings of the new entrance will include trees in the area.

 

The following will be investigated:

-         Additional trees and landscaping

-         Investigate the use of Cycling Studio and associated equipment as an energy source including battery back-ups

 

The Additional Design Review Processes will include:

-         FLAP review of proposed construction activities with respect to mitigating bird injuries

-         Plans submitted to Accessibility Advisory Committee for review

Given the feedback of Council and staff, and the tight timelines required, it is recommended that the project proceed to tender release with the fore mentioned feedback reflected within the tender release documents.

 

Due to the tight schedule associated with this project and that this project involves a very small existing building footprint increase, site plan approval should be delegated to staff.  This will significantly decrease the amount of time required to obtain site plan approval, thus decreasing the risk that this project will not be completed by the March 31, 2011 deadline.  Council will be kept informed of the progress through regular updates.

 

Through preliminary work, there have been developments that have the potential to impact the overall budget including asbestos removal, and compliance with Ontario Building Code.  Given these potential budget impacts, it is recommended that the library elevator extension be included in the design but priced separately.  

 

 

COMMUNICATION PLAN:

Signage and project design boards will be placed in the community centre.  An Infrastructure Fair will occur in January on all projects as well as a ground breaking will be planned for February / March subject to input by all three levels of government.

 

 

Timeline:

·        General Contractor Prequalification - December 2009

·        Tender - January / February 2010

·        Construction Commences- February / March 2010

·        Project Completion - March 15, 2011

 

 

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

A project budget snapshot is included as “Attachment B”.

 

At this stage of the project, the cost estimate is approximately 7% above the project budget of $6M.  Items will be separately costed in the tender document so that when the tender closes the report to Committee will identify options to keep within the $6M budget.

 

The cost estimate includes a 10% construction contingency to address any issues that may occur during construction as a result of this being an existing older building.

 

 

HUMAN RESOURCES CONSIDERATIONS:

Not Applicable

 

 

ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:

The Thornhill Community Centre and Library Infrastructure Renovation Project objectives include enhanced accessibility, improved energy efficiency, and will support recommendations anticipated within the Integrated Leisure Master Plan.

 

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Asset Management, Finance, Markham Public Library, Building, Urban Planning

 

 

RECOMMENDED

                            BY:    ________________________          ________________________

                                      Glen Taylor                                        Brenda Librecz

                                      Acting Director of                               Commissioner of

                                      Recreation Services                            Community & Fire Services

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

A - “Thornhill Community Centre & Library Infrastructure Renovation Project Presentation”

B – “Project Budget Snapshot”

 

Q:\Recreation\SITES\SIT074\Thornhill CCL - Report to General Committee - edited  dec 3.doc