Multiplex better late than never

Posted Jan 5, 2012 By Michael J Brethour

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EMC News - Belleville - The new multiplex, or the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre, will be well worth the wait.

That's the message Peter Lyng, facilities manager with recreation, culture and community services, tried to illustrate during a private tour of the new facility last week.

"Every day I come through here I am impressed and I get the privilege of going through here every day," he said. "It's one big wow."

But is the centre worth the $33.7-million price tag?

"And then some," stated Lyng in response to that exact question. "This is going to be a fabulous, fabulous building. The thought that has been put into it, the technology, the user ease of access, this is going to put Belleville back on the map, back where we used to be when the Yardmen was build, it was the building of its day. This is going to put us back in front again."

Walking through the facility, it was easy to note the final stages of completion, a heavy layer of dust and construction debris and pallets of tools and paints at regular intervals were clear indicators the final touchups were soon to be in full swing.

Proudly gesturing in the brightly lit multiplex's atrium, Lyng explained how each public area in the facility features natural light. "A real attention to esthetics was integrated with the light," he noted.

The over 175,000-square-foot facility boasts a myriad of attractions for residents of the friendly city. The top among those include a new spacious public atrium, two new ice pads, swimming, kiddie and therapeutic pools, a running track, social and cultural space as well as seniors centre and fitness rooms. Also family change areas and fully complemented locker rooms.

Lyng noted that recent public concern about a rumour of the pool leaking is entirely untrue.

"If it was leaking we would be in a massive panic right now, as it is we cannot keep the pool filled while final construction is being done," he said.

At its deepest end the pool is 12 feet deep, all three pools in the aquatic facility have a sloped entry making them accessible to everybody.

"No need for a wheelchair lift, everything is designed in this multiplex with ease of access in mind," he stated.

Lyng also noted there are water wheelchairs onsite for any special needs or disabled person desiring to use the pools.

The multi-use gymnasium, which can host a performance or event with a crowd of up to 500 people will also be an ample draw, noted Lyng.

"We already have several events booked, this gymnasium will fill a much-needed niche. In the city there are facilities for a couple of hundred and upwards of 1,000, there is no in between, that is until now," he said.

On the other side of the spine, the popular name for the atrium area, the space is used very efficiently over the easternmost rink, featuring a rubberized three-lane running track that runs around the second floor and allows a clear view of the action on the ice below. Now sports teams will have caged storage in the upper levels between arenas, allowing them to lock up their gear during tournaments.

The track itself is heated through the fluids pumped through the tubing in the cement floor. The same is true of heat produced elsewhere in the building. Radiant heat will warm the seating areas and dressing rooms and preheat the pool.

In the spine itself Lyng pointed out multiple areas, including food services, concessions, a pro shop and rentable space.

"These are being finished off this week and we hope to have the requests for occupancy out for potential vendors in the next week or two," noted Lyng.

A $1.3-million solar farm on the roof will generate more electricity than the current facility uses. That power saving continues in the efficiency output of the facility, the heating systems, computer power control and air recycling and cooling in the warmer months translate into not only Belleville's most energy efficient complex, but possibly one of the most efficient in Ontario, "We are leading the pack here, other areas will look to this centre as an example," said Lyng.

Older areas, like the upper level of the Wally Dever will also be made useful, by converting the former social area into offices that will house all the local minor sports groups into one space.

Lyng said the new facility will knock the socks off the populace of the friendly city.

"It is really amazing. I know staff are super excited to get down to business here. Once people get a glimpse of what this facility has to offer, I think it will become a popular spot," he said.

As to the specific time when the public will get a chance to officially set foot inside, Lyng would not immediately hazard a guess. But when pressed he said that if the facility is not open by March it will be because of a major catastrophe.

"I would love to say by the end of January, but that is just my hopes," said Lyng.

But he noted after the official completion of the expansion, two weeks will be needed for staff to move into the offices and new spaces to man it properly for the public.

The new multiplex was due to be open by October 31, then the date was bumped back to December, now realistically it is doubtful the official opening will happen before 2012.

"Like any constriction project, there are delays, things have to be worked around, these things happen," noted Lyng. Lyng offered no specifics as to what difficulties Atlas, the construction company handling the construction, ran into.

In May 2009 the City of Belleville received approval for two-thirds funding for the $35-million community project. One-third of the funding will be provided by the Government of Canada, one-third from the Government of Ontario and the final third to be provided by the taxpayers of the City of Belleville.




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