Recreation Facility

September 2019 Status Update

The brick veneer on the new Orillia Recreation Centre at 255 West St S is now complete. With its glass skylights and other glass enclosures you now get a sense of the bold new design. The areas around the building have received the final grading and many landscape elements such as trees and shrubs are being added. Inside the building continues to be a bee-hive of activity as workers

 Construction Work Currently Underway and/or Complete:

•    The cedar paneled ceiling over the pool area is 100% complete.

•    All windows with the exception of a very few are now installed.

•    The installation of interior stud wall, rock board and stucco continues around the perimeter of the pool area and is 95% complete.

•    Wall tile installation is 85% complete in the pool change rooms.

•    Painting of all interior block walls has commenced and is about 75% complete.

•    Work continues with framing the ceiling and bulkheads for the upper level walking/jogging track.

•    Installation of piping for the therapy, leisure and lap pool is 85% complete.

•    The leak testing for all the pool surge tanks is complete and the surge tanks have been capped.

•    The planting circles in the main parking lot are now backfilled with top soil and trees and shrubs are currently being planted.

•    A vender has been selected and preparations are being made for the installation of the electronic entrance sign.

•    The main entrance monument sign identifying the location as “Foundry Park” is in place.

•    Tree planting at the south and west of the property is complete.

•    Plumbing and heating installations continue on all levels and testing of some systems has commenced.

•    The final cap layer is being installed over the entire roof.

•    The large track that supports the moveable gymnasium divider wall is installed.

 Future Key Milestones:

•    The work platform that protects the pools has been removed and the pool basins are receiving a coat of water-proofing.

•    The moveable gymnasium divider wall will be installed.

•    Wall and floor tiling will continue in all change rooms.

•    Wall and floor tiling will commence around the pool.

•    Entrance signage will be installed.

•    The video display/scoreboards will be installed in the gymnasium and the aquatic centre.

•    The construction of two retaining walls will commence at the rear door leading out of the lower fitness area.

•    Flag poles will be installed.

•    Front entrance curbing and sidewalks will be installed.

•    Final landscaping and seeding will take place.

The 2014-2018 Council has been active in addressing the recreation file since their inauguration in December 2014. 

• The new recreation facility will provide a blend of leisure, sport, fitness and recreational amenities for individuals and families, as well as competitive sport venues for groups and organizations.

• Facility Amenities:
  • 25 m, 8-lane lap pool with viewing area
  • Therapeutic pool
  • Leisure pool with play features
  • Gymnasium with 2 FIBA sized basketball courts and a viewing area
  • Childcare room
  • Multi-purpose room
  • Fitness centre including studio fitness rooms
  • Walking/jogging track 

 Council Information Packages

Council Information Package from August 30, 2019.

Council Information Package from July 25, 2019.

Council Information Package from September 27, 2019.

Drilling of the rammed aggregate piers, the foundation system selected for the building, is 

currently underway, and should be completed by the end of December. Importing of clay material that will be used to cap the brownfield site and the import of the soils from employment lands in West Orillia has commenced. It is anticipated that forming of the foundations will start early in the New Year and storm and sanitary system and permanent water service will be underway in spring 2017.

Read the newest Progress Report on this exciting project.

Council awarded the construction of the Orillia Recreation Facility at 255 West St. S. to The Atlas Corporation for $48,450,000 at its meeting on Aug. 17, 2016, and work is anticipated to begin on the site within a few weeks.

The Orillia Recreation Facility project includes an aquatic centre (lap pool, leisure pool, and therapy pool), gymnasiums, multi-purpose rooms, a walking/jogging track, preschool room, office space and a fitness centre.

At the Sept. 12, 2016, Council Committee meeting, Council will review alternate pricing options for six items including the deletion of trail lighting, a pedestrian bridge over Ben's Ditch, aquatic climbing wall, and some water features (leaving the plumbing), as well as changing from a moveable floor to a regular pool basin and changing from a hard gym wall to a curtain wall. This discussion will allow Council to examine potential cost saving options for the project.

Construction of the facility will take approximately two years, with an anticipated summer 2018 opening. 
Please click here to view the NEWS RELEASE >>

The tender for the Orillia Recreation Centre closed on Thursday, August 4, 2016 at 3:00:00 p.m. 
Please click here to view TENDER RESULTS >>

 Construction and Tendering Documentation Phase

During this phase of the project, the detailed construction drawings and tender documents will be prepared. Overall design changes will be minor in nature and the consultant team will be producing very detailed specifications for every item of the project. This information will form the basis of the tender bid package. The architects will be proceeding with site plan approvals, building permit reviews and the prequalification of contractors. It is anticipated that a construction tender will be awarded in late July and construction will begin in August 2016. 

RELEASE - Orillia on track for awarding recreation project tender this summer

 The Detailed Design Phase of the project is now complete. The City will proceed with the Construction and Tendering Documentation Phase of the project. For more information on the completion of the Detailed Design Phase, read the Recreation Facility Project Team's report to Council Committee and the City's news release. 

Detailed Design Photos

Building on the Schematic Design, the Detailed Design Phase of the project focused on specific aspects of the design of the facility, such as leisure pool layout, wet and dry changeroom configuration, AV and IT requirements etc. This phase also included a Class "B" costing. A number of studies/plans were completed during this phase including a Health and Safety Plan for work being done on-site, Soil Management/Soil Monitoring and the Environmental Impact Study.

View the presentation to Council from February 1, 2016 >>

 Employment Opportunities

Looking to join our team? The City of Orillia's Parks, Recreation and Culture Department has released the job descriptions, wages and qualifications required for employment at the future Orillia Recreation Facility on our Orillia Recreation Facility Employment Opportunities webapge. Click each position title for a detailed job description. Please note that these jobs are not available to apply for yet, but when they are, you can apply through the City's Employment webpage. To learn more about how to become a lifeguard and the training required, visit our Lifeguard Recruitment webpage.

Environmental Information

On this page, you will find environmental reports and associated documents related to the Certificate of Property Use (CPU) for 255 West Street South. Annual on-site and off-site monitoring reports are included from the most recent report back to 2011.  Also included are information boards used at a Public Open House in May 2015 to discuss the environmental condition of the site.

We attempt to make our website documents accessible however, some of these documents may not completely meet the AODA accessibility requirements. If you require assistance or communication support, please contact 705-325-2444.