The third of four CUPlex projects slated to be completed is the curling facility, which has an estimated substantial completion date of June 15, according to Parks and Recreation Director Keith Anderson's latest update to city council this month.
Unlike the other CUPlex components, the Northland Power Curling Centre will not be run by the City, but by the North Battleford Granite Curling Club and Battleford Community Co-operative Curling clubs, which merged Oct. 13, 2011. The City will own the facility and the equipment, leasing it to the Curling Club, and ancillary equipment like chairs and tables will be owned by the curling club.
The facility will be run as a curling facility for six months of the year. For curling, the facility has six sheets, which are surrounded by glass on the lower and upper floors. The upper floor also has an observation deck, to accommodate large numbers of observers.
But for the other six months of the year, the facility will be rented out. The ice and the boards that separate the curling lanes can both be taken out, creating a large floor that can be used for conventions, weddings or other similar events.
Upstairs, the building will feature a bar and restaurant with a partially carpeted area that could be used as a dance floor. The restaurant area itself will be likely leased out to a third party to run. The south end of the second floor will also feature a conference room facing south.
Like the other CUPlex components, the curling facility is meant to be barrier-free, with elevator access to the upper floor.
The main naming rights for the facility were acquired by Northland Power in 2010, at a price tag of $750,000.
Ironically, construction of the curling complex is going on at the same time as construction for Northland Power's new natural gas power plant, dubbed the North Battleford Energy Centre, to the southeast of the city.
Contractor Scott Builders is proceeding with construction of both the curling and field house components. According to the Jan. 17 update on construction, the look-ahead called for installation of gas line to the roof top units, the installation of a HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) on the second floor, electrical rough-ins, insulation on the roof drain piping and installing structural steel and horizontal cladding.
The value of the work done up to Jan. 17 at the curling rink is estimated at $4.96 million.
