Three of four components are now open, but there is still more work and several emerging issues that still need addressed at the Credit Union CUPlex.
That was the story that emerged from this month's report from parks and recreation director Keith Anderson to council Monday night. It was his latest update on construction progress at the CUPlex.
The main focus is still on finishing the Battlefords Tribal Council Field House, the final component of the CUPlex. The good news is the facility is still on track to be completed this coming month.
Anderson reported the field house completion date is still Dec. 10, and it should be ready in time for the North Battleford New Year's centennial celebrations slated to be hosted at the facility Dec. 31.
In speaking to reporters after the meeting, Anderson noted the contractor continues to close in on completion at the facility.
"Scott Builders had made a lot of really good progress there, a lot of the painting is done. The track surface is in now, about a third to a half of the base coat is in on the court floor," said Anderson.
Anderson said they are now "getting down to the finishing work" and added "it's looking good in there."
There are some emerging issues with other portions of the CUPlex that need to be addressed, most particularly at the Co-op Aquatic Centre.
A serious issue has developed with the building HVAC and the building envelope causing moisture above the wood soffit both at the front of the building and at the slide tower as well.
"The humidity is building up in there, the wood is swelling and pushing itself off," Anderson said.
He says they are looking into the cause of that humidity with the engineers, and are looking to resolve that issue as quickly as possible. It is unclear yet whether it will be the City or someone else who will pick up the tab for that job.
There are also issues with the concrete at the east end of the public square. The east drive aisle is not finished, affecting the entry into the field house.
Anderson told council the east drive aisle was something that could have been done by APM before the freeze-up, but "they haven't been around," he said.
He called it "disappointing." With the arrival of cold weather that concrete work will have to wait until spring.
In the meantime, Anderson told reporters later, "we will have to do some temporary measures to get through the winter, because the field house will be opening shortly."
The plan is to bring the gravel up to a higher grade than they normally bring it up to outside, in order to get people into the building.
Anderson does not anticipate people to experience much problems getting into the Field House when the New Year's celebrations happen there. "We're going to make that access as easy as possible," he said.
The plan is for contractor APM to finish up that portion of concrete work in the spring of 2013. As well, it is expected Scott Builders will be back in the spring to complete landscaping work that has been delayed due to the snow.
