Oliver arena getting $3.8-million facelift
Wildstone Construction has won a $3.8-million contract to undertake a long-awaited renovation of the Oliver & District Arena.
The deal was approved Thursday by the board of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, which operates the facility in partnership with the Town of Oliver.
Work will include replacement of the arena ice slab and boards, installation of an energy recovery system and upgrades to the arena refrigeration system, upgrades to life-safety systems, and renovations to dressing rooms, washrooms and the kitchen.
“The Oliver & District Arena was built in 1968 and was just the second ice facility to be established in the South Okanagan region. While the facility has been a great environment for sport and recreation for over five decades, many key components of the building have reached the end of their useful life,” wrote Mark Woods, RDOS senior manger of community services, in his report to the board.
“The looped cooling system and slab floor are failing, multiple building features no longer meet safety codes, and the facility does not meet current accessibility standards. The need for rehabilitation of the facility is established and has been endorsed by local stakeholders.”
Construction is slated to begin April 30, with completion in early September in time for the upcoming winter sports season.
Wildstone’s bid was the lowest of two qualified submissions reviewed by Carscadden Stokes McDonald Architects on behalf of the RDOS.
A federal grant will cover $2.3 million of the cost, while the rest will come from a combination of RDOS reserves and borrowing, which received public assent back in 2019 when the project was first proposed.