Conception Bay South is shifting gears on the design of its proposed community lifestyle centre at The Gateway because of new cost estimates.
The project, scheduled to open in 2027, was to be an air-supported structure but will instead be a self-supporting steel structure that the town says will reduce the overall cost and improve long-term value.
The projected cost of the air model went to $20-million from $16-million, largely due to the impact of trade and tariff issues. A second look revealed that the cost of a steel structure would come in at $22-million, but with significantly lower annual operating costs.
In other words, the air supported centre is no longer the least-cost option over time.
The footprint and size of the playing surface remain virtually the same.
The 100,000 square foot recreation facility will provide year-round indoor recreation space for activities such as football, soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball, and ultimate frisbee.
