Whitby Sport Complex construction progress on track and ‘looking amazing’ – Mayor

Construction is on schedule for the Whitby Sports Complex, with Mayor Elizabeth Roy touring the future facility this week and declaring the facility “on track and looking amazing.”

The accessible, net-zero carbon facility near Baldwin Street and Hwy 407 will feature a twin-pad arena, an aquatics centre, double gymnasium, wellness studio, three-lane walking track, meeting rooms and arts and cultural spaces when it’s complete.

The complex will incorporate features to help all visitors navigate and use it with ease, including wheelchair ramps, slip resistant floor finishes, widened automated doorways, ramp access in swimming pools and barrier-free signage. There will also be gender-neutral and universal washrooms and change rooms.

Groundbreaking for the 160,000 sq. ft. sports centre happened last fall and the facility is expected to open in late 2025.

The 13-acre outdoor park neighbouring the facility is also planned to include pickleball, tennis, and basketball courts; a multi-purpose sports field; a playground; as well as a skatepark and pump track.

Funding for the Brooklin sports centre will be boosted by a $25 million investment from the federal government, a welcome infusion for a project that is already expected to come in nearly $50 million over budget.

Roy called the facility, being built on the west side of Baldwin Street, south of Highway 407,  a “significant milestone” for the Town at the groundbreaking.

“We heard loud and clear that people want a flexible and connected design with lots of outdoor, aquatics, and gymnasium space. That’s exactly what this site will deliver, helping to ensure that we can meet the recreational needs of our growing community for years to come.”

Groundbreaking. September 2023

The original budget for the project was $111 million but the price had already ballooned to $154.9 million (plus a ‘fee adjustment’ to architect Perkins + Will) by the time the Town awarded the contract to Ledcor Construction in July of 2023. The project budget was increased to account for updated amenities built into the final facility design.

The complex will also include an Indigenous art installation and the public is invited to have their say on the three shortlisted proposals:

• A Place of Dreams by David General
• Niisaajwan by Tessa Shank
• We Come from the Stars – Anangoong Nidonjibaamin by Kathryn Corbiere

Residents can complete a short survey on the three proposals at stepspublicart.org/whitbypublicart  until September 5.

Construction timelines for structural steel, the building ‘envelope’ and underground foundations, geothermal drilling, mechanical and electrical infrastructure and parking lots were met in June.

“This state-of-the-art facility will meet the immediate and future recreation needs of our rapidly growing community as well as the Town’s environmental and climate commitments,” enthused Roy, adding that it will one of the first multipurpose recreation facilities in Canada to be certified as a LEED Gold and Zero Carbon Building through the Canada Green Building Council.