CRESTON & DISTRICT COMMUNITY COMPLEX

FACILITY ENHANCEMENT PROJECT

AUGUST 14, 2009

Houston, we have steel. With these historical words, we see much of the structural framework in place as the Trades worked through some pretty rainy weather. The open web steel trusses are the pieces fastened to the main support columns and will eventually hold the tin for the roof. The intricacy of the steel work as it all bolts together is amazing with the glu-lam beams yet to be hoisted up. This will be the only occasion to view this skeleton as we will soon be covering everything for the rest of the buildings life. Some of the photos may look a bit wonky but this is because of the camera lens or stitching multiple photos together. I assure you the steel is straight.

Some of the other challenges that Mother Nature has thrown at us was the high wind a week or two ago making the steel work a bit challenging as well as encouraging everyone to keep their mouths closed for about 15 minutes.

Ralph Casemore demonstrates his ability to multitask as he takes a phone call while mortaring masonry blocks with his son on the walls in the pool mechanical room. They are working near the emergency exit stairs which come from the fitness room to the outside and which are due to be poured next week. The deep end of the pool awaits patiently while the overhead steel work is done after which work will resume by Acapulco Pools. The white Styrofoam pieces you see on the edge of the pool are protecting ground wires which will attach to the diving board pedestal and starter block mounts. Everything metal in a pool must be grounded as a safety precaution so there are miles of copper wire running through the concrete by the time the finish goes on.

Here is the million dollar view - and the main reason the Design Team proposed to have the Aquatic Centre overlook the field and not where the outside pool currently is. Taken from the seat in the hot tub, and despite a fully overcast sky, this view demonstrates what some planning and foresight can do towards making this the Premier Kootenay Facility.

The view from inside the hot tub is equally as good with lots of space to sit and relax. Yet to come are all the fittings as well as the tiling of the walls and seats. Above the hot tub is the largest of the glu-lam beams at about 50 feet long and weighing approx 4-1/4 tons. The richness that the wood beams will bring to the structure ties it nicely to our local industry and the Creston Valley.

These photos show the NW Construction boys forming and pouring the stairwell on the east side on the main foyer. Doug runs the hose while Danny controls his concrete pump truck and Charles and Charlie vibrate the fresh concrete to ensure there are no holes or voids in the walls. Immediately to the right of Charlie is the Creston room next to the bar. Below you can see the finished walls with the foundation for the new entrance.

The finished building will require upgraded utilities such as electrical, telephone and cable TV. The new services will be fed underground from across Hillside which required a trench and several conduits going to a future transformer pad next to the mailboxes as well as ground level vaults for cable and telephone. The orange conduits are for services other than electrical and the grey is for the high voltage power to the transformer. Because of the amount of work in crossing a main street, spare conduits are also put in at this time for future use or in case of trouble.

  This project is funded by The Canada-British Columbia Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, the residents of the Creston Valley, and donations.