CRESTON & DISTRICT COMMUNITY COMPLEX

FACILITY ENHANCEMENT PROJECT

OCTOBER 30, 2009

As Mother Nature drifts in and out of her winter phase, the workers adapt to various dress codes depending on whether there is rain, snow, sleet or hail. Either way, work continues at a good pace as the focus is on completing the steel in order to start the wall panels which will allow the space to be buttoned up for the upcoming months.

On this occasion, it was good to see Creston Fire Department on site as the crew lent their experience towards filling the main lap pool. This timed leakage test is part of the specification which has to be met before construction continues on the tank.

First you see it, then you don’t - with the test complete, the pool was drained for work to continue. Some of the water was then used to fill the hot tub for testing. Below, Pool Man Tony converses with a fire fighter monitoring the fill process.

As with all piping below grade, it is installed, pressure tested and embedded in concrete. This white piping will form part of the perimeter drains which will capture the water splashing out of the pool, route it into a surge tank, filter it and return it to the pool.

With the start of the Leisure Pool, we start to see layout of some of the features, in this case the Lazy River which will direct the current and bodies in a circular motion. Once the layout establishes location, digging and placement of drains and piping begins. This will be the most complicated pool to build but the most used pool by the public.

Ralph Casemore and crew work on block laying in the public washroom area directly behind the main stairwell and beside the entrance to the curling rink.

The view from the mezzanine outside the Creston room will look down into the main lobby. This shows some of the intricacies of the steel and wood laminated beams. Below, a worker finishes the end of a Glulam roof purlin in preparation for bolting to the steel.

The old stairs to the Creston Room are now a fond memory as a jackhammer brings them down carefully. A gentle touch was required as there were still utility panels attached to one wall.

Quite likely the only time you will see a skid steer loader intentionally in the Canyon Room as the debris from the stairs is removed to a dumpster. To the right of the loader and under the new mezzanine is the old main entrance to the building which will eventually be opened again for traffic to the arena.

Pipes, pipes, and more pipes as the circulatory system for the building gradually takes shape. There is an incredible amount of piping and ducting outside of the pool construction.

The secret stairs to the basement, which are located in the pool mechanical room, lead to a room soon to be filled with pumps, motors, piping and electrical. Already, many of the fittings and pieces required to complete the subterranean jigsaw puzzle are beginning to accumulate.

The elevator in the centre of the stairwell takes shape as the technicians carefully assemble all the bits and pieces required to transport people between levels. Extreme accuracy and attention to detail is required in order to meet specifications on an elevator.

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