Oakville Trafalgar Community Centre set to open this week

Published September 14, 2020 at 5:17 pm

A long-awaited state-of-the-art community centre will open this Saturday.

A long-awaited state-of-the-art community centre will open this Saturday.

The Oakville Trafalgar Community Centre (OTCC), built on the site of the former Oakville Trafalgar Memorial at 327 Reynolds Rd., is a fully-accessible facility featuring a 25-metre lap pool, therapeutic warm water pool, double gymnasium, fitness centre with running track, universal change rooms, multipurpose meeting rooms, space for intergenerational programming, café, and more.

While most amenities will be ready for the Sept. 19 opening, finishing touches are taking place on the pool with plans to open in early October.

The OTCC  design was developed using an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) approach to design and construction with Graham Construction and Engineering Inc. and Diamond Schmitt Architects. This means the project delivery method sought efficiencies and involvement of all participants through all phases of design, fabrication, and construction. IPD combines ideas from integrated practice and lean construction.

It is a LEED-certified facility boasting more than 53,000 square feet of active and passive space. In partnership with Oakville Hydro, the energy efficient building also includes rooftop solar panels, geo-thermal heating and cooling, and multiple car charging stations. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an internationally recognized green building certification system,  providing third-party verification that a building was built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

“This facility was designed with extensive input from the community and the end result exceeds our expectations,” said Julie Mitchell, director of Recreation and Culture. “This new community centre will offer a variety of recreation and culture programs and amenities to support Oakville residents’ health and wellness needs.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Oakville’s usual tradition to host large-scale grand opening celebrations will not be possible given current public gathering restrictions. Instead, guided facility tours will be offered from Sept. 19 to 30 and can be pre-booked at oakville.ca starting September 14. Residents can also pre-book select drop-in activities from Sept. 21 to Oct. 18 at active.oakville.ca.

A new neighbourhood park adjacent to the community centre was also designed to create opportunities for residents to enjoy recreational activities and nature, including soft landscaping and trees, accessible seating, a play structure, a water play area, lawn areas, pavilion, and bicycle parking.

The construction of the OTCC is part of the town’s is part of a larger project for the former hospital site that will also see a future residential area and seniors-oriented housing district.

Fall program registration opens Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 7 a.m. Beginning Oct. 19, registered aquatics and recreation programs will be offered for a shortened eight-week session at OTCC. A complete listing of available programs can be found at programs.oakville.ca.

“My council colleagues, town staff and I are excited to bring this new community centre to southeast Oakville to fill the facility gap that has existed in the area for years,” said Oakville Mayor Rob Burton. “The Oakville Trafalgar Community Centre design respects the local heritage district and will be a welcomed addition to the neighbourhood.”

 

 

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