Current Service Impacts

• The Cardio Room equipment has been relocated to the east and west salons to ensure ongoing operation throughout the duration of the construction project. Users can access the salons from the Banquet Hall exterior entrance doors located on the west side of CHDRC.

• Change Room facilities are currently unavailable.
• CHDRC Pool is currently closed. Lane and open swim is available exclusively at Dunbarton Indoor Pool.
• These operational changes took effect on January 23, 2021. They will remain in place until the grand reopening of CHDRC.

Renovation Details

The scope of the project includes a complete gut renovation of the existing male and female change rooms for both members and non-members, extension of the second floor exercise area and related improvements, upgrades to existing finishes throughout the ground floor of the lobby and concourse and consolidation of existing service counters into a single point of service. Additional related work such as lifecycle water main replacements and upgrades to building life safety systems have been incorporated for efficiency.

Additional details on change room renovations

The public change rooms will be combined into a single universal change room and linked with the existing family change room to create a new single suite. All changing will occur in private change cubicles with zero-sightline partitions to ensure privacy for all patrons. Several universal washrooms will be included in the suite, which is intended for use by all patrons, regardless of age or gender and will meet all current accessibility regulations.

Two new members change rooms will also be created, sharing access to a new accessible-entry whirlpool, steam and dry saunas. Space constraints made it impossible to provide these amenities in each suite. They will be located in a common access area visible from the pool deck to ensure the visibility and safety of patrons. The common amenity space will remain limited to use by members only. 

View design concepts

Project Timeline

• January 23, 2021: Phased construction began - see Current Service Impacts for details. 
• January 2022: Anticipated construction end date – Grand Opening announcement TBD

Project milestones to date

• December 2020: Tender for Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex – Lobby & Core Area Renovations – Construction awarded to 1568796 Ontario Inc., O/A Renokrew. Details in Report to Council CS 02-20
• October 2018 – January 2019: Public and user engagement into the design
• June 2018 – At June 25, 2018 Council Meeting RFP-7-2018 was awarded to Barry Bryan Associates for the Architectural, Engineering and Landscape Design Services
• February 2018 - As part of the 2018 Capital Budget, $400,000.00 was approved by Council for the design drawings and tender documents of the Pickering Recreation Complex renovation project.

Project Updates

November 2021

• Work around the new, consolidated reception desk is nearly complete, as is most of the work in the open lobby.
• Masonry work in the dressing rooms is done.
• The installation of finishes and fixtures is now underway, including the new whirlpool, steam and dry saunas.
• Flooring for the expanded upper exercise suite is currently being laid, bringing the work close to its final stages in that area.
• Priority is being given to the Public Change room to ensure that they will be open for aquatics and other programming in the new year, with members change rooms and related amenities to follow shortly afterwards.

July 2021

• The work area was expanded to complete as much work as possible throughout the complex prior to the Province moving into Step 3 of the Plan to Reopen.
• Structural work is nearly complete, including pouring of new floor slabs. All parts of the project are now moving into finishing stages, working towards phased handover dates. More and more of the complex will re-open for public use over the next few months.
• Access will be restored to the lobby and main corridors first. The new reception desk and upper level exercise areas will be next.
• Priority is being given to completing work in the new public change rooms first, to allow for reopening of the pool. Members dressing rooms and amenities are more complex and will be open by the end of 2021, as per the original project schedule.

May 2021

Renovations:

The CHDRC renovations have transitioned from removals and demolition to new construction.  The old reception desk has been removed and floor tiles in the lobby and corridor areas have been stripped down to bare concrete.  Work is currently focusing on laying new plumbing lines and foundations, as well as completing structural work required to extend the second floor cardio area.  The City and contractor are working together to complete as much of the renovation work as possible while the facility is shut down. 

Tennis Court Lighting:

The City has retained an electrical engineering consultant to review the condition of the existing lighting systems in the tennis courts, and recommend suitable replacement fixtures.  The project will be tendered as soon as possible, with the intention of completing all related work while users take advantage of summer weather and opportunities for outdoor play.  The indoor courts will be closed for a short period in the late summer and early fall to allow for the existing lights to be replaced.

March 2021

Highlights:

• Demolition is approximately 80% complete. 
• The project is switching gears from removals adding in new components and materials.
• Structural work required to extend the second floor cardio area will start shortly.
• Re-routing of mechanical and electrical services is about to begin

January 2021

Phased construction begins.

January 2019

The City held an Open House with the Architectural, Engineering and Landscape Design consultant to reveal schematic designs and gather public input.

October 2018

The City conducted a survey to gather feedback from the community and facility users on their preferences for the Recreation Complex improvements. The survey was available to complete from October 2018 – January 2019. View a summary of the results.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why does the facility need an upgrade?

The Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex (CHDRC) originally opened its doors in 1983. Thirty-seven years later, many of the building’s components, systems and key amenities are aging and in need of a substantial retrofit. Recreation facility design and regulatory requirements have changed substantially since this facility was opened and this project will, where possible, address user expectations for a functional and inviting facility. Notable changes include accessibility requirements in the Building Code and regulations made under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and more recent changes in universal design to address the requirements of Human Rights legislation.

While the facility undergone a series of superficial face lifts to its core public areas and amenities, it has never undergone a full renovation, which would normally be expected to occur in the 25-30 year range, as many major building systems and components have reached end of life.

2. What elements of the existing Recreation Complex are being renovated?

The scope of the project includes a complete gut renovation of the existing male and female change rooms for both members and non-members, extension of the second floor exercise area and related improvements, upgrades to existing finishes throughout the ground floor of the lobby and concourse and consolidation of existing service counters into a single point of service. Additional related work such as lifecycle water main replacements and upgrades to building life safety systems have been incorporated for efficiency.

Additional details on change room renovations

The public change rooms will be combined into a single universal change room and linked with the existing family change room to create a new single suite. All changing will occur in private change cubicles with zero-sightline partitions to ensure privacy for all patrons. Several universal washrooms will be included in the suite, which is intended for use by all patrons, regardless of age or gender and will meet all current accessibility regulations.

Two new members change rooms will also be created, sharing access to a new accessible-entry whirlpool, steam and dry saunas. Space constraints made it impossible to provide these amenities in each suite. They will be located in a common access area visible from the pool deck to ensure the visibility and safety of patrons. The common amenity space will remain limited to use by members only.

3. How will you minimize disruption to service?

The work has been sequenced in phases to reduce disruptions to ongoing operations. Allowances have been included in the tender for the completion of particularly disruptive activities outside of normal operating hours.