Ground breaks on Markham Pan Am and Parapan Centre

Officials broke ground on the Markham Pan Am and Parapan Am Centre recently, the second TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games venue to do so in as many weeks. The facility will host water polo, badminton and table tennis during the Pan Am Games in July 2015, and table tennis competitions during the Parapan Am Games the following month.

The overall project costs for this facility are anticipated to come in at $78.52 million, below the estimated budget of $85.7 million. From that budget, $59.3 million is dedicated to build and finance the project. The remainder is comprised of capital expenditures for equipment, transaction fees, project management and other ancillary costs.

"The Markham Pan Am and Parapan Am Centre is an example of how Games infrastructure is spurring much-needed sports and recreation facilities in communities across southern Ontario," said Ian Troop, chief executive officer of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015).

The 14,816-square-metre multi-purpose centre features a glass front with splashes of colour. Inside, it boasts a triple gymnasium with approximately 3,345 square metres for training, competition and community use, as well as a 10-lane, 50-metre Olympic-sized swimming pool.

The pool also features a 12.5-metre movable floor and bulkheads, similar to those to be installed at the Pan Am and Parapan Am Aquatics Centre and Field House. The pool’s depth can be altered to meet the accessibility needs of the Centre’s clients, ensuring the highest functionality possible for both community use and as a competitive centre for aquatics.

Together, the Markham and Scarborough facilities are bringing three new Olympic-sized pools to the region, more than doubling the current number.

In addition to the athletic facilities, the Centre also makes space for several all-purpose rooms, meeting areas and a two-level fitness centre for community use at the 2.4-hectare property at 16 Main St. Unionville.

Last month, Infrastructure Ontario entered into a contract with Bondfield Construction Co. Ltd. through a public tendering process to build and finance the Markham project, as well as two other venues, for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.

The other venues are located at the downtown campus of the University of Toronto and in Etobicoke.

Construction of the Markham Pan Am and Parapan Am Centre is expected to be complete in the summer of 2014.

For more information about the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto visit www.toronto2015.org.

DCN NEWS SERVICES