Request for proposals stage closed for Pan American Aquatics Centre, Field House and Canadian Sport Institute Ontario project

TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2012 /CNW/ - Infrastructure Ontario today announced that the request for proposals stage has closed for short-listed building teams to submit bids to design, build and finance a high-performance aquatics and athletics facility that will house the Pan American Aquatics Centre (PAAC), Field House and the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO).

The multipurpose facility will be constructed on the University of Toronto Scarborough campus for the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games. Following the Games, it will be a venue for high-performance and university sports and will provide much-needed community recreation space. The centre will be jointly owned by the City of Toronto and the University of Toronto.

The Aquatics Centre project will proceed under Infrastructure Ontario's alternative financing and procurement model, which transfers the risks associated with designing, constructing and financing the facilities to the private sector.

A request for qualifications issued in December 2010 short-listed three teams with the design and construction capability, experience and financial capacity to undertake a project of this size and complexity.

Over the next several months, Infrastructure Ontario, TO2015, the City of Toronto and the University of Toronto will evaluate the bidders' proposals based on criteria set out in the RFP. The successful project team will be selected and announced in summer 2012. Construction is expected to begin shortly thereafter and be completed in 2014. The contract value will be announced publicly following financial close.

Infrastructure Ontario and TO2015 are working with municipalities in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, universities and provincial agencies to procure and deliver the Athletes' Village and Games venues on time and on budget.

Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to delivering some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects, on time and on budget; managing one of the largest real estate portfolios in Canada and providing real estate services, such as asset management, and property and land management; and providing the public sector and not-for-profit organizations with long-term financing to renew public infrastructure.

The Pan/Parapan American Games are one of the world's largest international multi-sport events, held every four years for athletes of the 41 member nations of the Pan American Sport Organization (PASO). The Games are comprised of all Olympic Summer Games sports, as well as traditional Pan American sports. The Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games will draw up to 10,000 athletes and officials to municipalities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe area. The Toronto 2015 Pan American Games will take place July 10-26 and the Parapan American Games August 7-14.

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca or www.toronto2015.org for more information.

Quotes:

Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Infrastructure

"Today's announcement brings us one step closer to breaking ground on the Pan American Aquatics Centre. This project will not only serve as a focal point for competition during the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games, it will provide long-lasting benefits to the community as a hub for local activities, university and high-performance sport once the Games are over."

Honourable Charles Sousa, Minister responsible for the Pan/Parapan American Games

"The Pan American Aquatics Centre is part of the largest investment in sport and recreation facilities in Ontario's history. The project will create hundreds of jobs and provide lasting benefits to Ontario's athletes, the university and the local community."

Backgrounder

STATUS OF MAJOR VENUES FOR
THE TORONTO 2015 PAN/PARAPAN AMERICAN GAMES

Infrastructure Ontario has been working with TO2015 and other partners to select companies to develop major infrastructure projects for the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games (Games). This process is proceeding well and all major venues will be under construction by the end of 2012.

The Province of Ontario's investment in the Games will provide new and redeveloped infrastructure that will benefit the Greater Toronto Area and enhance sporting facilities at post-secondary schools and in communities across southern Ontario. During the Games, competitive athletes will have world-class facilities in which to train, compete and rest. The status of the major venues is as follows:

Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games Athletes' Village

Construction of the Athletes' Village in time for the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games is accelerating development in the West Don Lands by five to ten years and creating much-needed public infrastructure as well as new market and affordable housing in Toronto.

The project will enhance the broader waterfront community through the development of a new, sustainable, mixed-use neighbourhood with a new YMCA and George Brown College's first student residence. The new development will also provide 10,000 athletes, coaches and team officials with a safe and supportive environment during the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games.

Status: Under construction as of January 2012. The Province has entered into an agreement with Dundee Kilmer Developments to design, build and finance the Athletes' Village project.

Pan American Aquatics Centre (PAAC), Field House and Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO)

This high-performance aquatics and athletics facility will be constructed on the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus and will include:

• an Aquatics Centre featuring two 10-lane, 52-metre pools (including bulkheads) and a 5-metre deep diving tank with 5-metre, 7.5-metre and 10-metre platforms, with a Games-time seating capacity of approximately 6,000;
• a Field House featuring flexible gymnasium space for training and competition with a Games-time seating capacity of approximately 2,000, as well as an indoor recreational track and fitness area including cardio and weightlifting facilities;
• a Canadian Sport Institute Ontario complex that will provide sport performance services and coaching and training facilities.

Students, high-performance athletes, sporting groups and local residents will all have access to the multipurpose facility after the Games.

Status: A preferred bidder will be selected in spring 2012. Construction will begin in summer 2012.

Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Stadia and Velodrome

This project involves construction of a new Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, construction of a velodrome, as well as a 5,000 fixed-seat stadium at York University in Toronto.

Ivor Wynne Stadium is one of the four sites that have been selected for soccer competitions; it will be used for the Games' preliminary and medal round match play. After the Games, Ivor Wynne Stadium will continue to be home to the Hamilton Tiger Cats and serve as a venue for community soccer games and training, concerts and events.

The velodrome will host the track cycling competition during the Games. It will be designed to meet all of the technical requirements of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), including a 250-metre indoor wooden track and fixed and temporary seating to accommodate 2,250.

York University will gain much-needed training and competition facilities for high-performance athletes in track and field, rugby and soccer. Students, faculty and local residents will have access to the facility for recreational use following the Games.

Status: A request for proposals was issued in September 2011. Construction will begin in late summer/fall 2012.

Pan American Field Hockey Centre, Markham Pool and Field House, and Etobicoke Olympium

The project includes:

• Construction of a new Markham Pool and Field House facility that will host the water polo and badminton competitions for the Games.
• Renovations and improvements to the existing Etobicoke Olympium facility, which will be the training site for aquatic disciplines including swimming, water polo, diving and synchronized swimming. Following the Games, local residents will have access to much improved facilities.
• Construction of a new two-field Pan American Field Hockey Centre located on University of Toronto's St. George campus. This will be Ontario's first dedicated international field hockey venue and will host all levels of the game, from international to local.

Status: A request for proposals will be issued in February 2012. Construction will begin in summer 2012.

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca or www.toronto2015.org for more information.

Tom Boreskie Infrastructure Ontario [phone]

Elissa Freeman TO2015 [phone]

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