Lawson Pool replacement will cost an additional $40 million: city report

WATCH: A new report shows the replacement for the Lawson Aquatic Centre's pool will now cost $281 million, up $40 million from just months ago.

Costs for Regina’s new indoor aquatic facility (IAF) project have seen another hike.

According to an administration report posted to the city’s website, the replacement for the Lawson Pool will now cost $285.1 million – up from $241 million just nine months ago.

“The project team has completed extensive value engineering work with the goal of aligning the design with the council approved budget,” the report said. “Despite these efforts, a Class B estimate prepared by the construction manager, WestridgeWright Aquatics Joint Venture Inc. has revealed the design is $40 million over budget, resulting in a total project budget of $285.1 million.”

On October 9, 2024, city council approved a capital budget of $245.1 million along with an approved scope for the IAF. The city says administration has advanced the design and worked with third-party cost consultants and the construction manager to update cost estimates.

• ‘Three years in the making’: Regina city council approves preliminary funding plan for Lawson Aquatic Centre replacement

“Administration is also working with an external consulting firm on project sponsorship and naming rights to reduce city contributions and debt required for the facility,” the report said, “However, due to the early status of this work, no funding is currently confirmed.”

“As a result, the proposed funding sources do not include naming and sponsorship revenue,” administration added.

Funding shortfall

Three options are in front of city councillors when the report is presented Wednesday at the next executive committee meeting.

Option one is recommended by administration and suggests the city maintain the project’s scope, increase the budget by the shortfall and increase debt financing.

“Maintaining the project scope reflects the extensive community engagement that has occurred throughout the project lifecycle,” administration said. “This scope was developed and recommended from the IAF feasibility study and addresses the long-term needs of the community.”

“This will be funded through the reallocation of $30 million from the Recreation and Culture Capital Plan in addition to $10 million in debt financing.”

Option two would see the pool reduced in size by shortening the length of one pool to 30 metres, from the originally planned 50 metres.

Program lane swimming space from the leisure area, a cold plunge pool and one waterslide would also be removed.

While leisure amenities like the lazy river length and wave pool size would be reduced.

“This option requires a capital budget increase of $30 million. This option would also require reallocation of funds from the Recreation and Culture Capital Plan as identified in option one, but would not require additional debt financing,” the city said.

Option three would reduce scope through elimination of leisure aquatic spaces and increase the project’s budget by $15 million through re-prioritization of the Massey Pool re-build.

“Option three involves a substantial re-scoping of the project and re-allocating an additional $21.704 million from reconstruction of outdoor pools,” the report outlined. “This option eliminates the leisure aquatics area and focuses on providing two 50-metre pools to maintain the competition aquatic requirements.”

“This option is the least developed and requires the most time for design, carries more risk than the other options and could not be delivered within the current budget,” administration added.

The report says regardless of the committee’s decision, work on the IAF continues in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

“The recommended option also allows administration to continue with design work seamlessly and begin construction as noted in quarter three of 2025,” it said.

The city hopes to have the new IAF completed by 2029.