Paul Reynolds Centre pool closed again — this time because of mechanical issue
The pool was previously closed from Nov. 9 to Dec. 14 to replace the ceiling panels
The pool at the Paul Reynolds Community Centre will remain closed until at least mid-next week, as consultants from outside the province try to fix a mechanical issue that forced the closure on May 10.
The mechanical problem stems from the air handling unit of the pool, which regulates and circulates air, according to St. John's city councillor Jamie Korab.
"We have local consultants that are working on it here and they've been consulting with some organizations outside the province, so it is taking more time than we'd like, but again, you know, safety has to be our utmost priority," he said Wednesday.
Whether the work, including the use of out-of-province consultants, is covered by warranty is still being determined, said Korab.
"They're still trying to iron out what the exact issue is, what the fix is."
Korab said the city apologizes for the inconvenience caused by the unexpected shutdown, since it has prompted last-minute cancellations of kids' birthday parties and swim lessons.
The next update will be provided on May 22, and the pool will remain closed until at least that day.
Not the first pool problem
The swimming pool was shut down from Nov. 14 until Dec. 9 last year because a sound panel came loose. An inspection at the time found that all 50 of the panels had to be removed.
Korab insists these issues are not unusual, despite the facility — and the pool — opening less than two years ago.
"With any major building, with any multimillion-dollar project … there are unfortunately incidents that happen, whether it be mechanical or whether it be other things in the building that unfortunately sometimes will cause delays. It's not uncommon," he said.
In July 2017, about six weeks after it opened, the gymnasium at the Paul Reynolds Community Centre was forced to close until September because moisture was captured under the floor during installation. That $110,000 repair bill was covered under the contractor's warranty.
Floor and ceiling problems aside, the Paul Reynolds Community Centre is at the centre of a lawsuit between the City of St. John's and the facility's main contractor.
In July 2017, London, Ont.-based EllisDon sued the city for $4.9 million — the amount it said was still owing on the $32-million recreation facility, which had opened just the month before.
In a counterclaim, the City of St. John's denied it owed EllisDon $4.9 million, and said the contractor failed to complete the centre — which was originally set to open in January 2017 — on time.
EllisDon's response to the city's counterclaim was that delays in the centre's completion were the fault of the city and the city's project consultant, Ron Fougere Associates.
When asked about the lawsuit on Wednesday, Korab told CBC, "Right now, that's still pending litigation.… It's not something we're able to comment on at this time."
With files from Daniel MacEachern