Regina committee created to oversee development of new aquatic facility, possible Brandt Centre replacement

Regina residents should get used to the term "catalyst," as a decision made Wednesday means they're likely to hear it a lot more in the coming years.

The city's executive council voted to create what it is calling a "catalyst committee," which will oversee a trio of proposals that — if they are eventually approved — would shape the future of the city's downtown core. 

The projects include an indoor aquatics facility that would replace the aging Lawson Aquatic Centre, a possible replacement for the Brandt Centre and a feasibility study for a multi-purpose outdoor facility geared toward high-performance baseball.

Regina's executive committee decided a new committee would be best equipped to ensure the possible developments are developed in tandem, rather than being siloed off from one another. 

"This is about growth. It is not about staying the same," Tim Reid, CEO and president of Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL), told the executive committee. 

Reid will be joined by Coun. Bob Hawkins in creating the catalyst committee.

The projects would help generate growth, development and private funding in the city, according to REAL.

Other possible catalyst projects include the planned modernization of the Regina Central Library, and the planned expansion and improvement of Saskatchewan Drive and Dewdney Avenue. 

The catalyst committee must now operate on a tight deadline to get its terms of reference approved by city council and file a report by the fourth quarter of 2022. 

"Ultimately, I think sometimes quick is good. It forces us all to pay attention and it doesn't allow time to lapse between the conversations," said Reid. 

On Wednesday, the public got its most detailed look so far at what these projects could look like. 

Here's what you need to know:

Aquatic centre

The feasibility study in front of the committee on Wednesday looked at options meant to address the city's 2019 Recreation Master Plan and its top priority of improving the city's indoor aquatic facilities. 

They included a renovation and expansion of the existing Lawson Aquatic Centre and the construction of a new facility. 

The Lawson Aquatic Centre was built in 1975. Despite being well maintained and undergoing numerous renovations and remedial projects, the building will require a number of upgrades to extend its useful life. 

Bringing it up to the standards of a modern facility would "require a significant intervention," the report notes. 

In order to extend the life of the Lawson for another 10 to 15 years the city would need to spend around $21 million. 

The report notes that the renovation and new facility options were generally similar in cost and as a result the report recommends the construction of a new facility as the path forward. 

While only in its initial stages the total project costs are estimated to be $173 million with the construction set to begin in 2024. 

The cost is subject to change and the report makes it clear that the construction of a new indoor aquatic facility will require the city to find multiple sources of funding. 

A final location for the aquatic centre has yet to be decided, but Reid let it slip on Tuesday that REAL believed it would fit best at The Yards, the site of the former rail yard north of Saskatchewan Drive and South of Dewdney Avenue. 

Replacing the Brandt Centre

REAL also presented an update on the potential replacement of the Brandt Centre, a multi-use arena that serves as the home of the Regina Pats, the Canadian Western Agribition and other events. 

Just like the Lawson, the Brandt Centre was built in the mid-to-late 1970s and is now aging. 

The report in front of executive committee says REAL has envisioned a mid-sized multi-purpose event centre featuring a maximum 10,000-seat configuration as a replacement.

Three potential sites were short-listed. However, full details on those three sites are only contained in a confidential final report that is not available to the public. 

All three of the short-listed sites are located downtown and are numbered as sites 01, 02 and 05 in the map below. 

REAL is recommending location 05 as it has the "greatest potential" for the creation of an entertainment district. 

The cost of constructing the new event centre is projected to be between $100 million and $120 million with the additional cost of purchasing the potential sites pegged at between $32.7 million and $33.1 million. 

That's means the initial estimates of the project are between $132.7 million and $153.1 million. 

The construction of a new facility would not mean the end of the current Brandt Centre.

REAL recommends that it be redeveloped at the same time as the new facility is constructed.

It presented two options; repurposing the existing space as a sport and recreation centre — projected to cost between $5.2 million and $15.6 million — or for agricultural use — projected at between $2.7 million and $6.5 million. 

Baseball facility

The third proposal that could help reshape downtown Regina is a potential new multi-purpose, synthetic turf outdoor facility that would compliment the needs of high-performance baseball. 

Council agreed to provide $15,000 in order to help fund a feasibility study into the project. 

The City of Regina has 167 ball diamonds around the city, but part of the city's Recreation Master Plan recommends the city look at quality over quantity. 

One of the ways of addressing the quality would be the construction of a high-performance baseball diamond in partnership with other organizations if the option arises. 

The feasibility report would look at where to put the proposed stadium.

The proposed stadium is projected to have a budget between $15 million and $23 million and feature 2,500 and 4,000 seats.