New player and referee change rooms will be added to Arena 3 at Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex (PSLC) in 2020, with the purpose of improving function and user experiences.
COQUITLAM, BC, Jan. 8, 2020 – New player and referee change rooms will be added to Arena 3 at Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex (PSLC) in 2020, with the purpose of improving function and user experiences.
Work is set to begin at the end of January on the 4,150-square-foot (386-square metre) addition on PSLC’s south side that will house four new player change rooms and two referee change rooms, complete with showers and washrooms.
The addition is expected to be ready for use by the fall 2020 ice season.
Expansion Supported by User Groups
The renovation follows the ice conversion of Arena 3 in 2018, in keeping with the City’s Parks, Recreation and Culture Strategic Plan.
The City has been monitoring Arena 3’s programming and use since the conversion. Although Arena 3 has been well used for lessons, school programs, drop-in skating and the Coquitlam Skating Club, the addition of change rooms will improve the arena’s function, increase its revenue potential, and enhance the City’s ability to meet the growing demand for arena time.
The additional change rooms will make PSLC more attractive for tournament-use, will provide more scheduling options, and give user groups more flexibility to trade and share ice times.
As well, the new change rooms will provide a better experience for volunteers and referees, and provide skating club users with space to change and secure their belongings. Coquitlam staff expect the new change rooms to be used daily.
The expansion project was supported by the Coquitlam Sports Centre User Association.
User Impact
The City will work with the contractor to minimize the impact of construction on PSLC users as much as possible. Facility visitors can expect:
- Periodic entrance closures – detours will be provided;
- A two-week closure of Arena 3 in the spring – user groups will be alerted well in advance; and
- Noise near the construction zone.
About 26 small-car parking stalls on the south side of the building will be permanently removed to make room for the addition and a sidewalk. An evaluation of ongoing parking needs will be a priority in the City’s Poirier Precinct Study in 2020 or 2021.
City staff will work with tournament and event organizers to develop parking plans that maximize the use of available spaces, including signage plans for peak periods.
Additional Project Details
Funding of the $2.65-million project comes from the City’s approved capital plans budget. No significant impact on the ongoing operating budget is expected.
The expansion will be constructed to blend in with the existing building, including matching the colour, materials and graphics from the Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame.
For more details about the project, including construction updates, visit www.coquitlam.ca/pslc.