Four sheets in new multiplex

City of Kamloops staff and consultants floated the idea of fitting six ice sheets into the arena multiplex planned in Dufferin before determining four sheets would provide a better fit for the site and vision for the building.

The Build Kamloops council committee voted Monday to recommend council authorize designing the multiplex to a maximum of four ice rinks — the number originally eyed by the city as early concepts were discussed over the summer.

This fall, the city received permission from voters through an alternative approval process to borrow money for the arena multiplex, as well as other Build Kamloops projects. Up to $125 million has been earmarked for the Dufferin facility.

Matt Kachel, the city’s infrastructure delivery divisional manager, said staff and consultants took a look at the city-owned site at 2070 Hillside Dr. to see how the property could be maximized for the project.

“The site is not flat. There's quite a bit of earthworks to do there, literally a bit of a mountain we have to move to make things flat for the arena multiplex,” Kachel said.

“The team made a four-sheet option work, and we also looked at a six sheet just to look at what might be possible.”

Kachel said through this exercise, the team determined a six-sheet multiplex wouldn’t fit within current site boundaries, and would limit other options for building design. However, building four ice sheets would minimize earthworks, optimize site flow and will allow for complimentary functions and amenities.

Sherri Holmes, City of Kamloops sport, recreation and wellness manager, told the committee there will be full spectator seating around one sheet of ice, with minimal seating around the other three.

Holmes said the building will also include four inclusive dressing rooms per ice sheet, a total of 16 dressing rooms. There will be two officials’ dressing rooms per sheet, for a total of eight rooms.

There will be a coaches’ space, multi-purpose rooms, operations and administration space and a fitness room that will be able to be used by the public.

"If we're strategic around how we build this fitness space, it can be a really great athlete development space, and then make sure that when you're dropping your children off to hockey practice, that you can get to go and have a workout as well,” Holmes said.

The building will be designed with the latest AV equipment as user groups have indicated live-streaming capabilities are important.

The multiplex will be designed with enough room for people to move around the space while carrying large bags of equipment. The design will provide consideration for efficient back-of-house design, and will include storage rooms, and enough offices for staff and local sports organizations.

“These are two areas where people often ask for more space — increased storage, increased office space. But those do come at a cost for our programming space," Holmes said. "Making sure we find the right balance there is going to be key."

Holmes said the city has been getting information from user groups about which elements they want to see in the space. A lot of legwork has been done by the Kamloops Sports Council, which has been meeting with ice and dry floor users over several months.

Information has also been gathered from Build Kamloops working committees to understand the needs for the space.

“We are looking at building for today and planning for tomorrow, as we know, these buildings need to last for quite some time, and so trying to anticipate what the intended use will be in decades from now, and what our city needs will be,” Holmes said.

Coun. Kelly Hall asked if the city was thinking of including mini rinks into the design.

Kachel said this would be one of the possible added amenities in the arena, noting he’s aware mini rinks have come up as a desirable addition for the space.

Coun. Mike O’Reilly asked if the city would be speaking with groups who frequently use neighbouring Kenna Cartwright Park, including trail users and local naturalist and conservation groups, as additions to the multiplex area could benefit them as well.

Holmes said these users will be approached as the city continues to work on concept design.

“We'll be starting that consultation fairly soon here, and we're looking at also doing a survey to get some feedback from those user groups as well so we can hear what their concerns are and see how we can address them,” she said.