Waterloo - Dignitaries gathered November 21, 2009 at the site of the Stork Family YMCA and John M. Harper District Library to celebrate the official groundbreaking for this new west-side facility.

In 2006, the City of Waterloo, the Waterloo Public Library, the Kitchener Waterloo YMCA and the University of Waterloo came together to develop the proposal that would see this new library and recreation facility developed on UW lands on the City’s west side.

“Today, we are celebrating the fruits of unconventional collaboration and innovation,” says Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran. “By working together with the YMCA, the Library and the University, we’ve been able to develop a plan for a facility that far exceeds what any one of our organizations could have offered our residents if working in isolation. The west side and our entire community will be better-served through this collaboration. It not only enables the creation of this facility, but it will see University lands serviced to support their future growth.”

The key components of the project include a combined west-side facility that brings together the district Library with a YMCA recreation facility, the opportunity to develop 23 acres of sports fields across the west campus of UW on Westmount Road, and the servicing of 87 acres of the UW’s northwest campus that would allow continued growth for UW.

“We’re delighted that we have been able to partner with the City once again to bring tremendous new community facilities to fruition,” said UW president David Johnston. “This side of the city has grown very rapidly the last decade and has been under-serviced in terms of recreation infrastructure, which will now become a reality through our unique collaboration.”

Features that will be included in the YMCA component of the facility include a four-lane lap pool with swirl pool and recreational pool attached, a fitness area, a group fitness studio and multi-purpose exercise space, multi-purpose rooms, a gymnasium, a track and a change room especially for families.

“Today, we begin to deliver on a promise to the people — especially the families — in Waterloo,” said Mike Stork, president of the Kitchener-Waterloo YMCA. “We promised to create a place that touches people’s lives by giving them a supportive environment where they can grow in spirit, mind and body and that our new Family YMCA would be where it was needed the most. I’m proud that the Stork Family YMCA will soon fulfill our promise.”

For the library, key components will include a collection of approximately 100,000 items, both print and multimedia, including collections to enhance family literacy and lifelong learning, a designated reading area for children and families, a teen zone and teen study areas, a computer technology centre, Internet workstations, and wireless access throughout the branch, a multi-purpose meeting room, which will be used for library programming and as community meeting space, and quiet study areas and collaborative work space. As well, the library portion of the building will have a green roof and a courtyard that will be used for both programming and informal meeting space.

“It has been exciting for the library to work with Teeple Architects,” says WPL Board Chair Tim Jackson. “They have brought an understanding of the innovative and yet functional design that the library wanted for this branch.” Teeple is also the architect currently working on the expansion of Waterloo’s Perimeter Institute.

Additional elements include a common foyer, public washrooms and shared mechanical and electrical systems. The designs include a low building emerging from the landscape with ample windows and a central courtyard to provide natural lighting. The building will be located on the northeast corner of the site, providing a prominent street presence to individuals passing by and inviting to pedestrians and cyclists.

The total cost of this project is $37,864,218. Of this, $24,861,036 is being funded by the City. The total cost for the building itself is $22,337,218. Of this, the Library is fundraising $530,000, while the YMCA has committed $8 million and will also fund the $237,169 running track. In addition, close to $4 million has been made possible through the Federal Government’s gas tax fund (GTF), a key component of the Building Canada infrastructure plan that is helping to build Canada’s communities by providing predictable and long-term funding in support of municipal infrastructure that contributes to cleaner air, cleaner water and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. This funding will enable the building to achieve a LEED silver standard as well as provide for a green roof for the library component of the building.

”The gas tax fund provides municipalities with the resources they need to pursue long-term goals,” says MP Peter Braid. “The federal government is proud to support this important community project, and to work together with local partners to deliver positive results.”

Says Waterloo Chief Administrative Officer Simon Farbrother, “The City is making a significant investment in this project because the return for the community is significant. Waterloo will benefit from the library, the added recreation facility, and the expanded use of open space, as well as the benefits that will come from supporting the University servicing the land.”

The building design was created by Teeple Architects and the contractor for the project is Ball Construction. The expected completion for this facility is March 2011.

For more information, Patti McKague Director, Communications and Marketing City of Waterloo 519-747-8748 or by email at patti.mckague@waterloo.ca