The design of the new $6.76 million downtown community centre is beginning to take shape.
The latest layout for the City Centre Community Centre was presented to city council's parks and recreation committee last week.
City staff and the design team have been deep in consultation with the public since the fall to find out what people want to see in the new facility.
The 33,000 sq. ft. centre - on Minoru Boulevard at Firbridge Way as part of the massive under-construction Quintet development - is scheduled for a fall 2014 completion.
It will occupy the first two floors of a four-storey building with Trinity Western University (TWU) occupying the third and fourth floors.
The community centre and TWU would share a lobby with an elevator and stairs leading to the university space.
After various consultations, the public indicated to the project design team what they'd like to see in the centre programs such as:
dance, yoga or tai chi;
weight training or cardio;
reading, homework, Internet browsing or other computer use;
drawing, sculpture or painting;
music or acting;
cooking classes or catered events;
meetings, club events or card playing;
table tennis or billiards.
Since receiving the feedback from the community, the project team has been refining the layout of the centre to ensure that community needs are identified and the facility's spaces are used to their full potential.
It's proposed there will be a large community living space and multi-purpose room.
And since the original concept was introduced last year, it's now proposed to incorporate a fitness centre and supporting changerooms.
The fitness centre will add another $360,000 to the project's cost, which is included in the $6.76 million total projection.
The cost of the project will be submitted to the city's 2013 capital budget for approval.
"The proposed design for the City Centre Community Centre meets the program and service needs identified for the growing and changing city centre area," wrote the city's community recreation services manager, Elizabeth Ayers, in her report.
"The facility will - become a community gathering place and contribute to the vibrancy of Richmond's downtown."
The city and the City Centre Community Association are managing the design of the new community centre.
