The blueprints for Ingersoll’s proposed recreation complex should soon be ready to review.

The Town of Ingersoll just hired London’s Nicholson Sheffield Architects Inc. – a veteran firm that has designed several residential and commercial buildings in London and St. Thomas – to design its ambitious multi-use recreation centre, a needed next step in its application for provincial and federal funding.

Ingersoll CAO William Tigert told Ingersoll council its application will be more attractive to senior government decision makers if the project is close to “shovel ready.”

The report noted it’s unknown what the total design costs will be, but an updated financial analysis will be part of the 2020 budget. In the Nicholson Sheffield contract, fees ranged from $80 to $225 an hour, depending on the employee involved in the work.

The recreation centre project itself could cost as much as $22 million. If the town’s  application is successful, the Investing in Canada Infrastructure program will pick up to 73 per cent of the price tag.

The long-discussed recreation centre has been a hot topic for the town for several years, but has come together quickly in the past few months as the town prepared its submission for the infrastructure program.

Councillors decided on the details for the recreation centre at their August meeting.

The centre will include an ice pad, an indoor walking track, a community room and a full gymnasium while allowing the opportunity to add an additional rink and other features down the road.

To put it together quickly, council agreed not to go through a bid and tender process, and essentially handpicked Nicholson Sheffield Architects.

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