St. Jacobs Arena Renovations

Woolwich council has approved $2.7 million in capital improvements for the St. Jacobs Arena, clearing the way for a significant renovation of the 50-year-old recreational facility at 29 Parkside Drive in St. Jacobs.

The project will replace the deteriorating concrete rink slab and underfloor refrigeration components, install new arena boards and bleachers, and replace the existing speaker system.

Cimco Refrigeration has been selected as general contractor and will provide in-house project management, engineering and construction services.

Design work will begin this year, with construction scheduled to start in April. The township needs the work completed in time for the 2027-28 ice season.

St. Jacobs Arena at 29 Parkside Drive

The project involves the existing St. Jacobs Arena at 29 Parkside Drive in Woolwich Township.

The Record reports that the facility was constructed in 1974 over a former outdoor ice rink and was originally developed as a seasonal, single-pad arena. Although upgrades and additions have been completed over the years, several major components have now exceeded their anticipated service lives.

A township staff report identified significant deterioration in some of the arena's most important infrastructure, particularly the rink floor and refrigeration system.

Existing Concrete Rink Slab Is Cracking

One of the largest portions of the project will be replacement of the existing concrete rink slab.

According to the staff report, cracking is occurring throughout the existing slab. The condition of the underfloor refrigeration system is another concern. Cooling headers required replacement in 2017 and have since deteriorated significantly. Township officials also anticipate that refrigerant leaks in the underfloor piping system could become more frequent as the equipment continues to age.

Rather than continue making repairs to individual components, the township plans to replace the rink slab and associated systems as part of a comprehensive capital project.

Boards and Bleachers Will Be Replaced

The renovation extends beyond the rink floor. Existing arena boards and bleachers do not meet current safety and accessibility standards and are scheduled for replacement.

The major improvements include:

• Replacement of the concrete rink slab
• Replacement of underfloor refrigeration components
• New arena boards
• New bleachers
• Safety and accessibility improvements associated with the new seating and boards
• Replacement of the arena speaker system

Township staff concluded that replacing these components is the most financially prudent and cost-effective approach compared with constructing an entirely new recreational facility.

Cimco Refrigeration Will Lead Construction

Cimco Refrigeration will serve as general contractor for the $2.7 million project. The company will provide project management, engineering and construction services in-house.

The refrigeration component will be particularly important because the system beneath the concrete slab is responsible for creating and maintaining the arena's ice surface.

Replacement of the rink floor will require coordinated demolition, refrigeration, piping and concrete work before a new ice surface can be established. This type of renovation requires careful sequencing because much of the mechanical infrastructure is located beneath the finished rink slab and cannot be easily accessed once construction is complete.

Construction Scheduled to Start in April

Woolwich council provided prebudget approval so the township can proceed with the project early enough to meet its construction schedule.

Design work will get underway this year.

Construction is scheduled to begin in April, giving the contractor a defined window to complete the renovation before the 2027-28 ice season.

The schedule will require demolition and removal of the existing rink floor, installation of replacement refrigeration components, construction of the new slab, installation of the new boards and bleachers, and commissioning of the arena systems before the facility can return to service.

Construction Trades Involved

The specialized nature of the St. Jacobs Arena renovation could involve several construction trades and suppliers, including:

• Arena refrigeration contractors
• Concrete demolition contractors
• Concrete forming and finishing contractors
• Refrigeration piping installers
• Mechanical contractors
• Plumbing contractors
• Electrical contractors
• Arena board and safety glass installers
• Bleacher and seating installers
• Accessibility improvement contractors
• Structural and miscellaneous metal contractors
• Audio and speaker system installers
• Flooring and finishing contractors
• Equipment suppliers
• General labour and material hauling contractors

Concrete and refrigeration contractors will be especially important because the new ice-making infrastructure must be installed and coordinated with construction of the replacement rink slab.

$2.7 Million Project Funding

The township is prepared to use reserve funds to keep the project moving while pursuing financial assistance from other levels of government.

More than $1.4 million could temporarily come from Woolwich's park reserve fund as an interim worst-case funding source. Using that amount required a bylaw exemption and would nearly deplete the reserve.

A previous application for federal funding was unsuccessful, but the township is pursuing newly available funding opportunities.

Staff have submitted an application seeking $1 million through the federal Build Communities Strong Fund. The township also intends to seek funding through Ontario's Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund. If either application is successful, outside funding could reduce the amount Woolwich ultimately needs to draw from its reserves.

2027-28 Ice Season Drives the Schedule

The construction deadline is particularly important because the township wants the arena available for the 2027-28 ice season.

Waiting for confirmation of provincial or federal funding before approving the project could have jeopardized that schedule. Council therefore authorized the project to proceed while staff continue pursuing outside funding. The result is a defined construction program that can advance through design this year and into field work beginning in April.

For contractors and suppliers, the $2.7 million St. Jacobs Arena renovation is a relatively concentrated project, but it includes several specialized construction packages. Refrigeration, concrete, mechanical systems, arena boards, bleachers, accessibility work and audio equipment will all need to come together within a limited construction window.

With council approval now secured and Cimco Refrigeration selected as general contractor, the next major milestone will be completion of design work followed by the planned April construction start.