City council approves $1.36M design costs for new pool

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. —  The City of Fort St. John has approved a contract for two companies to design its new aquatic facility at a cost of $1.36 million. 

On May 11th, the City of Fort St. John council approved a multi-party contract for the design and cost validation of the new aquatic facility and indoor fieldhouse.

The city’s aquatic facility working group took over the new pool project in September 2025, completing several public engagement sessions and announcing plans to break ground in 2027. 

The group presented an estimated cost of $185 million to the city council in a March council meeting. Ahead of a referendum in October, the city began the legislative process to borrow the funds needed to build the replacement facility. 

The contract is between the City of Fort St. John, Alberta-based company Chandos Construction LP and Vancouver-based hcma architecture and design. 

This was one of three proposals submitted to the city in response to its request for proposals for the new aquatic facility, which was open from March 30th to April 20th. 

Following a staff evaluation, the approved proposal put before the council on May 11th details a budget of approximately $1.36 million.

“As the design progresses, additional parties will be added to this multi-party contract,” staff stated in the report. 

“These additional parties will have unique skills, experience and knowledge that will be necessary to ensure the successful design, cost estimate, and construction of the facility.”

Those parties would contribute to the pool mechanical design, HVAC mechanical design, electrical design, civil design and more. 

“At the end of this general design and cost validation process, staff will come back to [the] council with a recommendation seeking direction from [the] council on the completion of the detailed design and construction of the complete facility,” the report stated. 

To read the complete report reviewed by council on May 11th, see below.