The search is on to find an architect to design the new 32 million dollar community recreation centre in Owen Sound.
City Council directed staff last night to go ahead with a Request for Proposal.
A separate R-F-P for a construction manager will go out shortly thereafter.
City Manager Jim Harrold says they can’t take the typical path of doing it sequentially because it takes too long and they have only until March of 2011 to complete the project.
He says they will set up a system where both the architect and the construction manager will benefit from each other’s expertise.
He says the challenge will be to maintain quality while doing the job quickly.
Harrold says both the architect and construction manager will be answering to a steering committee made up of members from the City and from the Family Y.
He says that will be the committee where things are talked about and direction on the project is made.
He says the purpose is to make sure the City’s interests are taken care of.
Harrold says Council will be going over the architecture R-F-Ps sometime in mid-July and will be making a decision within 4 to 6 weeks.
He hopes to get the shovels in the ground by the start of winter but says it will require a lot of cooperation.