The last of the CUPlex components to be finished is the Battlefords Tribal Council Field House, which has an expected substantial completion date of Aug. 31.
Currently, the structure looks skeletal, with only a frame erected.
On our tour over one month ago, it was the only structure that did not have walls fully constructed, and much of the floor of the future facility was still frozen dirt.
Nevertheless, the field house, when finished, will have a variety of features. The entrance, which will be located near the entrance to the Battlefords and District Co-op Aquatics Centre, will feature a pro shop and a small concession. In keeping with the barrier-free philosophy of the rest of the CUPlex, the whole of the field house will be accessible by wheelchair, as it will feature an elevator to the upper levels.
Structurally, the field house will feature two "court" areas - the south field is intended for futsal (a kind of indoor soccer), with the north intended to be multipurpose. Based on the size of the fields, it will accommodate one soccer field or three volleyball courts. The soccer field will have removable turf, allowing the field house, along with the curling complex, to be used for conventions. While it will be possible to drive a vehicle into the south field, the north field cannot support vehicles. It can still be used for conventions, however.
For those sports fans, the structure will have bleachers facing both fields running through the middle of the building. The building's change rooms and bathrooms will also be in the middle of the building.
As for uses, City administration is "brainstorming all their options." The facility will be used for indoor soccer and indoor volleyball, but the City hopes to attract as many users as possible to the space. The building's third floor will feature a running track, and, though it is not yet clear whether the track can be used with bikes, it will certainly see a great deal of use from walking and jogging clubs. Otherwise, the City hopes to find other uses for the facility, from golf practice to indoor lawn bowling to more obscure sports practised by the immigrant communities of the Battlefords.
Like the aquatics component of the CUPlex, the field house will be run by the city, while the pro shop, and likely the concession, will be leased out to a third party.
The major contractor for the field house is Scott Builders of Red Deer. They won the tender at a bid price of $11,751,000 in February 2011.
As of Jan. 17 of this year, an estimated $4.78 million in work had been completed. According to the January update to council on the project from Parks and Recreation Director Keith Anderson, the look-ahead called for the installation of the running track, the wall insulation and exterior, the perimeter angle on the conventional steel portion of the building and preparation for installation of "Q decking" on the conventional component of the building.
So far the field house component has been greeted with enthusiasm from user groups who plan to use it, including Battlefords Youth Soccer.
That organization plans to use the facility in a big way, and gave a hefty donation last fall of $75,000 towards the facility. They followed it up in late January with another $5,000.
Darcy Funkner of Battlefords Youth Soccer said their contribution will go toward the soccer pitches, including the special flooring it will require.
Fundraising co-chair Heath Gabruch noted Battlefords Youth Soccer was a strong supporter of what they see is the benefit of the field house to the community.
Other financial supporters have included, among others, Battlefords Senior Soccer, Home Hardware Building Centre towards the corridor in the facility and car dealer Scott Campbell.
In 2010, Campbell announced a donation of $150,000 towards naming rights to one of the indoor soccer pitches in the facility, which will go be known as Scott Campbell Field.
The naming rights for the entire structure were awarded to Battlefords Tribal Council for $750,000. They presented their first instalment of $250,000 towards the facility in the fall of 2010.
