Rock Way Options From Feasibility Study Kitchener Seniors Centre Feb 11, 2013

The Rockway Centre Options
Rockway Centre
Feasibility Study
and Business Case
www.kitchener.ca/rockwaystudy
Prepared by the RETHINK GROUP, Leisure Services Planning Management,
in association with AECOM Canada Architects Ltd. and C. Talbot & Associates
February 11, 2013
Rockway Centre Feasibility Study and Business Case

Project Team
The project team includes community members,
member of city council, staff and the consultant team
Research and
Consultation Inputs
The project team considered the following key
research in the development of the 8 options:
Community and seniors age profile at local,
provincial and national levels
Membership, program and facility use patterns,
with a focus on the Rockway Centre and Rockway
members
Recreation, social, leisure and other trends for
mid-age and older adults
Provincial study of older adult centres
The heritage assessment reports, Phase I and II
Five workshops including: Rockway participants
(2), community partners and stakeholders and
representatives of Rockway, Downtown and
Breithaupt Centre Advisory Councils,
representatives of the Mayors Advisory Council
for Kitchener Seniors, and municipal staff
City-wide survey of adults and older adults
focusing on their current and future leisure
interests and expectations (1046 surveys
completed)
A community forum attended by councillors and
community members
Input was also collected from the project team
and staff
Characteristics of
the Ideal Older Adult Centre
The following are the characteristics of the ideal
older adult centre in Kitchener:
o High quality
o Energy-efficient
o Flexible/adaptable
o Bright with natural light
o Single story facility
o Secure
o Welcoming, comfortable and homey
o Suitable colours and textures
o Accessible to transit and to major roads
Components of the Ideal

Full-Service Older Adult Centre
The following components have been identified
from all of the research and consultation as
most desirable in the ideal older adult centre
in Kitchener:
o a welcoming, comfortable lobby
o flexible, multi-use program rooms of various
sizes that can accommodate active and passive
recreation
o a teaching kitchen
o a gymnasium/auditorium
o circulation space that can be used for walking
o social/sitting spaces throughout
o a caf and a flexible space for the noon hour
meal program
o a games room
o storage for motorized scooters and bicycles
o patio with BBQs
o outdoor amenities
o walking paths
o floral gardens and green space
o community garden

Development of the Options
Evaluation of the Options
Investigations began by looking at repair and

renovation or expansion of the existing building.
Also examined the possibility of replacing the
building on the Rockway site.
During consultations, suggestions to consider
other sites and the possibility of a mixed-use
development on the Rockway site or elsewhere
were heard.
This resulted in eight options being developed and
evaluated, considering the pros and cons, and
measuring value for investment.
To illustrate the options, four conceptual designs
were developed.
Significant research and analysis is necessary for
the three mixed-use options, so no conceptual
designs were completed for these options due to
time and resource constraints.
The option to repair and upgrade the current
Rockway Centre facility would not change the
layout significantly, so a design was not prepared
for that option.
The eight options will be evaluated by the project

team using the following criteria:
Functionality to meet current & future interests
Market appeal to current and future older adults
Durability/age/life cycle value new vs. old
buildings
Degree of disruptiveness during construction
Capital cost
Operating cost expenses & potential to generate
revenue
Impact on the heritage attributes of the Rockway
Centre
Value for capital investment
Public Input
Included in this booklet are eight options for your
consideration and comment. The last page of this
booklet can be removed and returned to the nearest
community centre, or alternatively can be completed
on line at www.kitchener.ca/rockwaystudy.
Next Steps
Continue to gather community input on the options
from residents; displays and presentations at
various locations; information and comment cards
available at city community centres and city web
site: February to March 2013
Summarize input and incorporate key consultation
and research information into development of
report and recommendations
Project team selects the preferred option(s)
for councils consideration
Complete draft report for project team review and
comment
Present final report and recommended option(s)
to city council on May 27, 2013
For more information, please contact:

Mark Hildebrand, Director
Community Programs and Services
Community Services Department
Tel: (519) 741-2687 Email: mark.hildebrand@kitchener.ca
www.kitchener.ca/rockwaystudy

Option One:
Repair the Rockway Centre and Modify the Facility

to Meet Accessibility Requirements
Summary:
Disadvantages
Complete the required repairs and improvements

to the building including: foundation drainage;
barrier-free access; elevator; kitchen; and energy
efficiency.
Consider minor structural changes.
Capital investment only slightly improves the

functionality and appeal of the facility.
Does not meet the needs of many current and
most future older adults, especially mid-age
and younger adults.
The entire Rockway Centre program would have
to be relocated during renovation.
Capital is invested in a 60+ year old building.
Features:
No additional space added, some space will be
lost due to larger washrooms.
Updated dcor.
Meets AODA accessibility requirements.
Site:
Retains current outdoor amenities.

No impact on parking.
Served by transit route #7.
Current number of parking spots 112
Advantages
Retains Rockway Centre on current site.

Meets the needs of many current users.
Requires the smallest capital investment.
Retains the exterior heritage attributes and most
interior heritage attributes.
Renovations will extend the life of the building.
Increased energy efficiency after major upgrades
to existing building.
Do not have to purchase another site.
Preliminary Construction Cost

Estimate: $2-3 million
Highest operating cost per square foot, lowest
potential for revenue generation (Score: 1/5).
Lowest value for capital investment (Score: 1/5).
Currently no capital budget allocation for
renovation costs.

Option Two:
Expand the Rockway Centre and

Preserve the Heritage Exterior of the Original Building
Summary:
Advantages
Addition to existing Rockway Centre - to the west

(toward Preston Street) & south.
Designed to retain and display exterior heritage
features of the Rockway Centre.
Major renovations required on the inside to create
more functional areas, to modernize all services
and meet accessibility standards.
Addition would be designed to provide a fullservice older adult centre.
35,750 square foot facility.
Retains Rockway Centre on same site.

Functionality and appeal of the overall facility is
enhanced.
Will meet most of the needs of current and future
older adults who desire a centre.
Exterior heritage attributes are retained.
Features:
Several multi-purpose rooms of various sizes suitable for active and passive recreation;
gymnasium/auditorium; lobby & social spaces;
caf.
Food services located on main level.
Opportunity to address the below grade feel of
the lower level of the building.
Site:
Necessary to purchase lot at King and Preston
Streets (containing billboards).
Retains centre on current site.
Surface parking reduced from 112 to 101.
Outdoor amenities will be impacted.
Disadvantages
Interior heritage attributes are not retained, along
with the ancillary buildings.
Efforts to retain exterior heritage features will incur
additional costs.
The three floor design is retained, resulting in a
less efficient layout and increased capital cost and
operating costs.
All centre programs would have to be relocated
while the facility is under construction.
Capital is invested in 60+ year old building.
Need to acquire lot containing billboards.
Reduced parking on site with anticipated increase
in use.
Preliminary Construction
Cost Estimate: $10 million
Not including unknown site remedial work and cost
to purchase the lot containing the billboards.
Medium operating expenses per square foot and
good revenue potential (Score: 4/5).
Reasonable value for capital investment
(Score: 3/5).
Currently no capital budget allocation exists.
Option 2 - Addition to Existing Building

Option Three:
Replace the Rockway Centre with

a Purpose-Built Older Adult Centre on the Same Site
Summary:
Disadvantages
Design and construct approximately 31,500

square foot purpose-built facility.
Designed to provide full service older adult centre.

during construction.
Heritage attributes of the existing Rockway Centre
are not retained.
Will incur demolition cost ($370,000).
Necessary to purchase the lot containing
billboards.
Reduced parking on site with anticipated
increase in use.
Features:
Several multi-purpose rooms of various sizes,
suitable for active and passive recreation;
caf.
Single storey design.
Site:
billboards.
Outdoor amenities will be reduced.
Parking at grade, although reduced
from 112 to 91.
Site regraded to optimize layout.
Advantages
Purpose-built facility will achieve the highest level
of functionality and appeal.
Will meet the needs of current and future older
adults who desire a centre.
Energy efficient facility.
Cost Estimate: $8.5 million
Not including unknown site remedial work and cost
to purchase the lot containing the billboards.
Lowest operating expenses per square foot and
Good value for capital investment (Score: 4/5).
Option 3 - New Building on Existing Site

Option Four:
Build an Addition onto Forest Heights Community Centre

Summary:
Advantages
Addition to accommodate and enhance older adult

programming.
Enlarge existing facility to 33,000 square feet - and
rearrange some of the interior spaces and outdoor
facilities.
All Rockway programs would move to a new, more
functional and appealing facility.
Purpose-built addition will achieve the highest level

Will enhance and add value to an existing city
recreation facility - serving all ages.
Leverage available facility space to meet
programming needs of older adults.
No disruption to the current Rockway program
while the facility is constructed.
Distributes older adult facilities geographically
throughout the City of Kitchener, with this west end
location.
Addresses the need for a future expansion of
the Forest Heights Community Centre.
Allows for alternate uses of the Rockway site.
Significant population of older adults living in
this community.
Minimal disruption of neighbourhood association
programs during construction.
Features:
Designed to provide full service older adult centre.
caf.
Existing facility has three multi-purpose rooms and
single gym.
Retains pre-school facility, although moved.
Site:
1700 Queens Blvd. near intersection of Queens
Blvd. and Fischer-Hallman Rd.
Adjacent to transit hub served by six different bus
routes and the iXpress route.
Parking expanded and accommodated at grade
(132 spaces).
On-site fire and ambulance services.
Adequate surface parking on site.
Adjacent amenities such as shopping mall.
Disadvantages
Will not retain the current site of the Rockway
Centre.

Estimate: $6.5 million
Lower operating expenses per square foot and
Excellent value for capital investment (Score: 5/5).
.
Option 4 - Addition to Forest Heights Community Centre

Option Five:
Build an Older Adult Recreation Centre on Another Site

Summary:
Disadvantages
Design and construct 35,000 square foot purposebuilt facility.

Designed to provide a full service older adult
centre.
Depending on the site, the facility could be a single
or two storey building.
Requirement to purchase 3-4 acres of land.

Centre.
Features:
gymnasium / auditorium; lobby & social spaces;
caf.
Site:
Undetermined site and location.
Require 3-4 acres to accommodate the building,
parking and outdoor amenities
Key criteria for a site will include proximity to a
major roadway, access to public. transit, and a
location where the older adult population is more
concentrated.
142 parking spaces accommodated at grade
Advantages
No disruption to the current Rockway programs

Lowest operating expenses per square foot
and excellent revenue potential (Score: 5/5).
Option 5 - New Building on Greenfield Site

Option Six:
Build a Mixed-use Facility on Another Site

and Include an Older Adult Recreation Centre
Summary:
Advantages
The required analysis of this option cannot be

completed within the scope of this project.
Concept drawings have not been developed for
this option.
Market research is required to determine the best
uses of the site, (e.g. retail, offices and/or housing
etc.) and to develop a site concept.
A high density development analysis for the site
would also have to be completed.
This would likely involve a private public
partnership.
Assumes a 35,000 square foot full service older
adult centre.

Complements older adult social and recreation
program with other compatible uses.
Parking will be accommodated at grade, assuming
the site is large enough.
No disruption to the current Rockway programs
Features
Requires purchase of land.

Unknown site and site conditions
Centre.
Older adult component would include several multipurpose rooms of various sizes, suitable for active
and passive recreation; gymnasium / auditorium;
lobby & social spaces; caf.
Other uses to be determined.
Site:
Undetermined site size and location.
Key criteria for a site will include proximity to a
major roadway; access to public transit; and a
location where the older adult population is more
concentrated.
Disadvantages

(for the recreation component only) - does not include land cost or the cost of the other facilities.
excellent revenue potential (Score: 5/5).
Potential for some costs to be offset through
private public partnerships.

Option Seven:
Build a Mixed-Use Structure

as an Addition to the Rockway Centre
Summary:
this option.
uses of the site, (e.g. retail, offices and/or housing
etc.) and to develop a site concept.
A high density development analysis for the site
would also have to be completed.
This would likely involve a private public
partnership.
Assumes a 35,750 square foot full service older
adult centre.
Features:
Older adult component would include several
multi-purpose rooms of various sizes, suitable for
active and passive recreation; gymnasium /
auditorium; lobby & social spaces; caf.
Site:
billboards.
Will require underground parking.
Advantages
A purpose-built addition will achieve a high level of
functionality and appeal.

The appeal of this facility is enhanced with the
potential of complementary uses.
Potentially retains the exterior heritage attributes of
the Rockway Centre.
Disadvantages
Interior heritage attributes will be impacted.
Efforts to retain exterior heritage features will incur
additional costs.
A two or more storey design may be necessary
resulting in a less efficient layout and increased
capital cost and operating costs.
while the facility is under construction.
Need to acquire the lot containing billboards.
Most parking will be underground, which is much
more costly and less appealing to an older adult
population.
Cost Estimate: $10 million
(for the recreation component only) - not including
unknown site remedial work and the cost to purchase
the lot containing the billboards. Also, does not
include the cost of the other facilities.
Medium operating expenses per square foot and
Medium value for capital investment (Score: 3/5).
private public partnerships

Option Eight:
Build a Mixed-Use Structure in

Place of the Rockway Centre
Summary:
this option.
uses of the site, (e.g. retail, offices and/or housing etc.)
and to develop a site concept.
A high density development analysis for the site would
also have to be completed.
This would likely involve a private public partnership.
Assumes a 31,500 square foot full service older adult
centre.
Features:
Older adult component would include several multipurpose rooms of various sizes, suitable for active
and passive recreation; gymnasium / auditorium;
lobby & social spaces; caf.
Site:
billboards.
Will require underground parking.
Served by Transit Route #7.
Advantages
Purpose-built facility will achieve a high level of
functionality and appeal.

The appeal of this facility is enhanced with the
potential of complementary uses.
Disadvantages
External and internal heritage attributes of the
Rockway Centre will be impacted .
A two or more storey design may be necessary
resulting in a less efficient layout and increased
capital cost and operating costs.
All Rockway Centre programs would have to be
relocated while the facility is under construction.
Need to acquire the lot containing billboards.
Most parking will be underground, which is much
more costly and less appealing to an older adult
population.
Will incur demolition cost ($370,000).
Cost Estimate: $8.5 million
(for the recreation component only) - not including
unknown site remedial work and the cost to purchase
the lot containing the billboards. Also, does not
include the cost of the other uses.
excellent revenue potential (Score: 5/5).
private public partnerships

Options Feedback Form
Feedback FormAfter months of research and consultation with older adults, service providers and the
community, the project team has developed options for how to meet the current and future needs of older
adults. The options outlined in this guide are being shared with the public for review and comments before a
recommendation is presented to council later this spring.
Your feedback is appreciated and necessary for this process. Please review the options outlined (below,
in this guide), identify your top three preferred options and provide any additional comments you would like to
make about the options or the study.
Feedback received through this process will be included in the final report to council.
Please select your

top three preferred options:
Option 1: Repair the Rockway Centre and Modify the Facility to Meet Accessibility Requirements
Why? ....................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................
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Option 2: Expand the Rockway Centre and Preserve the Heritage Exterior of the Original Building
Why? ....................................................................................................................................................................
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Option 3: Replace the Rockway Centre with a Purpose-Built Older Adult Centre on the Same Site
Why? ....................................................................................................................................................................
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Option 4: Build an Addition onto Forest Heights Community Centre
Why? ....................................................................................................................................................................
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Option 5: Build an Older Adult Recreation Centre
on Another Site
Why? ....................................................................................................................................................................
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Option 6: Build a Mixed-use Facility on Another Site and Include an Older Adult Recreation Centre
Why? ....................................................................................................................................................................
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Option 7: Build a Mixed-Use Structure as an Addition to the Rockway Centre
Why? ....................................................................................................................................................................
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Option 8: Build a Mixed-Use Structure in Place of the Rockway Centre
Why? ....................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................
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Do you have any additional comments?
..............................................................................................................................................................................
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To ensure we receive only one set of comments from each resident, please include your name and address:
..............................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................
Please circle your age range:
Under 35
36-45
46-55
56-65
66-75
76-85
85+

Notes
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The Rockway Centre Options
Rockway Centre
Feasibility Study
and Business Case

Rock Way Options From Feasibility Study Kitchener Seniors Centre Feb 11, 2013

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The Rockway Centre Options

Rockway Centre Feasibility Study and Business Case

Components of the Ideal

Rockway Centre Feasibility Study and Business Case

Evaluation of the Options

Investigations began by looking at repair and

The eight options will be evaluated by the project

For more information, please contact:

Rockway Centre Feasibility Study and Business Case

Repair the Rockway Centre and Modify the Facility

Complete the required repairs and improvements

Capital investment only slightly improves the

Retains current outdoor amenities.

Retains Rockway Centre on current site.

Preliminary Construction Cost

Rockway Centre Feasibility Study and Business Case

Expand the Rockway Centre and

Addition to existing Rockway Centre - to the west

Retains Rockway Centre on same site.

Option 2 - Addition to Existing Building

Rockway Centre Feasibility Study and Business Case

Replace the Rockway Centre with

Design and construct approximately 31,500

All centre programs would have to be relocated

Option 3 - New Building on Existing Site

Rockway Centre Feasibility Study and Business Case

Build an Addition onto Forest Heights Community Centre

Addition to accommodate and enhance older adult

Purpose-built addition will achieve the highest level

Preliminary Construction Cost

Option 4 - Addition to Forest Heights Community Centre

Rockway Centre Feasibility Study and Business Case

Build an Older Adult Recreation Centre on Another Site

Design and construct 35,000 square foot purposebuilt facility.

Requirement to purchase 3-4 acres of land.

Preliminary Construction Cost

Option 5 - New Building on Greenfield Site

Rockway Centre Feasibility Study and Business Case

Build a Mixed-use Facility on Another Site

The required analysis of this option cannot be

Purpose-built facility will achieve the highest level

Requires purchase of land.

Preliminary Construction Cost

Rockway Centre Feasibility Study and Business Case

Build a Mixed-Use Structure

Will meet the needs of current and future older

Rockway Centre Feasibility Study and Business Case

Build a Mixed-Use Structure in

Will meet the needs of current and future older

Rockway Centre Feasibility Study and Business Case

Please select your

Rockway Centre Feasibility Study and Business Case

Rockway Centre Feasibility Study and Business Case

The Rockway Centre Options

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