The Paul Reynolds Centre. – SaltWire File PhotoArticle contentThe City of St. John’s has announced the Paul Reynolds Community Centre will be closed until further notice, following a partial collapse of the ceiling outside the main entrance Friday evening, June 20.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe city issued a statement Friday indicating the centre was closing due to unplanned maintenance and an update would be forthcoming. Saturday morning the city announced the facility would remain shut all weekend due to the collapse, with an update to come Monday.Article contentArticle contentArticle content“The facility was closed to facilitate repairs and secure the area,” the e-mailed statement read. “The city takes safety concerns very seriously and will continue to investigated the cause of the incident.”Article contentLocated on Carrick Drive in the east end, the 74,000-square-foot facility replaced the former Wedgewood Park Recreation Centre and opened in 2017. It features a 25-metre pool and a leisure pool, along with two waterslides and various multi-purpose rooms.Article contentCentre has a history of structural problemsArticle contentThe centre, or portions of it, have been closed multiple times since its initial opening, which was postponed by six months due to construction delays.Article contentJust months after the facility opened, its original contractor, EllisDon sued the city for $4.9 million, arguing it hadn’t paid its outstanding balance on the contract. The City of St. John’s filed a counterclaim, denying the allegation and arguing EllisDon had failed to finish construction on time.Article contentArticle contentThe matter was later settled out of court.Article contentIn the two years after it opened, parts of the facility were closed several times. Within six weeks, the gym was closed for two months due to water damage under the floor.Article contentOne of the ceiling sound panels came loose in the pool area in November 2018, closing the pool until all 50 panels were replaced.Article contentThe pool was closed again for about two months in 2019 as the facility underwent nearly $1 million in repairs to its HVAC system to address issues with humidity and moisture control. City documents cited electrical upgrades needed as a result, due to corrosion of fire and life safety response systems, phones, computers and exercise equipment by excessive moisture in the building.Article contentThere was also a health and safety directive from Service NL, requiring immediate repairs to the waterslide tower to address standing water issues.Article content
Outdoor ceiling collapse forces closure of Paul Reynolds Centre in St. John’s
