In the spring of 2020, the City of Ottawa conducted a Survey on how the Alexander Community Centre should potentially be renovated and improved. The feed back has been considered and the City has developed 3 potential concept plans to expand the existing facility to add a full size gymnasium and increase opportunities for group activities for children and adults, including day programs, events and meetings and potentially a library.

The Options Analysis is the first step in the realization of the addition and renovation of the Alexander Community Centre project. Securing additional funding is the next necessary step to continue developing the project into schematic and design development phase

We want your feedback on the renovation and expansion of the Alexander Community Centre in Ward 16.

The proposed concept plans and options analysis are in the document library on the right. Share your feedback below.

What we heard

Alexander Community Centre addition and renovation -Survey 2 Building Options

Thank you to everyone who responded to our survey about options for renovating and building an addition at the Alexander Community Centre.

This is the second round of consultation building upon what we heard from residents and City staff in the spring of 2020 about what features they would prefer in a potential renovation and addition. For a summary of the results of the first survey please refer to the document library.

This second survey was open for 9 weeks from June 1, 2021 to August 5, 2021. Respondents provided feedback on the design of three potential options to expand the existing facility to add a full-size gymnasium and increase opportunities for group activities for children and adults, including day programs, events, and meetings and potentially develop a library at the Alexander Community Centre. There were 89 visitors to the site and 54 contributors for this round of consultation. Responses were also forwarded directly to the file lead and the ward Councilor.

In this round of public consultation responses are summarized below.

• A bigger kitchen that can accommodate two families cooking at the same time is requested.
• The kitchen should have access to greenspace or the courtyard.
• Some respondents wanted the kitchen closer to the multi-purpose rooms while others wanted it closer to the gymnasium.
• Respondents supported the provision of a teen lounge and computer space.
• A respondent commented that a dedicated library entrance is preferred.
• There was overall support for the gym to be able to be divided and access to storage from both sides of the gym divider is needed.
• There was general support for the creation of a more inclusive and accessible facility that includes a gender-neutral washroom and change room as well as renovations that would increase the light and space in the building.

The consultants reviewed all the feedback and based on the information Option 3 came forward as the preferred option to continue to develop as it affords the most advantages and fewest disadvantages. Option 3 achieves the project objectives providing a full size gymnasium, the largest kitchen of the options with access to the outdoor courtyard, a potential library space, multipurpose rooms, a teen lounge and separate computer area and has the lowest cost for structural modifications. The angle and placement of the gymnasium in this option mitigates the requirements for structural upgrades and provides programmatic opportunities as well. Also, the gender-neutral family changeroom in Option 3 saves on footprint and promotes inclusion.

There were also comments suggested that more thought go into the materials and treatments of the facility to ensure they meet programing and accessibility needs and create an atmosphere of inclusivity. Specific materials and treatments will be looked at in the next stage of design development and the design details will be confirmed through further public engagement once a firm has been engaged for detail design and construction management.

Next steps

The Options Analysis is the first step in the realization of the addition and renovation of the Alexander Community Centre the outcome of this project is a preferred design direction and summary report. Securing funding is the next necessary step to continue developing the preferred option into the schematic and design development and working drawing phase and then ultimately tender and construction.