PCL Constructors told Greater Sudbury city council on July 14 that the downtown $200-million event centre is on time and on budget as the project moves through detailed design and early construction phases.
Major materials procured, subcontract work under way
Sean Shabaga, the PCL project director assigned to the event centre, said the construction manager has completed competitive procurement for several high-cost items, including steel, rebar and concrete. Those purchases, he said, reduce the project’s exposure to volatile material price swings.
- Steel, rebar and concrete supply contracts have been competitively procured.
- Approximately 77 per cent of micropiles have been installed.
- About 41 per cent of subcontract work has been tendered.
Foundation work focused on bedrock
PCL reported that micropiles are being used to transfer the building loads to bedrock beneath downtown Sudbury’s soft soils. The micropiles are 10-inch concrete-filled steel pipes drilled by subcontractor Marathon Underground to depths as deep as 57 metres. Shabaga said roughly 77 per cent of those piles are in place and the team expects to complete micropile installation by mid-August.
"The target budget is established based on the information available at a point in time, as well as square footage cost, historical data, etc," Shabaga told council, noting the budget is revised as partners and new information come on board.
Budget monitoring and next steps
PCL described the project’s current cost estimate as a Class B budget, prepared during the detailed design phase. Shabaga said the construction manager continues to compare the evolving design and partner commitments to the target budget and make adjustments where required.
Coun. Pauline Fortin told the meeting that securing contracts for major material components was a positive sign, since those items can drive cost increases. PCL also said that about 41 per cent of all subcontract work has been tendered to date, and more packages will be issued as the design progresses.
Timeline to opening
The project team is working toward a late-2028 grand opening, timed to align with the Sudbury Wolves’ season opener. PCL was retained last year as construction manager and is coordinating the subcontractors working on site and offsite infrastructure.
| Item | Progress |
|---|---|
| Micropiles installed | 77% |
| Subcontract work tendered | 41% |
| Target opening | Late 2028 |
The presentation to council outlined ongoing cost-control measures including regular budget reviews tied to design updates and partner commitments. As detailed design continues and additional partners are confirmed, PCL indicated it will keep revising budget assumptions to reflect new information.
The continued procurement of major materials and the steady pace of micropile installation suggest the project remains on the schedule and financial trajectory set out in the most recent Class B estimate, though the construction manager emphasized those figures are monitored and adjusted as the project evolves.
