On September 4, a City of Calgary building inspection found that some parts of the Willow Ridge Community Association (WRCA) did not meet the building code and needed to be closed immediately for safety reasons. The affected areas are limited to the original building structure built in 1970, which include the main entrance, office, kitchen area, front hallway, upstairs washrooms, and Maple Hall. The WRCA immediately complied with the inspection report and closed the affected areas.
Over the past nine months, we have been very busy behind the scenes. We completed a full engineering report with the assistance of Stantec and the City of Calgary. We went through a formal RFP bid process to select a contractor, we applied for Building Permits, and we created a detailed construction schedule that would give our renters the best possible re-entry plan and minimize interruption during the school year.
The building was recently renovated. How did this happen?
While the building was renovated in 2019, the areas that have been closed were not part of the scope during that expansion. The renovation was focused on making additions to the building, such as the Willow Room. As is common with renovations, areas of the building that were not part of the renovation were not included in the building review in 2019.
When will the building reopen?
Our last renter is June 26, and on June 27 our staff and volunteers will be moving everything from the office, storage room, mechanical room, and Maple room up to the Willow Hall for storage over the summer. Construction is expected to begin on June 28, 2025, and take approximately two months. During construction, the entire building will be closed, except for the Willow Ridge Kids Club Daycare.
Why is the Willow Ridge Kids Club Daycare allowed to remain open during construction?
The Daycare is located on the lower level, on the North side of the building in an area that was part of our 2019 expansion. This area meets the building code and will not require any further upgrades. The daycare was built in the summer of 2023, and includes a separate HVAC system, separate washrooms, and a separate outside entrance. They can safely operate while the rest of the building remains closed for construction.
Who will cover the costs to repair the building?
The total expected cost for this upgrade is approximately $535,000, which includes a 15% contingency. The design phase (not included in this cost) has been paid for by the City of Calgary Engineering Consulting Program (ECP), which is a grant available to all Community Associations. The construction costs will be shared between the City of Calgary Lifecycle Capital Grant (LCG) and the Willow Ridge Community Association. We have confirmed $300,000 in funding from the LCG. We have also applied for Provincial funding to cover the remaining costs, however at this time, WRCA is responsible for the additional $235,000.
Updates and photos will be shared on our socials throughout the summer. If you are curious to see what’s happening inside and want to follow along with us on this journey, please follow us on Instagram @mywillowridge and Facebook @willowridgecommunity.
Click here to the Maple Ridge Community News home page for the latest Maple Ridge community updates.
Click here to the Willow Park Community News home page for the latest Willow Park community updates.
