Cambridge council confirms contractor for Preston Auditorium project

If you live in the Preston area of Cambridge, big changes are coming to your community.

The Preston Memorial Auditorium is getting a major $28,860,000 facelift and the company behind the work has now been decided.

Kitchener’s Ball Construction Ltd. will renovate and expand the Preston Auditorium to include a new NHL-size ice pad, as well as new seating, change rooms, washrooms and an office space. The existing change rooms and ice pad will also see improvements.

In order to accommodate the expansion as well as new parking requirements, the Parks Services, Gymnastics and Club/Storage buildings will be demolished.

City of Cambridge staff expect additional project expenditures (including soft costs for staffing, permitting, and a transformer) to cost $4.2 million, resulting in a total project budget of $33.1 million. That will have an impact on the average household of about $5.54 on the annual property tax bill.

Ward 7 Councillor Scott Hamilton said the price tag is significant, but it’s a worthy investment.

“If it’s an extra five or 10 dollars on a tax bill to get an NHL size rink, to get the change rooms that the [Preston] Rivulettes came in and asked for us provide to them so many times,” said Hamilton. “We’ve heard over and over from Preston and the community that this is something they need. So if we want to provide this to the community, that is unfortunately the cost, but it comes with tremendous benefits.”

The arena is located in Ward 3, which is represented by Councillor Corey Kimpson. She also commented on what this project can do for families in the area.

“This Preston Auditorium expansion is more than just ice rinks and it’s more than just recreation,” said Kimpson. “It’s also providing space for the Preston Heights community associations to provide community programming for young people and families within the Preston community.”

Mayor Jan Liggett was also in full support of the project.

“It’s not just what we’re providing here in bricks and mortar, it’s what we’re doing for ther future of our community as far as the children go.”

Ball Construction Ltd. earned the contract by a very slim margin. Their bid was just $380,000 lower than Waterloo’s Melloul Blamey. Hamilton added that the two bids prove that Cambridge is getting a deal at market rate.

The projected end date for the renovations is fall 2025. More details can be found here.