The public is invited to a groundbreaking ceremony for the new rec center on Wed., Aug. 24, at 11 a.m., at 320 W. 500 North, near the Veterans Memorial Pool.

Provo City will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its new recreation center on August 24 at 11 a.m. at the construction site, 320 W. 500 North, next to the Veterans Memorial Pool. Provo Mayor John Curtis, Municipal Council Chair Rick Healey, and others will speak. The event is free and open to the public.

Voters approved a $39 million bond to build the new facility last November. After a competitive process, the city hired a team to design and build the project. The architect is a partnership between VCBO Architecture of Salt Lake City and Barker Rinker Seacat of Denver. Sandy-based Layton Construction is the general contractor.

Representatives from VCBO, BRS, and Layton Construction began their collaboration earlier this year with a series of meetings in Provo, culminating in a conceptual design presented to the public in early May.

The building will be approximately 160,000 square feet and will include a variety of amenities, including a walking/jogging track, fitness equipment, a leisure pool, a competition pool, indoor play equipment, basketball courts, racquetball courts, drop-in child watch, party rooms, and senior and community spaces. See the final schematic drawings here.

The new building will replace several aging recreation facilities around the city that have major structural and mechanical issues. It is expected to open early 2013.