Short-listed teams have submitted their bids to build a multi-purpose aquatics and athletics facility for the Toronto 2015 Pan-Parapan American Games.

The proposals will be evaluated over the next several months by Infrastructure Ontario, the Games committee, the City of Toronto, and the University of Toronto.

The successful project team will be selected and announced this summer. Construction is expected to begin shortly after that and the facility will be completed in 2014.

The value of the contract will be announced publicly following financial close.

The facility will be built at the University of Toronto Scarborough campus and include:

  • A Pan American Aquatics Centre: The aquatics centre will seat approximately 6,000 people and feature two 10-lane, 52-metre pools and a five-metre-deep diving tank.
  • A field house: The field house will seat approximately 2,000 people and feature an indoor recreational track, fitness area and flexible gym space for training.
  • A Canadian Sport Institute Ontario: The Institute will provide coaching and training facilities.

Infrastructure Minister Bob Chiarelli said the announcement brings the province one step closer to breaking ground on the facility.

“This project will not only serve as a focal point for competition during the Toronto 2015 Pan-Parapan American Games, it will provide long lasting benefits to the community as a hub for local activities, university and high-performance sport once the Games are over.”

The Games are one of the world’s largest international multi-sport events, held every four years for athletes of the 41-member nations of the Pan American Sports Organization.