ST. GEORGE, Utah – Structural damage to the foundation of the St. George recreation center means crews will have to remodel more of the building than they originally thought.
Crews discovered corrosive sulfates eating away at the building's aging foundation. Directors say its not a safety issue and isolated to this area, but its one that needs to be addressed.
“We did get in there and discover that the foundation had some deterioration that was beginning to occur,” says recreation center director Steve Bingham.
The building that houses the St. George Recreation center was built in the 1950s, following World War II. It was originally used as the National Guard armory. The facility has seen a lot of use from the community, so crews weren’t too surprised to find some foundational damage, it just means a lot more work.
“It’s not the only facility in the downtown area,” says Bingham. “There are some private facilities that consultants tell us are experiencing some of the same issues. Concrete over the past 60 years has progressed significantly.”
Bingham says the extra foundation work won’t require changes to the operational hours of the facility, but it will take about four months to make the repairs, delaying the opening of the planned renovations. The renovations include a large game room and open space to be dedicated for aerobic classes.
