Renovation of a fitness / recreation center in Columbia, Missouri. Working plans call for the renovation of a fitness / recreation center.

The City of Columbia, MO plans to renovate the Armory Sports and Recreation Center with upgrades to its heating, ventilation and air conditioning system and interior lighting. The work is intended to modernise ageing building systems, improve energy efficiency and occupant comfort, and reduce long-term maintenance costs at the facility. The renovations are scheduled to begin in October 2026, with completion anticipated by January 2027, and will be funded through the city internal loan fund supported by Capital Improvement Sales Tax. Informational Coverage: This project receives automated updates from sources only and will not be actively tracked by our Content team. Information is provided as-is for planning awareness. Should you wish to provide information on this project or are seeking an update, please email contentcase@constructconnect.com. As things get older, parts get obselete. The fixes become more difficult and more expensive," Hempel said. "At this point, in addition to the energy savings and comfort improvements that the HVAC improvements will allow, the savings and maintenance will be substantial as well. Camren Cross, recreation supervisor at the Armory, says the system has needed many repairs. "It is an old system that needs to be updated," Cross said. "When it's stressed, like in extreme temperatures, especially on a day when it switches from, like, a 30 degree swing, 40 degree swing, which does happen in either direction whether it's from hot to cold or cold to hot, it'll pop. Next thing you know, I'm calling for repairs." The improvements will cost $2,038,726 and will be funded under the city's internal loan fund, which is funded by Capital Improvement Sales Tax. The sustainability department says that the savings from the project will offset the amount of money invested in approximately 12 years. "The math is based on savings, and those savings are energy and then operations," Hempel said. "The repairs to the old equipment at the armory have progressively gotten more difficult and more expensive. So if we were to do nothing, those expenses would carry on into the future." The work is planned to begin in October of this year with the completion expected by January 2027.