The current status of the Loudon Park Improvement Project can be found on the City of Nanaimo website.

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March 2026

The new Design Team is now in place for the boathouse-community centre project!

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FaulknerBrowns, an architecture firm with extensive experience in the construction of recreational facilities in BC and the UK, beat out 23 other firms and has been selected as the successful prime consultant for the project. FaulknerBrowns will design the building and oversee the entire park redevelopment project.

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FaulknerBrowns is supported by Binnie, a landscape architecture and engineering firm with extensive experience designing amazing parks. Binnie will redesign the landscaping including the park, trails, parking, playground and beach. We are truly fortunate to be getting the services of such an excellent design team with a great track record of completed projects.

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Representatives of Flatwater, Rowing, and Canoe-Kayaking met at Loudon Park with key City Staff, the Senior Architect, the Landscape Architect, the Civil Engineer, one of the Project Managers, as well as representatives of the Wellington Action Committee and the Friends of Loudon Park. There was great community spirit in evidence. Saving most of the mature trees and accessibility will be part of the design from the start this time around and we are confident we will enjoy better community support for our project going forward.

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Flatwater is now engaging with the City and the Design Team on the pre-design of the new facility.

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February 2026

The City's RFP for an architect to lead the design of the entire project closes March 4th. It has attracted interest from 65 firms, including several that worked on past designs. The successful firm should be in place by May. Subsequently, there will be another RFP for a construction manager for the build of the project. The Flatwater Society will engage with the City and the design & construction team to advocate for a functional, cost-effective, and attractive boathouse-community centre design. The City's preliminary timeline for the project is as follows:

• 2026: Design development, road closure, permitting, community engagement, trade tendering, and site development early works

• 2027: Site preparation and servicing, sanitary sewer realignment, and start of construction of the building

• 2028: Completion of construction of the building​

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January 2026

The City of Nanaimo sent out a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Prime Consultant for the design of the entire project. It closes February 25. By working with one prime consultant, a Registered Architect, they are grouping all of the design elements of the project together in one contact. The City will be launching another RFP for a construction manager for the build of the project.

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