Corner Brook city council has approved a half-million-dollar modification to the plans for its new regional rec centre.

The city was advised of the changes to the front of the $25 million building just before Christmas.

It involves the inclusion of translucent panels that create more natural light in the facility.

Council held a special public meeting yesterday to rubber-stamp the changes.

Mayor Jim Parsons says energy efficiency was a key consideration in the construction.

He noted the silver LEAD certification is an appealing feature because it includes energy consumption limits, meaning energy that’s lost has to be made up somewhere else.

Contractor Pomerleau broke ground at the Grenfell Campus site last week, with completion expected in 2024.

The project is cost-shared between the federal and provincial governments, with the City of Corner Brook contributing $5 million to the cost.