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The development represented a significant commitment to the expanding community that had grown from a shortage of obtainable family residences in the city of Toronto. Developing the functional program required community engagement to identify their desired recreation services, wellness priorities and multiuse opportunities. The municipality was in early stages of growth and looking at future growth predictions. This was a driving factor in establishing a functional program that would allow the community to grow into the space.
Through the Visioning Session, one of our very first steps, it was determined that the building be an inviting, safe and fun place to foster a healthy lifestyle through recreation, sport and cultural activities that is accessible to all!” Further to this vision, the Town had three other priorities. The first was that the project pursues LEED objectives with Silver as their target: a challenge for this building type especially given the predetermined green field site. The second was for the public to be able to walk into the facility and understand it immediately. The third was that it had to have a “wow” factor.
The interior program consists of four major components: an NHL-sized twin pad facility, a pool complex, a double gymnasium, and community service spaces. The twin pads consist of one rink with capacity for 900 spectators with fold-down seating, and the other able to hold 300 spectators, with bench seats. Below the seating are nine accessible change rooms, a larger home team room, a public skate change area and associated officials rooms. This entire area can be secured from the rest of the facility.
Both rinks take advantage of waste heat from the refrigeration system to provide hydronic in-floor heating. In addition, rainwater is captured and stored in a cistern for use in the manufacturing of the arena ice. Secondary heat reclaim of grey-water from shower drains, which runs through a series of coils, is used to preheat supply water to the showers, reducing the energy required to heat water throughout the building.
The pool complex, located in the southwest corner, takes advantage of views to the south, as well as offering the citizens an opportunity to see into the facility; achieving the goal of transparency. An eight-lane competition Class A pool is overlooked by 100 spectator seats on the second floor. The remainder of the pool deck consists of a beach walk-in leisure pool complete with water features, and TSSA compliant water slide, plus a separate therapy pool. One of the special features of this pool area is the glazing fins on the west side, allowing in ample northern light in order to deal with pool surface glare without eliminating the bountiful natural light.
The 9,300 sq. ft. double gymnasium has permanent seating for up to 100 spectators, and includes an upper level running track, which has a large cardio equipment area that overlooks the front entry drop-off that also serves as a weather-protected area for the drop-off. Both the gym and pool share a barrier-free family change room, separate men’s and women’s change rooms as well as upgraded men’s and women’s change rooms complete with saunas.
The Community component is made up of several pieces distributed through the building: three multi-purpose rooms, a 9,200 sq. ft. fitness room with a separate 2,700 sq. ft. aerobics studio and a child-minding centre. *SPA were Prime Consultants with association from Lett Architects
