Saugeen Shores Aquatic and Wellness Centre

The Saugeen Shores Aquatic and Wellness Centre marks a defining investment in the Town’s future as an ambitious expansion to the existing Plex Community Complex that strengthens recreation, wellness, and civic life for generations to come. Designed and administrated by Salter Pilon Architecture, in partnership with Unity Design Studio (Schematic Design Only), the project brings aquatic and fitness facilities together under one roof with the existing ice arena, while enhancing the broader site as a complete community destination.

From its inception, the project was shaped by local voices. The Town’s leadership emphasized open participation, and the design team guided an inclusive engagement process that gathered input from Council, municipal staff, user groups, and residents. The result is a facility that directly reflects the community’s aspirations—one that connects the vibrancy of youth programs with accessibility and wellness features for all ages.

Community engagement was fundamental to the project’s success. Over 500 residents attended the public visioning event, providing feedback on two proposed design options and shaping the final concept. The outcome was a larger, competition-ready eight-lane pool, a dedicated therapy pool, wellness studios, and an accessible indoor walking track that caters to both seniors and families.

Council and staff were actively involved in each decision milestone. The design team presented schematic options with corresponding cost and schedule implications, allowing for informed choices grounded in transparency. Through rigorous value engineering, the expanded program was realized within the fixed budget and without compromising the Town’s sustainability or operational goals.

Architecturally, the new facility complements the existing Plex while establishing its own civic identity. The addition is oriented to optimize daylight and energy performance, featuring a high-efficiency building envelope and solar PV-ready infrastructure. Material selections reflect the Town’s natural surroundings including using CPL wood paneling on nataorium, with textures and tones inspired by Lake Huron’s escarpment and shoreline.

Delivered through a Construction Management model, the project supports an accelerated schedule to replace the aging community pool before its end of life in 2025. Maintaining ongoing use of the Plex and municipal offices during construction required careful phasing, nighttime utility transitions, and continuous communication between the construction manager, Town staff, and the design team.

As confidence in the project grew, the Town expanded Salter Pilon’s scope to include the renovation of the Municipal Administration Offices and Council Chambers. The inclusion of this work within the larger contract created efficiencies in procurement, construction sequencing, and design continuity. The shared reception now forms a central public entrance connecting the administrative and recreation programs, presenting a unified civic presence for the community.

The Saugeen Shores Aquatic and Wellness Centre stands as both a destination and a symbol of collective achievement. It brings together sport, wellness, and governance in a single, cohesive setting—reflecting the community’s values of transparency, inclusivity, and collaboration. Through the combined effort of Council, residents, and the design team, Saugeen Shores has created a facility that enhances recreation, while celebrating the strength and unity of its people.