Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/177297
renderings courtesy city of burnaby Edmonds Pool and Community Centre corrugated and composite aluminum panels, glazing and a glulam wood element. "The building has a major street component considering it is open to the public on three out of four sides," says Clark Campbell, project manager with contractor Smith Bros. & Wilson (BC) Ltd. (SBW). "This was obviously a very challenging project that played into our strengths." SBW is a company known for its highly skilled and dedicated work force with extensive experience in performing its own concrete components. "Being skilled in concrete gives us total control over quality and schedule," says Campbell. The natatorium area showcases just how intricate the concrete work is in this project: curved walls enclose a leisure pool and two separate lazy river channels, a whirlpool and double-flume waterslide. A six-lane pool, also constructed from concrete, round out the aquatic features. "We really wanted the pool to be special and not simply copy the regular and perhaps dated patterns that pool designs can fall into in by Stacey Carefoot he Edmonds Pool and Community Centre can be described as civic landmark meets neighbourhood gathering place. Following the results of a review of City aquatic facilities, City Council determined that there was a need for a new aquatic facility and community centre in Burnaby, B.C.'s southeast quadrant, known as the Edmonds area, due to the changing demographics and growth. An RFP in early 2007 began the process of considering how this would be achieved. "The City did look at the possibility of incorporating or adding to the existing Eastburn Community Centre, but given the requirements of the new program, current codes, and other site considerations, it was not practical nor economically feasible to do so," says John Cusano, project manager with the City of Burnaby. The Edmonds Swimming Pool and Community Centre Feasibility Study, which was presented to Council in October of 2008, took into consideration how this expanded new facility would relate to its context, in terms of its proximity to Richmond Park, Edmonds Street, the surrounding neighbourhood, and the cost of planning and construction of the proposed building. A series of workshops and discussions with Council and the committee generated a number of key objectives that the design would need to address. Most importantly, the facility would become the heart of Edmonds Village by being open, welcoming and tied to community needs; have minimal negative impact on the neighbourhood while maximizing the positive impact; and, of course, use proven technologies and passive building design to minimize energy use, energy cost and target specific overall energy usage levels below comparable Burnaby facilities. The City of Burnaby is known for its award-winning sustainable communities and this particular project is targeted to achieve LEED Silver standards. "As part of the tendered documents, the contractor was required to recycle the materials from the demolished building," says Cusano, citing as an example how the concrete from the Eastburn Community Centre was crushed after demolition and reused on the site. The new Edmonds Pool and Community Centre sits between Richmond Park to the north and the urban edge of Edmonds Street to the south. The 90,000-square-foot structure has two main entrances, allowing visitors access from the street as well as the park. There is also access from the under-building parking that is handicap accessible. The existing surroundings consist of an assortment of single-family homes and flat-roof commercial buildings. T Edmonds Pool and Community Centre p72-73EdmondsPool.indd 73 "We wanted the new building to make a statement and set the tone for future development," says project design architect Mary Chow, representing CEI Architecture Planning Interiors. "The scale of the neighbourhood and how this building would respond to the lowrise commercial/residential nature of the site was strongly considered." The design team purposely reduced the building massing by locating a one-storey mass along Humphries. "As a firm, we tend to avoid signature stylizing and prefer an approach that captures the unique qualities of each community we work with," say CEI partner Mark Hentze. "It's been fun watching the design evolve to represent what is important to Burnaby and the excitement they have for their future." The building's creative exterior detail includes use of brick veneer, Location 7282 Edmonds Street Burnaby, B.C. Owner/Developer City of Burnaby Architect CEI Architecture Planning Interiors General Contractor Smith Bros. & Wilson (BC) Ltd. Structural Consultant Fast + Epp Mechanical Consultant AME Group Electrical Consultant Acumen Engineering Civil Consultant Aplin & Martin Consultants Ltd. Landscape Architect van der Zalm + Associates Inc. Total Area 90,000 square feet Construction Cost $30 million Canada," says Hentze. The team looked at natatorium design trends in North America, Australia and Europe. A curving three-dimensional space truss supports the radial steel roof structure in the aquatic area. This main spine of the roof-supporting structure is the signature architectural and structural feature of the pool space. "The curve at the natatorium allowed us to orient the pool area directly north," says Chow. This orientation allows for maximized natural daylight while limiting the glare on the water caused by direct sunlight. Structural engineering for the project was lead by Fast+Epp's Mehrdad Jahangiri. With experience in the European construction industry, Jahangiri and his team introduced a concrete pool tank without a membrane. "The concrete takes care of the tanking issue," says Jahangiri. "If this is done properly, you are eliminating headaches later. When you wrap a tank with a membrane, it can be damaged during or after construction." Jahangiri explains that the goal is to minimize the cracks to hairline (0.2 millimetres), when (not if) water gets through the inevitable cracks, chemical reactions within the structure enable the concrete to self-heal. Other key features include two full-size gyms and a weight and cardio room with state-of-the-art fitness equipment. A fitness studio, an indoor playground, games room, three multi-purpose rooms and three meeting rooms provide activity space for all ages. A senior's lounge, youth lounge and coffee bar round out the amenities. Mark van der Zalm, principal landscape architect at van der Zalm + Associates Inc., describes the landscape as, "very urban. At first, we chose the metaphor of swimmers in the pool to help develop the form for the exterior paving, planting and site furnishings," he says. "Using the notion of directing pedestrians to the main entry through a linear landscape that conjured the length of the pool was the main form generator for us." Van der Zalm and his team worked closely with the Burnaby Parks Department to ensure that the exterior accommodates area residents in a social and friendly way. "This project is a parks and recreation facility. It must be fun and have an element of 'play' throughout," says van der Zalm. ■ december 2012 /73 11/16/12 3:41 PM