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COURTESY PERKINS + WILL CANADA Regional Recreation Centre – City of Owen Sound by Helen Lammers-Helps he City of Owen Sound, working together with the YMCA, has developed a recreation hub for the residents of Owen Sound and surrounding area. While the recreation centre itself is owned by the City of Owen Sound, the YMCA will operate the aquatic and itness centres. The collaboration takes advantage of synergies that will reduce operating costs, increase traf ic and create a focal point for the community. Located at Victoria Park, on a major road that acts as a gateway to the downtown, the new facility boasts multiple recreational opportunities. There are two NHL-sized ice surfaces, with barrier-free change rooms, and warm and cold viewing areas. The aquatic centre has two pools: an eight-lane, competition-sized pool as well as a 1,650-square-foot warm water leisure pool. The wheelchair accessible leisure pool features a shallow water entry and an alcove with jets for therapy and relaxation. A gymnasium offers multiple sport opportunities such as basketball, volleyball and badminton. The Wellness and Conditioning Centre features a itness studio for yoga and Pilates, a cycling studio, as well as strength and cardiovascular training equipment. A two-lane track runs along the perimeter of the Wellness and Conditioning Centre and has views of the pool, gym, ice pads and the outdoors. Outdoor sports ields and a running track are already in place at Victoria Park, and the new twin-pad arena has replaced an outdated ice surface located nearby. The exterior of the Regional Recreation Centre is a combination of corrugated metal, local limestone and glass. By using repeating themes the different T Regional Recreation Centre – City of Owen Sound p.46-47RecCntrOwenSnd.indd 47 parts are blended into a cohesive whole, says Duff Balmer of architectural irm Perkins + Will Canada Inc. "We've kept the palette simple but we played with patterning, especially with the metal," he says. "We've taken standard materials but tried to give them a different reading," he continues. Two types of recurring patterns were used in the corrugated metal. There is a vertical, random-banded pattern, which is also picked up as a motif inside the building, and a striated horizontal pattern of bands that sweep across the front. Large areas of exterior glazing utilized in the design showcase the major program elements, and to create a sense of transparency and openness from within the building. The random pattern of translucent bands creates a strong theme within the architecture while helping to maximize natural daylight in the arena and pool spaces and minimizing unwanted glare, says Balmer. The exterior facade also blends with the arena, which is a pre-engineered structure. The other areas were framed cast-in-place concrete and structural steel. The 27-metre roof span over the aquatic centre is supported by a series of 1,400 deep steel girders tapered to 600 millimetres at each end, says David Gray, an engineer with Halcrow Yolles. The design features many sustainable features, says Brad McRoberts, director of operations with the City of Owen Sound. "Every category of LEED certi ication has been included in the design," says Balmer. One of the major energy saving features is the recovery of heat from the ice refrigeration system, says McRoberts. Recovered waste heat is used to supply heat to other parts of the complex and to pre-heat domestic and pool water. Heat wheels on the boilers capture heat from exhausting air and use it to pre-heat the air supply for the change rooms. These heat recovery systems signi icantly reduce energy use and will result in lower operating costs for the facility. having a negative impact on adjacent neighbourhoods. Light is focused downward to maintain dark skies at night. • The landscape design calls for use of bioswales, sodded areas and minimal asphalt to minimize stormwater runoff and maximize recharge of underground aquifers. Other sustainable features include: • installation of low-flow plumbing fixtures which reduce potable water use by 40 per cent. • Use of environmentally friendly building products. Fifty per cent of the wood used was FSC-certified. Locally sourced materials – such as the limestone donated by a local company – were used. Low-VOC adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings, carpet, composite woods and laminates as well as materials containing high levels of recycled content were also used. • Occupancy sensors on the lights save electricity by automatically turning off lights when rooms have not been used for a specified amount of time. • A reflective roof minimizes heat island effect. • Glazing was strategically selected to provide the desired esthetic while minimizing against solar glare and heat gain within the program areas. A translucent-opaque film in the glass minimizes direct sunlight while maximizing natural light. Through a cooperative effort between the City of Owen Sound and the YMCA, the residents of Owen Sound and the surrounding communities will be able to enjoy an attractive, centrally located and state-of-the-art multi-use recreation complex for many years to come. And the use of sustainable design principles, advanced technology and the synergies of collaboration, will ensure its ef icient operation. ■ LOCATION 700 10 Street East Owen Sound, Ontario OWNER/DEVELOPER City of Owen Sound ARCHITECT Perkins + Will Canada Inc. CONSTRUCTION MANAGER Aquicon Construction Co. Ltd. STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT Halcrow Yolles MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Stantec INSPECTION/TESTING CONSULTANT Peto MacCallum Ltd. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Fleisher Ridout Partnership Inc. TOTAL AREA 125,000 square feet TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST • Light pollution has been minimized by ensuring no light spills over the boundary $35.2 million FEBRUARY 2012 /47 1/23/12 10:35:55 AM