Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/177525
ith a growing population in its north end (Oak Ridges area), the Town of Richmond Hill planned for a new community centre to provide much-needed recreation and community-based services to cater the needs of all ages. The site of the $24-million, LEED Silver-certi ied, 57,000-square-foot centre borders on the Oak Ridges Moraine and sits on the shore of Lake Wilcox. It is a key element of a much-used nature park that the town treasures. "We have many young families in this area which is experiencing a lot of growth," says Darlene Joslin, the Town's director of recreation and culture. "The community is looking forward to the centre's opening and the programs that we will be offering. Community consultation and participation will be key to the success of this centre." The one-and-a-half-storey structure, which has north-south and east-west axis and is divided into four sections by Irwin Rapoport – each with its own entrance – was designed to provide easy access to the various components both indoors and out. One section has a and picked up should be close to the heart of the building," six-lane pool, with a separate teaching tank and waterslide; a says Fenech. "Along with the main lounge that overlooks Lake second section consists of a double gymnasium equipped with Wilcox, the pool is the most unique part because you are actua professional score clock to allow for various types of sport ally looking down on the pool and through it to the landscape activities and tournaments; a third section has a itness studio beyond. You can also see the pool from the north and south housing all sorts of exercise equipment and a separate aero- entry points and from the common lounge. Most of the cenbics room for specialized classes; and the inal section consists tre's functions are on the same loor, with the pool and change of general purpose program rooms to hold meetings and vari- rooms on the lower loors." ous activities and programs, and a dedicated room for seniors, The materials used for the exterior consist of Wiarton older adult and youth programs throughout the week. limestone, wood timber, Parrallam beams, a wood deck and "The kitchen is next to the gym which allows us to host dark ironspot manganese bricks that give a richness to the parties, banquets, weddings and other community events," palette. "The materials and colours are all muted and complesays Joslin. "A unique feature is the ecological centre that ment the natural surroundings," says Fenech. "The walkways sits within the Oak Ridges Moraine. We are providing 1,000 are a combination of pavers and coloured concrete, and the square feet of dedicated interactive space so that people could terrace is an Ipe wood deck. We tried to recreate that feeling learn more about the Moraine and the environment itself. We of an outdoor porch." are planning many education programs and activities to help The interior design and its materials are based on a conpeople appreciate this unique area." tinuation of the exterior materials via the tone and colour of The centre will also offer after-school programs for stu- the ceramic tiles and trim. The pool has a wood timber deck. dents, programming for school breaks and a summer camp. "It doesn't feel like you have entered a totally sanitized The pool, built into the sloping hill site, overlooks the lake area," says Fenech. "Materials were chosen to highlight activiwith abundant views of the park and its forests and meadows. ties and but at times to also contrast them, such as the yellow "This is going to be one of our nicest facilities," says Joslin. "We slide in the pool." were very selective of the materials that we used so that they Maximizing natural light, he adds, was important, as was would compliment the natural setting of the site. We have a enhancing the feeling of comfort as demonstrated by the irebeautiful terrace in the back that overlooks the lake and three place. trailheads that hook into the site. This is also our irst LEED Genivar, the project manager retained by the Town for the new community centre, has provided management services Silver building." The architectural irm Perkins + Will was charged with for the project from the pre-design and will continue into the designing the centre. "It's regional modernism in terms of post construction phase. Genivar and the project team have design," says project principal Phil Fenech. "It's a wood-and- worked together to ensure the project achieves the targeted glass-oriented building. The building could not dominate or LEED certi ication and met the environmental criteria. "The obstruct the Moraine. Therefore, since the site was sloped, environment is very important to the town," says John Fry, we took the opportunity to bury the mass of the building and Genivar's director of project management services for Central conceal the bulk of the centre. We also had to ind the right and Western Ontario. "This is the irst step in a broader initiaarchitectural language for the setting that would respect tive to develop a park on the site, so setting the tone in terms the location close to the lake and its history as a recreational of environmental responsibility and the overall approach was development with cottages." important." Ensuring views of the lake was critical, as was having the LEED aspects of the design include the green roof, a selectrails seamlessly blend in with building. There is outdoor tion of durable materials, bioswales and stormwater manageparking on the north and south sides, but they were designed ment system."The green roof is a visual aspect of the buildto minimize their impact visual impact. ing's sustainability," says Fry. "The design demonstrates how The centre, which has a green roof, sits within 12 acres of a an experienced design team working with a knowledgeable 54-acre zone has one main entrance and three other possible client can result in an innovative building that addresses the entry points. "The main entry where people are dropped off program requirements while itting it into a very sensitive COURTESY THE TOWN OF RICHMOND HILL W Oak Ridges Community Centre Oak Ridges Community Centre p.92-93OakridgeCommCntr.indd 93 landscape. We believe it will be wellreceived by the community." Aquicon Construction Co. Ltd. was awarded the contract to build the centre in February 2010. "Aquicon was worked frequently with [the architects] on other similar projects," says Fry, "so there is an obvious understanding of each other's expectations." The pairing was not planned, but its bene its were appreciated by Fry and the town. The centre is expected to be substantially completed in February 2012 and will be open to the public in March. "The contractor performed well and in the end, the town and the public will be very pleased with the new community centre," says Patrick Caron, the town's director of asset management. ■ LOCATION 12895 Bayview Avenue Richmond Hill, Ontario OWNER/DEVELOPER The Town of Richmond Hill GENERAL CONTRACTOR Aquicon Construction Co. Ltd. ARCHITECT/INTERIOR DESIGN Perkins + Will PROJECT MANAGER Genivar Construction STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT Halcrow Yolles MECHANICAL CONSULTANT Smith & Andersen Consulting Engineering ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Crossey Engineering Ltd. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT MBTW Landscape TOTAL AREA 57,000 square feet TOTAL COST $24 million FEBRUARY 2012 /93 1/23/12 10:59:45 AM