Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/255439
Anzac Multi-Use Leisure Facility & Community Park by Jerry Eberts renderings courtesy Architecture Arndt tkAlcic Bengert L ocated within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Alberta, the hamlet of Anzac has been growing quickly in recent years. In fact, because of the work being done in the Athabasca Oil Sands Area (AOSA), the region is economically strong. In the spirit of this influx of wealth, the former stopover point for fur traders between Fort McMurray and Lac La Biche has been shoring up and creating new facilities and infrastructure for the growing community of Anzac. The hamlet is poised to become a regional hub, offering necessary services to other communities in the area. Of course, recreational facilities for all ages are a necessary step in making Anzac and the surrounding region a worthwhile and satisfying place to settle. And the new Anzac Multi-Use Leisure Facility and Community Park is a treasure that will enrich the lives of all residents. "We designed a mixed-use recreation centre and community park," says Eddo Cancian, senior project architect for Architecture Arndt Tkalcic Bengert. "Most importantly, the new facilities had to be community- focused, to be able to accommodate many different users and function as a multipurpose facility," says Cancian. "The client wanted to create a dynamic building and surrounding grounds, with indoor and outdoor areas for ball games of all kinds – soccer, football, basketball, a skate park and outdoor trails. There is even a tobogganing hill." John Berrington was project manager for PCL Construction Management Inc. PCL was involved in the Anzac project from the start in June 2012. "The project includes an NHL-sized ice arena, a field house with change facilities, a fit- ness centre, senior's centre, youth centre, children's centre and fine arts centre. As well, it includes a park and sports field development, which includes a soccer field and baseball diamond. This project is being developed in preparation for the area's anticipated population growth," says Berrington. Indeed, this anticipated population growth is a key policy for the Wood Buffalo region. The Municipal Development Plan (Bylaw No. 11/27) states: "With sufficient land, Anzac is pro- jected to grow to between 6,000 and 8,000 residents, with corresponding increases in municipal services. Over time, Anzac could become a more complete community, offering Location 237 Stony Mountain Road RR2, Anzac, Alberta owner/deveLoper Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo architect Architecture Arndt Tkalcic Bengert GeneraL contractor PCL Construction Management Inc. StructuraL conSuLtant Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. MechanicaL/ eLectricaL conSuLtant Williams Engineering Canada Inc. GeotechnicaL conSuLtant Thurber Engineering Ltd. LandScape architect Earthscape Consultants / Al-Terra Engineering Ltd. / DES Engineering Ltd. totaL area 12,510 square metres totaL conStruction coSt $38.3 million a range of housing choices, commercial and institutional services, along with having a vibrant core area." When it came to challenges during construction, Berrington says ground conditions were soggier than first expected. "We encountered a higher water table than the geotechnical report identified, requiring the project team to redesign parking lot areas and utilize larger diameter piles and pile casings to control sloughing. The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, the architects and PCL worked collaboratively towards these solutions," says Berrington. "Throughout construction, we were able to limit the dis- ruptions to the community. We also established a permanent site office which was open to the community in case commu- nity members had any questions or concerns," he adds. Principal structural engineer for the team was Frank Cavaliere of Read Jones Christoffersen. Cavaliere oversaw the structure. RJC has a long history of working with both the architects and PCL, says Cavaliere. "We've worked together on a number of multipurpose recreational buildings in the last 10 years. Usually with the same architect and often with PCL," he adds. Mike Evans was landscape architect for the project and is owner of Edmonton-based Earthscape Consultants. Having worked on several other large parks in Alberta, the facilities for Anzac were not out of the ordinary. "We worked with the architects to create the final site plan," says Evans. "There are two sports field, including one ball diamond. And there is room for a second diamond down the road. There is also a pond for stormwater management." Williams Engineering Canada Inc. provided both mechanical and electric engineering ser- vices. Pat Campion was the electrical consul- tant for the project and Quenton Kusiek was in charge of mechanical. "Overall, this was a pretty straightforward project," says Kusiek, "though it got a little complicated in parts. Those complications were requests from the client and not really out of the ordinary. The client wanted little maintenance and so we designed it that way right from the start." The look of the building itself is deceptive. On the approach there is a small road leading to a drop-off at the front door. Near the front door are the various facilities for seniors, children, youth and fine arts. This front part of the building is just one-storey, grace- fully sloping backwards into a two- and three-storey structure. "We tried to lessen the scale of the building," adds Cancian. "The build- ing has a nice flow to it. We have a mix of good finishing materials. We used cementitious products on the outside that gave us the look of pine or cedar shakes but with little maintenance required. We used grey, brown and golden hues. There is tilted glass, from floor to ceiling." Cancian says the project was designed following sustainability principals and best design practices. "The end result is virtually identical to our early renderings. I think every- one is going to be very happy with the result." n february 2014 /65 anzac Multi-use Leisure facility & Community Park p64-65Anzac.indd 65 14-01-22 11:10 AM