Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/755184
DECEMBER 2016 | 55 UBC Aquatic Centre RENDERINGS COURTESY MACLENNAN JAUNKALNS MILLER ARCHITECTS / ACTON OSTRY ARCHITECTS INC. UBC Aquatic Centre by LAURIE JONES O ne of Vancouver's newest iconic buildings is the multi-angled, architecture award-winning University of British Columbia (UBC) Aquatic Centre. Located in the hub of the campus grounds at the bus loop, and adjacent to the SUB (Student Union Building) and War Memorial building, the dual-pool facility is designed to not only offer programs for University students and staff, it will also be home to Olympic athletes in training and the surrounding community at large. "In all the places we toured prior to starting the project, we discovered it is rare to have a facility that encompasses all of the aspects that our pool does," says Kavie Toor, UBC's senior director of facilities, recreation and sport. "We have Olympians training next to toddlers who are in a pool for the first time, and seniors or students who are taking part in programs. The Aquatic Centre will also be a centrepiece for student and community engagement in terms of proximity to other core campus buildings." Before the design started, a feasibility study was done on the existing pool at UBC. It was decided that the most economical approach was to build a new facility on a former recreational field. This kept the old pool in operation for existing programs. Upon completion of the project, the former pool area will become a new recreational field. Dave Poettcker, development manager, UBC Properties Trust, says it's an exciting reorganization of the area. "Beyond the complexities associated with building any pool, the Aquatic Centre structure itself is steel framed and was very complicated in design, even at the shop drawing stage. There are a lot of points and multiple angles of the building coming into a single location, which meant dealing with some complex detailing during the construction process." In addition to designing to LEED Gold standards, MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects (MJMA)/Acton Ostry Architects won a Canadian Architect Award of Excellence for the UBC Aquatic Centre design. "We tried to make the building as elemental as possible with one shape that is both powerful and light," says Ted Watson, partner, who worked jointly with Viktors Jaunkalns on the project. "The big canopy allows viewing straight through the building, east to west. It's a very transparent and welcoming building." Watson says accessibility was a key factor in the design. "We incorporated a ramp into the eight lane pool, another ramp into the leisure pool and a lift into the hot tub. For performance reasons, typically ramps are not added in a competition pool, however, equipment will make it accessible." He notes the leisure side of the complex also has a lazy river loop. "The challenge of having multiple pools under one large roof was an inspiration for the design," says Mark Ostry, principal at Acton Ostry Architects. "The inherent challenge of separating the competition pool from the recreation pools led to the design of a central supporting Y-shaped row of columns. These are set below a continuous six-metre-wide skylight that divides the space into two pool halls. The two principle spaces are further distinguished by a large luminescent screen that reflects sunlight into the recreational pools and diffuses sunlight into the competition pool." Dave Knight, CEO, Heatherbrae Builders Co. Ltd. says, "In addition to all of the angles on the building, having concrete for the foundations and the swimming pools was also a challenge. Hunter Douglas acoustic ceiling tiles were inserted below the roof line to minimize echoing in the large building, and a fabric ceiling will be installed between the competition pool and the recreation pool to help diminish the sound." Knight adds further complexities of the build included the shape, the size and the technical nature of the swimming pool, so co-ordinating efforts of the trades was critical. The team members took on new experiences in many forms with the Aquatic Centre's unique design. "The cladding support system certainly was creative," says Ilana Danzig, associate and project engineer with Equilibrium Consulting Inc. "We worked hard to find a cost-effective way to make all of these forms come together, including cantilevers and multiple angles on walls." Danzig adds that the seismic system for the building is a high-performance buckling restrained brace that has a high level of ductility and performance. To maintain the best air and water quality, AME Consulting Group Ltd. installed a distribution system with a high-level supply and low-level return in four corners, plus a gutter exhaust to draw off chloramines, a product created after chlorine coagulates with organic matter. "When you have competitive athletes, their whole breathing is in the pool level zone, which is why it's important to draw chloramines off the surface," says Paul Anseeuw, principal. Anseeuw says they installed an entirely separate system for the air quality in the viewing bleachers. "With separate ducting, people sitting in the stands are not exposed to the same air quality as those in the pool area, and the air is drier," explains Anseeuw. When AES Engineering Ltd. began this project, the lighting system they eventually used did not exist. With advances in technology, they were able to use the budgeted allowance and install high lumen output LED sports luminaries that worked with the dynamic architecture. "We will be using the bright surface of the ceiling to reflect the light down to the water," says Eke Roosioks, principal, AES Engineering Ltd. "Continuous linear lighting on the perimeter adds to the esthetics as well as safety." Just as important as the interior designs, the landscape plays a big part in the outside esthetics of the Aquatic Centre. "The planar architectural edge along the south side of the building will provide seating and a green respite from the urban context," says Chris Phillips, principal, PFS Studio. "The planting palette on the north terraces includes shade loving plants planted in massed arrangements to reinforce the linear nature of this area. Multi-stem Japanese Maples provide structural interest." A LOCATION 6080 Student Union Boulevard – UBC, Vancouver, B.C. OWNER/DEVELOPER UBC Properties Trust ARCHITECTS MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects / Acton Ostry Architects GENERAL CONTRACTOR Heatherbrae Builders Co. Ltd. STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT Equilibrium Consulting Inc. MECHANICAL CONSULTANT AME Consulting Group Ltd. ELECTRICAL/SPECIALTY LIGHTING CONSULTANT AES Engineering Ltd. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT PFS Studio POOL CONSULTANT Water Technology Inc. TOTAL SIZE 84,000 square feet TOTAL COST $40 million