Branksome Hall, Athletics & Wellness Centre
Toronto, Ontario
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Aquatic Centre (5-Lane 25m Lap Pool, Fitness Pool), Gymnasium, Fitness & Conditioning Space, Yoga Studio, Dance Studio, Meeting Room, Dining Hall, Cafeteria, Warming Kitchen, Courtyards, Occupiable Green Roof Terrace, Alumnae Walkway Paths
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Heritage: ERA Architects
Structural: Blackwell
Mechanical / Electrical: Smith + Andersen
Civil: MGM
Landscape: PMA -
2020 Ontario Association of Architects (OAA): Design Excellence Awards
2017 International Olympic Committee (IOC) / International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS): Silver Medal
2017 Toronto Urban Design Award
2017 Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD) Global Design Award: Finalist
2015 Athletic Business: Facilities of Merit Design Award
2015 Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO) Award
2015 Illuminating Engineering Society of North America: Merit Award
2013 Canadian Architect: Award of Excellence
The Athletic and Wellness Centre (AWC) is a new focal point for Branksome Hall, an all-girls independent school and leading International Baccalaureate (IB) World School located in Toronto’s Rosedale residential conservation district. Designed to place healthy living at the heart of everyday student life, the facility provides a full array of athletic and fitness amenities for high-performance and educational use, integrating them with plenty of social and study spaces.
While still presenting a modern identity, the building’s masonry and glass exterior harmonizes with the century-old brick buildings that characterize the campus and neighbourhood fabric. A neutral and durable palette of interior materials provides a backdrop for colourful team uniforms and relates the building to its surroundings; this includes white oak slat screening throughout that references the adjacent forest ravine visible from many of the program spaces. Further mediating between the building and its rich natural context is an extensive landscape design adding extensive planting, pathways, courtyards, and roof terraces that reach out to the ravine.
The AWC is nestled within the school’s 13-acre property of heritage buildings, wooded ravine edges, and lush green spaces. The design scope included recladding an existing pedestrian bridge that links the two halves of the campus on either side of Mount Pleasant Road. This bridge now also connects the AWC into the new Innovation Centre and Studio Theatre.
Integrated throughout the facility are informal learning, study, and multi-use spaces to encourage student interaction. Circulation spaces look into and over key program spaces, including the pools and gym, to engage all students in the life of campus athletics and inspire participation. They also offer intimate areas with seating that balance the large programs.
To maintain the height of the AWC within the 12-metre neighbourhood restriction, the aquatic hall was set mostly below grade. The building’s first floor is almost entirely glazed, allowing light into the pools, while the second-level gymnasium, fitness, dance, and yoga volumes seem to float above a glowing glass base.
Designed to seat over 300, the dining hall has an open-concept kitchen and servery that allow students to observe and learn about food preparation, food origins, and healthy choices. Nourishment and the building’s spectacular ravine setting are connected through access to an adjacent rooftop terrace for eating meals.
A new donor pathway along the ravine edge is lined with pavers engraved with alumnae names. This path and a series of courtyards knit together the AWC and the surrounding heritage buildings.
