Lake Country Co-op Leisure Centre
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
In Collaboration with Group2
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Aquatic Centre, Twin-Pad Arena (1000 Spectator Seats), Multipurpose Rooms, Pro Shop, Concession, Outdoor Gathering Area
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Structural: JCK
Mechanical: AME / Macpherson
Electrical: WSP
Civil: Catterall & Wright
Landscape: HTFC -
2025 Design Council of Saskatchewan: Premier's Award of Excellence in Design
With a regional population 200,000, Prince Albert is a growing city and Saskatchewan’s ‘Gateway to the North’. Located in the city’s southeast quadrant, this new recreation centre serves established neighbourhoods but is also the health-and-wellness cornerstone of a new planned district.
Designed to offer something for residents of all ages and abilities, the complex has multipurpose and community spaces as well as two regulation-sized arenas, to meet the area’s high-demand for ice activities—not least hockey, which forms a significant part of the cultural and physical fabric of the community. The complex’s 51,000-sf aquatics centre has 9-lane competition, wave, and therapy pools and offers recreational, competition, and instructional programming.
With the site surrounded by parkland and lakes, new landscape components connect to existing trails and mature treed areas that were carefully retained. The project’s master planning, including the positioning of entrances for the facility, also took into account a future large events venue adjacent to the site.
The roughly L-shaped plan defines a large entrance courtyard. A dynamically angled roof presents a bold identity and unifies the program spaces of various heights that comprise the complex.
The ‘social heart’ lobby connects the aquatics hall and arenas, offering clear navigation and ample space for viewing of program activities. Gatherings and events within the lobby can also potentially spill into the exterior courtyard.
