Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre
Toronto, Ontario
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Aquatic Centre (6-Lane 25m Lap Pool, Leisure Pool, Spa Pool, Water Slide), Community Room, Aquatic Outdoor Terrace, Splash Pad, Adjacent Park and Playground
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Park: The Planning Partnership
Structural: Blackwell
Mechanical / Electrical: LKM
Civil: Dillon
Landscape: PMA -
2016 Governor General's Medal in Architecture
2016 Center for Active Design (CfAD): Award of Excellence
2015 International Olympic Committee (IOC) / International Association for Sports & Leisure Facilities (IAKS): Architecture Prize
2015 Architizer A+ Award: Architecture & Urban Transformation (Special Mention)
2014 Azure Magazine: AZ People's Choice Award (Commercial / Institutional Architecture over 1,000 sqm)
2013 Ontario Association of Architects (OAA): Design Excellence Award
2013 Canadian Interiors: Best of Canada Award (Project of the Year)
2013 Toronto Urban Design Award: Award of Excellence (Public)
2013 Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia: Medal in Architecture
2013 Athletic Business: Facilities of Merit Design Award
2013 Parks & Recreation Ontario (PRO): Award of Excellence in Design
Built in the late 1940’s in downtown Toronto, Regent Park is Canada’s oldest and largest social housing project. The community has historically been viewed as a transitional neighbourhood for new immigrants, but due to social and physical planning ills, it has also seen a concentration of marginalized and low-income populations. The 12-year Regent Park Revitalization project was begun in 2005 with the aim of redeveloping the neighbourhood’s 69-acres into a vibrant mixed-use and mixed-income community.
Taking its place as a social nucleus for this rejuvenation, the new Aquatic Centre replaced an old outdoor pool and is situated in the development’s central park. With a design that is at once sculptural and civic — opening up invitingly towards the park and all visitors — the Aquatic Centre has set new standards for aquatics serving highly diverse communities, quickly becoming much loved by Regent Park residents and a city-wide destination.
The facility is the key civic amenity on the eastern flank of the development’s central park. Acknowledging the views from surrounding new high-rise towers, the building’s green roof was designed as a fifth elevation and integrated with the park.
The Aquatic Centre has been conceived as a ‘Pavilion in the Park’, highly open at the base and bisected lengthwise by a ‘dorsal fin’ of skylights over the aquatic hall.
Combining fitness, leisure, and therapeutic uses, the Aquatic Centre offers something for all community members.
The first aquatic facility in Canada to adopt the sole use of universal changerooms, no longer separating spaces by gender. The design also added a complete system of screening in the pools for those groups who desire privacy swims. These progressive measures not only contribute to gender and cultural equality but also enhance the openness, visibility, and safety through the entire complex.
The building is filled with natural light and is transparent to the outside throughout. This includes two large double sliding glass doors off the main pool for access to a park-side terrace.
