East Lions Community Centre
London, Ontario
In Collaboration with a+LiNK
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Aquatic Centre, Gymnasium, Multipurpose Rooms, Community Kitchen, Art Rooms, Adjacent Existing Sports Park
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2025 Athletic Business: Facilities of Merit Design Award
2023 London Urban Design Award (Civic Design)
2023 London St. Thomas Association of Realtors (LSTAR): Don Smith Commercial Building Award
Conceived as a park pavilion, gathering and welcoming users on all sides, the new community centre’s design drew inspiration from the local weavers and spinners guild who have spaces within it. The building is a tapestry that projects a singular iconic presence but is refined through texture, shadow, and light — to float, frame, and fit within the finer grain of the surrounding neighborhood and culture.
On the exterior, the building’s mass is mitigated and enlivened by a syncopated pattern of vertical standing-seam metal panels in varying shades of grey. They contribute a textile-like exterior surface that becomes diaphanous at night, revealing the activities within and embedding the building within the life of the park and neighbourhood.
Inside and out, the design of textures and patterning of the building cladding and interior ceramic tile drew inspiration from precedents from the craft of weaving / spinning happening within the building.
