Great Plains Recreation Facility
Calgary, Alberta
In Collaboration with Marshall Tittemore Architects
-
Twin-Pad Arena, Multipurpose Rooms, Meeting Rooms, Concession, Public Art
-
2020 Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD) Global Design Awards: Finalist
2019 International Olympic Committee (IOC) / International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS): Architecture Prize
2017 City of Calgary: Mayor's Urban Design Award of Excellence
2017 Athletic Business: Facilities of Merit Design Award
2017 Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO): Award of Merit
The Great Plains Recreation Facility brings together ice enthusiasts from across the city for hockey, sledge hockey, ringette, figure skating, and recreational public skates.
Architectural use of colour in three key locations creates a comprehensive wayfinding strategy that forms the characteristic graphic identity of this community arena. Supporting the planning focus of hollowing out the spectator space between the rinks as a dynamic ‘social heart,’ the graphic elements triangulate the key access points of the facility and focally reinforce the users experience at the centre of the space.
A bright orange, carved extrusion at the primary elevation acts as an entrance signifier and mimics the low prairie sunset — the cornerstone of the graphic identity approach. Especially during cold weather, it doubles as a welcoming hearth-like gesture, filtering visitors into the lobby behind.
As the civic anchor of the east city edge, the site required strong placemaking and a bold identity, being the only community-focused facility in this industrial and rural area.
A mesh pattern of hockey goal netting as a translucent ceramic frit is applied to the second surface of the exterior glass that is laminated with a custom translucent orange interlayer.
The light-filled central space has contiguous warm-side / cold-side viewing areas that can accommodate casual spectator groups and team gatherings. Throughout, colour unifies wayfinding with the building’s architectural expression.
Illuminated orange HDPE panels (rink puckboard material) are used to frame the two changeroom entrances. This uniquely cladded changeroom corridor doubles as graphic treatment and durability solution for the boisterous nature of arena activity.