GREAT PLAINS RECREATION FACILITY Calgary / Alberta / Canada
Deerfoot Trail
Rocky Ridge Recreation Centre
Calgary Airport
BACKGROUND
CALGARY Calgary’s new recreation facility program aims to develop centres that will provide accessible recreation opportunities and accommodate a variety of sports at different levels of play, as outlined in the Recreation Master Plan 2010-2020. The Great Plains Recreation Facility, featuring two multi-purpose rinks, brings together ice sport enthusiasts from across the city for hockey, sledge hockey, ringette and figure skating.
Glenmore Trail
Great Plains Recreation Centre Glenmore Trail
Quarry Park Recreation Centre
As a civic anchor of the east City edge, the Great Plains Recreation Facility is a social and architectural catalyst for this industrial area. The project elevates the architectural expression in the area and sets an example for subsequent developments. The area is characterized by large light industrial buildings.
Seton Recreation Centre
RECREATION MASTER PLAN
Deerfoot Trail
57 STREET SE
52 STREET SE
76 AVENUE SE
CRC SITE
76 AVE SE
GLENMORE TRAIL SE
FUTURE STONEY TRAIL SE
52 STREET SE
BARLOW TRAIL SE
SITE CONTEXT
THE ‘URBAN EDGE’ SITE IS A BLANK CANVAS THAT PROVIDES A CIVIC DESIGN OPPORTUNITY.
RE-THINKING THE ‘TYPICAL’ ARENA PLAN
AN INVERSION OF THE TYPICAL
This project takes one of the most vital but under-appreciated community spaces (the hockey arena) and inverts its typical planning to create a true civic hub. Recreation facilities are civic spaces that create healthy communities; but their design should also foster meaningful social engagement. A typical arena arranges the team rooms at the center of the facility with seating above or on the perimeter with diffuse social spaces. By placing the changerooms to the periphery, a central social space is created at the ‘Heart’ of the facility. This contiguous warm-side / cold-side viewing creates a ‘place’ for social activity.
ARENA PLAN CREATES A LIGHT
TYPICAL:
utility approach to arena planning.
MOVE: changerooms to perimeter.
SHIFT: creates lobby as social heart with views to both rinks.
FUTURE PROOFING Anticipating the City’s recreational needs, the project proposes a twin-pad arena with the site designed to allow for expansion. This requirement drove the site and building configuration. Expansion is anticipated by developing a geometry that is ‘flipped’ and ‘mirrored’ to complete the quad pad complex; defining two arrival forecourts. The internal plan would create a centralized lobby around an elevated restaurant space. The project is a city owned facility with secured public ice times but is privately operated. The architects worked closely with ‘CanLan Ice Sports’ to ensure the building was maintainable, operationally efficient, and a good business venture.
FILLED CENTRAL SOCIAL SPACE THAT ELEVATES THE FORM OF THE ‘HOCKEY RINK’ TO HAVING MEANINGFUL CIVIC SPACE.
MIRROR: and shift current plan to complete future quad-pad.
76th Avenue SE
18 17
16 7 7
2
18
8
11
18 6 5
10
3 4
9 18
14
12 10 13
1B
1A
16
18
1A. Future Phase Arenas 1B. Future Phase Parking 2. Exterior Amenities Area 3. Entry Plaza 4. Lobby / Social Heart 5. Administrative Offices 6. Pro Shop
7. Meeting Rooms 8. Fitness 9. Viewing Gallery 10. Ice Arenas 11. Changerooms 12. Restaurant 13. Kitchen
14. Service 15. Exterior Service Enclosure 16. Parking 17. Existing Industrial Buildings 18. Trap Low Storm Management
57th Street SE
15 11
A BRIGHT ORANGE CARVED EXTRUSION TO THE BUILDING’S ARRIVAL ELEVATION ACTS AS THE ENTRANCE SIGNIFIER —MIMICKING THE LOW WESTERN SUNSET.
IN THE LONG WINTER EVENINGS, THE ORANGE GLOW CREATES A HEARTH-LIKE GESTURE IN ITS SNOWY LANDSCAPE — SUGGESTING A WARM WELCOMING POINT, FILTERING VISITORS INTO THE LOBBY BEHIND.
THE LIGHT FILLED CENTRAL LOBBY ACCOMMODATES SPECTATORS WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR ‘WARM SIDE’ VIEWING TO BOTH RINKS.
ICE LEVEL IS DEPRESSED FROM THE LOBBY LEVEL BY 1-METER FOR EXCELLENT SIGHT LINES.
ILLUMINATED ORANGE HDPE PANELS ARE USED TO FRAME THE TWO CHANGEROOM ENTRANCES. A CLEAR ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT FOR COLOR IS USED AS WAYFINDING AND THE BUILDING’S EXPRESSION.
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Amanda Chong T: 416-593-6796 ext 245 E: achong@mjma.ca www.mjma.ca