Regent Park Aquatic Centre
Toronto
ON
Award Category:
Governor General’s Medals in Architecture
MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects (MJMA)
Lead design architect(s):
J. David Miller, MRAIC
At the heart of Toronto’s 69-acre Regent Park Revitalization sits the new Aquatic Centre as the key civic amenity at the eastern edge of the new central park. It is developed as a Pavilion in the Park, open at the base, and bisected lengthwise by a "dorsal fin" of sky-lighting. The aquatic hall has sliding glass doors for access to the park-side terrace and natural ventilation opportunities. As the first facility in Canada to adopt the singular use of universal change rooms, it addresses cultural and gender identity issues, while enhancing openness, safety, and visibility through the entire complex.
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Photos: Shai Gil
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"While the jury commends the many fine aquatic and recreational centres that it reviewed in other Canadian cities, Regent Park Aquatic Centre stands out. This facility is sensitively connected to its surroundings, and replaces an outdoor pool that had been the neighborhood centre for many years. Open and transparent, it invites passersby and those using the adjacent park into its grand space that houses a sparkling pool and recreational facilities. It is a pavilion in the best sense, elevating the activities and making them accessible. The green roof is the building’s fifth façade, completing Regent Park’s green environment."