Regent Park Aquatic Centre
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’, very 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.
The Regent Park Aquatic Centre is the key civic amenity part of the 69 acre community revitalization program.
The aquatic centre has been conceived as a ‘pavilion in the park’, centered on the eastern flank of the new central park development as the heart of the revitalization.
The pool hall includes a 25m 6-lane pool, leisure pool, tot pool, hot tub, slide, tarzan rope, and diving board.
Replacing an existing outdoor pool, the new aquatic centre captures a feeling of transparency and connection to the outdoors.
The pool hall is bisected lengthwise by a large ‘dorsal fin’ skylight; sunlight is reflected into the natatorium at the threshold between the pool deck and the change rooms.
A dynamic wood ceiling slopes upwards into the fin-like skylight where the projecting east wall is a white stucco finish on cement board, reflecting the light to the pool basin; and then sloped downwards as it shapes the transition from the large sun controlling canopy to a slim aperture facing the main park to the west.
The aquatic centre is the first facility in Canada to adopt the singular use of universal change rooms, no longer separating males and females, rather common change rooms with private change cubicles.
This establishes equality; addressing cultural and gender identity issues, while also enhancing the openness, safety, and visibility through the entire complex.
There are two double-sliding glass doors off the main pool hall for access to the park-side terrace and natural ventilation opportunities in suitable weather conditions.
