Regent Park Aquatic Centre

Toronto, ON
Construction Cost: $14.7 million (Canadian)
Area / Square Feet: 28,000
Occupancy Date: November 2013

The Regent Park Aquatic Centre is a key part of a 69-acre community revitalization program. The aquatic center, conceived as a “pavilion in the park,” is centered on the eastern flank of the new central park development.

Replacing an existing outdoor pool, the new aquatic center captures a feeling of transparency and connection to the outdoors. Two double-sliding glass doors off the main pool hall afford access to the park-side terrace and provide natural ventilation opportunities in suitable weather conditions. The pool hall is bisected lengthwise by a large “dorsal fin” skylight, allowing sunlight to be reflected into the natatorium at the threshold between the pool deck and the change rooms.

A dynamic wood ceiling slopes upward into the fin-like skylight where the projecting east wall is a white stucco finish on cement board, reflecting the natural light to the pool basin; and then sloped downward as it shapes the transition from the large sun-controlling canopy to a slim aperture facing the main park to the west. The aquatic center is the first facility in Canada to adopt the singular use of universal change rooms with private change cubicles.