The North Surrey Recreation Centre is a vital component of an urban renewal program in Surrey’s core. The key objectives of this building addition and renovation were to improve access control and security, add significant programming space and employ strategic phased construction to facilitate uninterrupted operation of the existing facility.
Site context had significant influence on the exterior building design. The recreation center is situated amid a “Skytrain” transit station, a bus station, a library and a shopping mall. A curving glass facade was chosen to enhance passive security on the public plaza by creating views in and out of the facility and to complement the mall’s curving glass tower.
Functional planning of the new entry lobby was driven by the city’s desire to enhance the visibility of existing and new amenity spaces that include a swimming pool, a children’s room and a fitness center, as well as create a more secure environment via a prominent reception area and access-control system. A physiotherapy clinic was relocated from an awkward space in the existing lobby to a new home next to the pool and fitness facility. This opened up visual connections from the new lobby to various activity areas. The new children’s room, thanks to an operable glass wall, can be converted into a multiuse space and increase lobby size for such special events as swim meets and hockey tournaments.
Interior windows were added throughout the facility to provide views from the core of the building into the swimming pool and arena.
David D. Hunting YMCA
