South Oshawa Community Centre

Oshawa, ON
Construction Cost: $15.5 million (Canadian)
Area / Square Feet: 45,000
Occupancy Date: December 2006

When the South Oshawa Community Centre opened in late 2006, the event marked the end of a 25-year wait by the community it was built to serve. Combining a state-of-the-art leisure pool and fitness center with community rooms, an outdoor terrace, a teaching kitchen and a youth center, the facility orients its program elements under a sloped roof. Deep, sculptural skylight wells, exterior perforated metal screens, light shelves, overhead canopies and motorized blinds help to distribute light evenly throughout the building, mimicking the quality of outdoor light. The building takes advantage of its location beside an existing high school, with direct internal connections allowing for facility sharing and encouraging students to embrace the center as their own.

Judges liked the project?s use of simple materials such as glass, wood, sculpted white walls, tiled floors and stained concrete block that offer durability and ease of maintenance, while enhancing the building?s natural light.

Judge's Comments

Simple and strong architectural concept laid over an efficient plan and highlighted by clean massing transitions.
— Kirk von Spaeth

Elegant, simple design that allows light to enter well within the building.
— Amado Fernandez

A clean concept made beautiful with extensive use of wood and glass.
— Mark Bodien