HRM Canada Games Centre

Halifax, N.S.
Construction Cost: $45 million (Canadian)
Area / Square Feet: 176,000
Occupancy Date: February 2011

Constructed to host the 2011 Canada Games, the HRM Canada Games Centre consists of an aquatic center, a field house, a fitness center, several associated athletic support spaces and a variety of community gathering areas.

The building entry leads into a naturally lit interior "street." The main level reception desk and changing room area, and a large, well-equipped second level fitness center are located in between the building's two primary components, a natatorium and a field house. Interior glazing is used throughout the building in order to provide visual connections between spaces and to allow the ample natural light to penetrate deep into the building. The natatorium features an eight-lane, 25-meter lap pool equipped with a movable floor in the shallow end, allowing for depth adjustment from zero to 1.8 meters.

In addition to the lap pool, a large shallow-depth leisure pool at the opposite end of the natatorium provides fun and exercise for all ages and features a dedicated tot pool, a hot tub, a variety of pool-deck water toys and three 25-meter swim lanes.

The field house offers three full-size basketball courts with high-performance hardwood flooring. Flush-mounted sockets in the floor allow the space to be configured for up to five regulation volleyball courts or eight badminton courts. Two ceiling-mounted curtains can further divide the space, allowing for valuable program flexibility.