Program elements of the Cassie Campbell Community Centre are expressed as a series of boldly cantilevered gull-wing roofs floating above masonry walls. These stone and block elements frame and organize the surrounding landscape and outdoor program areas, which include a children’s play area, a splash pad, a basketball court and an entry plaza. A long timber trellis provides an interstitial space between outdoor and indoor programs, and articulates a pedestrian link between the two main entrances at the south and west sides of the building. Heavy timber, wood composite cladding and natural Wiarton limestone give the building a regional character.
Within the building, the public circulation is designed as a series of informal spectator lounges where a multitude of leisure and athletic pursuits can be viewed at once. The warmth of the wood structural elements and the hierarchy of their assembly are used to bring a human scale to a very large building, most notably at the three main entries and at the timber pergola that frames the building’s active forecourt.
Soccer fields, a cricket pitch, basketball and tennis courts, a neighborhood parkette and parking for 600 vehicles round out the site.
Judge's Comments
The exterior form is nicely articulated and punctuated with a lot of visual transparency. Organizationally, this building is very clean.
— Jack Patton
Great natural light throughout the facility, and solid use of natural materials such as wood and stone. A great example of a simple, functional plan that doesn't feel simple.
— Tom Seymour
Honest and simple organization, but a few confident moves yield a dynamic and iconic form. The deployment of warm materials really makes for a beautiful and welcoming facility.
— Bill Crockett
Grosse Pointe South High School
