The Brant Sports Complex offers two NHL-size ice surfaces with 700 spectator seats, concessions, a pro shop, a suite of public meeting rooms for up to 500 people and a large two-story interconnected lobby for warm viewing and special events. This glazed gallery runs the entire length of the building's north facade, allows players and spectators to enter at different levels at either end and provides panoramic views into both rinks. From the exterior, it creates an architectural billboard that broadcasts activity to the surrounding community.
An innovative integration of fritted glass graphics confidently celebrates civic pride and alludes to the beauty and excitement of ice skating and hockey. The building is made all the more dramatic by its sloping site, as it seems to gain a horizontal dynamic from the relationship of the glazed plane and the rising terrain.
Public spaces are cleanly detailed with simple graphic materials selection. During the day, these spaces are washed with natural light that permeates the rink areas, for an effect atypical of Canadian arenas. In addition, multipurpose spaces allow the public to participate in facility programming with the arena as an exciting backdrop.
Judge's Comments
The use of frosted glass really evoked a quality of ice and snow, which obviously speaks to the activities within. It felt really right.
— Jim Kalvelage, Opsis Architecture
The architects showed great restraint in neither over-designing nor under-delivering. I loved its outward voice, with the arctic-scape billboard faÂŤade and the way it looks when it's illuminated to people driving by.
— Robert McDonald, Ohlson Lavoie Collaborative
It took an otherwise utilitarian building and elevated it to real public-building stature, with generous entrances and great visibility of surfaces. Urbanistically, it took advantage of the sloping site to allow spectators and players enter at different levels.
— Viktors Jaunkalns, MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects
Skyline Aquatic Center
