Maple Community Centre Study

Location:               Vaughan, Ontario

Program:               Building Use Study

Total Area:            165,000 sq. ft.

ATA has undertaken a feasibility study of the entire 165,000 sq. ft. community centre facility plus the site area of 39,740 m2.

This study will direct and inform the next 25 years of this building – program use & public services, AODA, revitalization through construction & renovation, servicing & maintenance, building systems, sustainability, energy use (net-zero), etc …

The study has divided the community centre into eight zones:
• ZONE 1 – Common/Shared Program
• ZONE 2 – Overall Common/Shared Circulation
• ZONE 3 – Library
• ZONE 4 – Preschool
• ZONE 5 – Gymnasium & Fitness Centre
• ZONE 6 – Pool
• ZONE 7 – Arena
• ZONE 8 – Site

The study includes analysis of all interior (room-by-room) and exterior systems resulting in a detailed report proposing design solutions and interventions for each zone, and multi-year masterplan recommendations including proposed schedules, construction phasing & scope of work, and cost estimates. ATA is conducting the study in three cycles.

Cycle 1 involved the documentation of the space, the assessment of the existing functional program uses and relationships which was completed in close consultation with City staff and main stakeholders, and proposed plans and design options.

Cycle 2 encompasses the preparation and delivery of six remote presentations to specific power user groups. These presentations and associated documents include Room-by-Room systems analysis, drawings and renderings outlining the design solutions.

Cycle 3 will be the broadest in range and involve the public information session, presenting the study to the larger community. The final document will be in the form of a report, compiling all disciplines including architectural, landscape, structural, civil, mechanical & electrical & sustainability.

Zone 5 and 6 specifically address the needs of the fitness centre and swimming pool. The existing pool is a 25 metre, 4 lane lap pool with associated changerooms (mens, womens, H/C and family), viewing gallery, whirlpool tub, sauna, water slide, accessibility tub and ramp access, and lifeguard station. As well as all mechanical equipment, storage areas and receiving area.

Zone 7 proposes significant renovation and improvements for the existing arena facility. Its layout and interiors have remained largely unchanged since construction. The existing facility, constructed in 1972, contains an indoor ice rink, dressing rooms, washrooms, snack bar, operations offices, Zamboni room and mechanical and electrical room. In this area of the building the study focused on improving the overall user experience through a more efficient layout, increased floor footprint, new and improved arena amenities, increased accessibility and fresh architectural finishes throughout.

Upgrades to the ice pad include a new dasher board system, the replacement of the existing ice rink refrigeration equipment with a new ammonia refrigeration system, and the installation of new low emissivity ceiling panels to help maintain ideal conditions for the ice surface. A portion of the existing underutilized arena bleachers will be converted into a new arena viewing gallery in the corridor, introducing a warm spectator area and offering a variety of options for public viewing and seating.

A ground floor addition to the existing dressing rooms will provide 293sm (3,150sf) of additional space, allowing for a more spacious and open layout, and for each dressing room to have a dedicated accessible washroom and showers. The addition also provides the opportunity for two new dressing rooms to be created with the intention that these will serve as separate change rooms for female hockey players. A new public skate change area is proposed in the lobby outside of the arena, providing a secure locker storage area and soft pedestal seating for recreational skating patrons.