 Aquatic
Facility Design Trends in British Columbia
by Vic Davies
The realization that swimming pools must cater to a wider variety
of the population than just the competitive swimmer reached British
Columbia in the early 1980’s when municipalities contemplating
new aquatic facilities decided to follow the European trend of leisurization
in aquatic facility design. Since then, great strides have been
made in this province in facility planning, design and operation.
British Columbia is now leading Canada in this field. Design management
professionals from all over the country are traveling to British
Columbia’s aquatic facilities in ever increasing numbers to
view the latest designs and operation techniques.
British Columbia’s aquatic facility design successes have
also prompted interest worldwide. A recent newspaper headline in
a Washington State daily newspaper read:
“Canadian Swimming Holes Draw Crowds from
U.S.”
WATER PLAY: The W.C.
Blair Recreation Centre Pool in Langley, BC attracts 200 Americans
on holiday weekends, the centre’s office coordinator says.
“The love the pool and they want one built real quick”,
Phyllis Ebare says.
For the past three years design and operation professionals from
Australia and New Zealand have conducted annual “information
tours” of newly completed facilities in British Columbia and
are now closely following these design trends “down under”.
Traditional pools, prior to the 1980’s, were designed primarily
with the competitive swimmer in mind. The design pattern would follow
a rectilinear form; its shape and size limited only be the population
density served and the budget available. Designers would accept
this status quo in plan form and concentrate on the shape of the
building envelope in which to express themselves, designing the
facility “from the outside in”. Of secondary importance,
it seemed, was the forgotten potential of the pool user. Facilities
were designed strictly with competition in mind. They lacked life,
were cold, clinical, uninspiring and completely utilitarian in atmosphere.
Studies undertaken in the 70’s radically changed this school
of thought when it was finally realized that only 5% of pool patrons
used swimming pools for training and/or competitive purposes. The
remaining 95% utilized pools for recreation, very much, it seemed,
under great duress.
Something had to change.
The late 1960’s and 70’s in Europe had seen the introduction
of “leisure pools” and they soon became a most important
form of recreation for all ages and walks of life. Given impetus
by Common Market funding, Britain seemed to welcome the challenge.
The late 1970’s and 80’s saw intensive rivalry between
towns and cities where each were constantly trying to upstage the
other by creating monster aquatic “fun palaces”, in most
instances costing upwards of $20 million. Completely forgotten was
the plight of the swimmer; these aquatic palaces were created strictly
for fun. Spaghetti waterslides, wave machines, river rapids, waterfalls
and beaches dictated the scene. Provision for training and competition
was lost.
Such developments in Europe helped shape the evolution and development
of new aquatic facilities in British Columbia. A far greater awareness
of the needs of all users was realized and the basic thrust of the
British Columbia trend was to provide more of a compromise solution.
“Dual use” facilities were provided for leisure and competition.
British Columbia municipalities had limited funds and the existing
pools in the province were raking up major deficits. Greater thought
had to be put into British Columbia design solutions. Better use
of space, greater awareness of user requirements, user expectations,
environmental sensitivity, access to all, fiscal responsibility,
these were all the new common “buzz words” that suddenly
appeared.
Maple Ridge Leisure Centre initiated the surge in 1980 and started
a remarkable trend in aquatic design in British Columbia. Quesnel
and Sparwood soon followed. Then came Grand Forks, Castlegar, Langley,
Surrey, Tumbler Ridge, Chetwynd, Salmon Arm, Smithers and Gold River.
British Columbia was on a roll. Many more have since followed and
the latest designs have taken this province to new heights in facility
provision and design solutions.
So what are we to expect for the future?
For the past decade British Columbia has clearly been doing things
right and indications are that this province will continue to lead
Canada in both creativity in design and possibly more importantly,
fiscal responsibility.
Future facilities will have to cater to all and meet the needs
of ever changing communities. With strained economy, no longer can
aquatic facilities be seen as a drain on the taxpayer. Operating
statistics must be addressed and facilities designed to become more
self-supportive and cost effective. The Federal, Provincial and
Local Governments have accepted this challenge and have addressed
this problem with the two most recent major aquatic facilities in
British Columbia—the 1993 Canada Games Pool in Kamloops and
the 1994 Commonwealth Games Pool in Saanich. Both have been designed
with major leisure components (Kamloops yet to be completed) for
that elusive magical ingredient “life after the Games”.
Any new major competitive facilities will have to be regionalized.
Existing outdated facilities will need to be retrofitted with a
now well established and proven, “kit of retrofit parts”,
designed to “humanize” the facility, increase user participation
and enjoyment and (equally important) increase revenue.
This trend is already well underway in British Columbia and statistics
gleaned from such pool retrofits already undertaken indicate remarkable
increases in attendance and revenue, some resulting in a 4 to 6-year
payback on investment. Powell River and McMillan Pool in Abbotsford
attest to this fact. Ladysmith and Port Coquitlam will provide future
examples for study.
Further aquatic facilities in British Columbia will be more entertainment
oriented, with greater emphasis on family use and interactive water
components.
Moving water has already become an essential ingredient of present
day facilities. Saunas, steam rooms, swirl pools, poolside viewing
terraces, bubble machines, waterslides, raindrop units, rapids channels,
rubber rocks, weight rooms, fitness centres, and physiotherapy clinics
have all found their way into the aquatic facility of the ’90s
without inhibiting the training and competition amenities.
The future looks even more exciting, as new, previously uninitiated
marriages of component parts continue to be introduced with great
success.
“Theming” of facilities has successfully been introduced
and has opened up a whole new dynamic form of expression within
the facility. International themes line up with local pride and
history to provide endless possibilities for interior decoration.
“Imagineering” has come to the fore and, in conjunction
with new technology, the sky’s the limit.
Be proud British Columbia. To date you have done everything right
in aquatic centre design, development and management. The wealth
of professionalism and dedication, clearly evident within the industry,
will continue to ensure that British Columbia aquatic facilities
will lead the world in innovation, design operation, management
and cost effectiveness.
Vic Davies, MAIBC, REBA, MRAIC – Principal
of Vic Davies Architect Ltd., Victoria, BC, specializes in the design
of aquatic and leisure facilities worldwide. BC facilities with
which he has been involved include:
- Meadowpark Pool, Whistler
- Coquitlam Pool
- Saanich Commonwealth Place Leisure Pool
- Kamloops Aquatic Centre
- Matsqui Leisure Centre
- Tumbler Ridge Aquatic Centre
- Nicola Valley Aquatic Centre, Merritt
- Maple Ridge Leisure Centre
Vic Davies can be reached at (250) 477-4255.
Published in Recreation BC, Winter 95
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