The clients couldn?t have been more clear: tear down their existing ice arena, because only about one percent of Conestoga College students used it, and replace it with new gym and recreation facilities.
But when the team at MJMA began to consider the design brief, they soon realized that the building slated for demolition had a quiet elegance that deserved closer inspection.
Instead of demolishing and replacing a 1970s arena as originally mandated, MJMA advocated for adaptively reusing it. Glazing was added to the sides and end of the barrel-vaulted volume, maintaining its structural integrity while bringing daylight to the interior. Photo by Shai Gil
Located in Kitchener, Ontario and designed by Strasman Wagman Partnership (SWP) in 1978, the original recreation centre consisted of two barrel vaulted sheds resting on wide swaths of bermed grass.It was an unusual move to crest the volume upon sloped earth. Although several new buildings were added to the campus in the intervening years, the vaults have remained prominent from the main road. According to Jim Strasman, FRAIC, he and Keith Wagman didn?t want to just place a box on the flat site, but to build something that reached the ground ?quietly, logically and organically.? An addition gives a fresh face to the building, while reorienting its main entrance to face the campus. The addition includes a wellness centre on the ground floor, along with an open-plan fitness centre and multi-purpose studios above. Photo by Shai G...