Newest architectural and interior designs for Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex expansion unveiled

By City of Waterloo - Jan 02, 2019

(Waterloo, Ont. – Jan. 2, 2019) City of Waterloo staff are set to unveil the most recent architectural and interior designs for the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex expansion, which will include a new older adult centre.

What: Public open house
When: Thursday, January 24, 2019
Where: Hauser Haus, Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex, 101 Father David Bauer Dr., Waterloo
Time: 2 – 4 p.m. OR 6 – 8 p.m.

The community is invited to drop in anytime during one of the two open house sessions on January 24 to share in the design reveal. Parkin Architects Limited and city staff will be on hand to answer questions as well as provide the community the opportunity to visualize the facility’s transformation with the help of virtual reality tours, a 3D model and interior/exterior perspectives. The designs are based on public and user group input and other research from the needs assessment and feasibility study for the expansion.

The design includes three key components:

  1. A civic front of about 12,000-13,000 new square feet
    • This addition is to be built on the east side of WMRC and will include an activity court/gymnasium, additional lobby space, change rooms, storage spaces, locker space and office space
  2. A central fitness core in the Hauser Haus
    • Repurposing the Hauser Haus banquet hall will allow for additional fitness programming in two exercise studios
    • A secondary indoor walking concourse will be built into this renovated space
  3. A community pavilion of about 22,000-23,000 square feet
    • This will be the home of the new older adult centre to replace the Adult Recreation Centre and Wing 404 RCAFA Rotary Adult Centre
    • It will house a variety of spaces to accommodate formal and informal programs including a meeting/dining hall, program rooms, a lounge and a games/computer room all on the first floor
    • The second floor, accessible by stairs and elevator, would include a community hall, a fitness studio, and program room
    • The pavilion will be located on the west side of WMRC and linked by bridge to the central fitness core in the main WMRC building

The design is guided by principles of seamless accessibility and aimed to improve access for all users, and complies with all application codes/regulations at a minimum to ensure a high level of accessibility that prepares for the more stringent Accessibility of Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) standards. The design was developed to ensure the community takes full advantage of the expanded facility and all programming, including the relocation of older adult programming. This includes a renovation and expansion of the existing alternate needs change room used to access the Swimplex.

City staff will return to council in spring 2019 for approval to move ahead with construction, which is estimated to take about 24 months. Based on this timeline, the WMRC expansion and new older adult centre will open sometime in the summer of 2021. Existing programs and customers using the ARC and Wing 404 will continue to use these spaces until the WMRC expansion is complete and operational.

Background to WMRC recreation facility study:

The goal of the WMRC expansion is to address the city’s need for additional capacity for indoor recreation, the evolving recreational needs of the community, and the need for new space for older adult programs.

In August 2016, City of Waterloo Council approved the advancement of a needs assessment and feasibility study to explore:

  1. The recreation needs of older adults through the consideration of a new older adult centre to replace the existing Adult Recreation Centre and/or the existing Wing 404. The need to explore opportunities for a new older adult recreation centre was a recommendation in the older adult recreation strategy, approved by council in June 2015.
  2. Addressing the more general recreation needs of the growing local population through the consideration of an addition/expansion to the WMRC for indoor recreation space.

The first phase of this work (needs assessment study) was presented to council on May 8, 2017. The needs assessment provided a picture of the following:

  • Community need for new recreation space within the context of city growth planning.
  • Input gathered from residents on space needs and program interests, including a focus on input from older adults and city staff, through multiple means of engagement.
  • Recreation trends, including a focus on the recreation needs of older adults and how needs are changing.
  • Proposed functional building program intended to define the core elements of an expanded WMRC to inform the feasibility study.

The second phase of this work (feasibility study) was presented to council on December 11, 2017. This included a list of key program spaces (new or repurposed) and conceptual designs for an expanded WMRC, combined with a relocated older adult centre.

For more information about this project, please visit engagewr.ca/waterloo.

Media contact:
Janice Works
Manager, corporate communications
P: 519-747-8731
TTY: 1-866-786-3941
janice.works@waterloo.ca

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