Desjardins Aquatic centre
St. Hyacinthe Aquatic and Recreational Centre
Program
St. Hyacinthe’s Aquatic and Recreational Centre was built for competition and for recreation purposes. Its facilities include an 8-lane, 25-metre competition basin with a1-metre diving board and a 3-metre platform, designed to comply with FINA regulations. The Centre also features a community-oriented basin with water games, a 5-metre waterslide, a therapeutic basin, and saunas. Poolside seating can accommodate up to 450 spectators. Four change rooms and a total of 215 lockers are available. On the second level, one can find a large multipurpose room for holding community events. Staff and administrative areas as well as a café and other public spaces overlook the basins.
Budget and timetable
Budgets were met. The Aquatic Centre was built on a fast-track mode in order to comply with stringent federal grants’ deadlines.
Sustainability
The project’s compact volume was designed to be as efficient as possible in terms of energy costs. The building’s envelope, made of inexpensive materials, also allowed for short construction timetables. Thanks to large openings, at grade level, and skylights above, natural light is abundant reducing the needs for artificial lighting. The windows create a seamless connection between the project’s indoor spaces and its park surroundings.
Technical Challenge
The St. Hyacinthe project was ACDF’s first Aquatic Centre. Completed in less than 18 months, the Centre had to comply with a number of technical requirements including FINA’s facilities requirements for competition venues. State-of-the-art mechanical and electrical systems were installed responding to stringent water quality and safety regulations
