Lake Country Co-op Leisure Centre

PRINCE ALBERT, SK

Architects - MJMA Architecture & Design and Group2

Swimming in Au.diSlat Linear ceiling finishes

The Lake Country Co-Op Leisure Centre was a new initiative for the city of Prince Albert in Saskaktoon. The Co-op committed $10 million dollars for a 25-year agreement, demonstrating their dedication to the community by supporting youth and the growth and development of Prince Albert. The design incorporates feedback from tours of similar facilities, industry best practices, and consultations with user groups from skating, hockey, and swimming communities.

The facility is designed to be a fun, family-oriented space for all ages, catering to participants and spectators alike. It addresses the City's need for indoor leisure spaces and provide increased capacity for swimming, skating, and hockey programs.

The Aquatics area is a key feature that offers 51,500 square feet of space. It features a dedicated space for lane swimming and a leisure area. With such a large space, there will be more hours available for competitive swim groups as well as more public swim times and swimming lessons for families. The expanded indoor capacity also means Prince Albert will be able to host local and regional swim competitions and added spectator seating will give more room for guests to watch and enjoy.

Challenges & Solutions:

This project presented unique architecture challenges and Atkar created a solution that fit perfectly.

Budget VS Intention

The Challenge: The budget for such a large project was rapidly increasing. The architects needed a cost effective solution that kept design and quality top of mind.

The Solution: Atkar was able to provide value engineering options without negatively impacting the architect’s design intent, saving about 50% of the original cost. The main way we accomplished this was by replacing InLuxe Solid Western Red Cedar with Western Hemlock with a custom cedar stain.

Matching Finishes Between Different Environments

The Challenge: The architect wanted the same ceiling design to continue through the lobby, pool, and exterior soffit.

The Solution: Selecting InLuxe Solid Western Hemlock meant that the material would be suitable for interior, exterior, and high-humidity environment. Furthermore, Atkar used topcoats suitable for each environment to protect the beauty of the wood stain.