East Hants Aquatic Centre
The East Hants Aquatic Centre is one of the largest infrastructure builds in the history of East Hants, Nova Scotia. East Hants County has experienced a significant population growth over the past twenty years highlighting a need for additional services for the community. The new centre consolidates services that, like in many small Nova Scotian communities, previously existed in wide-spread, sequestered locations spread throughout the community. The East Hants Pool project was a massive undertaking by the local government and municipality to bring these services, and through it the community, together. The building and surrounding landscape are now a hub for the community, contributing to the social, physical and community well-being of the residents of East Hants.
The building connects to its surroundings, grounding itself in the existing community through its expansive windows. The structure and form of the building are simple in their execution, referencing the gentle sloping shed roofs present in the area as well as minimizing complexity and cost of construction.
For training, fitness and recreational purposes, the Aquatic Centre includes: a fully accessible six-lane, 25-metre lap pool, a fully accessible leisure spray pool, a lazy river, a hot tub, a 25ft high water slide, a climbing wall, and a very popular outdoor splash park loved by children. The facility takes the different demographics of the community into careful consideration by offering a range of experiences for all ages and physical abilities. Special care was given to creating spaces that were fully accessible. In a community where a higher percentage of the population is aging or elderly, this was an important element to incorporate in the project.
To successfully support the fitness and recreational activities, the East Hants Pool offers a public lobby, a multi-purpose community room with kitchen, and public viewing areas where family and friends can view the activities in the pool room and the splash pad. Support spaces also include gender-specific change rooms, non gendered family change rooms, and offices for management, life guards, and building superintendents.
The new aquatics centre embodies and enhances the best qualities of small-town Nova Scotia: a deep love of community and close social connections that make living in these communities truly special.
Partner Architect: MJMA
Photos: Harrison Jardine
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