François Dupuis Recreation Centre

Country Canada
City Ottawa
Customer City of Ottawa
Surface area 10,863 m²
Year 2013
Certification LEED Silver

Located near the Eastern urban boundary of the City of Ottawa, the François Dupuis Recreation Centre’s program includes a 25M – six lane main pool basin, leisure basin, and dry sauna.

To accommodate supplementary programming, a multi-purpose room, fitness centre, and party room was included to compliment the main aquatic focus of the facility. The design was developed in coordination with the site plan concept that would allow for the addition of another public facility on the site (e.g. public library) and future sports areas.

View of the pool at François Dupuis Recreation Centre

Design strategies include consideration of the pool deck area as an important public room, integration of art installation, animation of the public spaces with art and architecture, along with controlled natural light and views using translucent and clear glass throughout the building. Wall between pool deck and lobby area fully glazed so that visitors can witness and enjoy the pool experience. Integration of mechanical, structural, and lighting systems is conceived in conjunction with the architectural and sustainable design concepts. The François Dupuis Recreation Centre is LEED Silver Certified in accordance with City of Ottawa policies.

Fitness room of the François Dupuis Recreation Centre

The project design has been warmly received by the community – and has become a landmark in its setting. The entry twins exterior and interior public “rooms”: moments of delight orienting the visitor to the light filled watery environment of the pool.

Interior of the François Dupuis Recreation Centre

Features of this approach to budget included massing which was both economical and expressive, simple detailing using commodity grade materials, the use of colour, expressed structure, the use of wood, attention to sight lines and views, and the organization of the plan to the benefit of the experience of users and the community. The use of translucent glass for the upper half of the space means that the building has a significant presence at night time, becoming a lantern in the community.