If the designs and features are any indications, the new downtown pool in Prince George should make a big splash.
City Staff and HDR Architects held an event today (Thu) at the PG Conference and Civic Centre.
HDR Vice-President of Recreation and Culture, Mark Hentze told MyPGNow.com they want the new building to be a reflection of the city.
“So what we really wanted the building to express was the values and character of the City of Prince George, we didn’t want this to look like it could be in Windsor, Ontario or Toronto, Calgary or any other place, we wanted it to talk to the living experience in Prince George.”
“We’re building it on a flood plain much like the current Four Seasons Pool so there is a lot of themes that show up about that, some are subtle, some are kind of obvious and the exterior expression we wanted to make it look durable and robust.”
City Manager of Aquatics, Jim Worthington believes the pool will be an excellent addition to the downtown.
“I think the new pool is going to be another anchor for the downtown and I think it’s going to really be able to revitalize the downtown as we see the development of the housing, the hotels, and the pool should add to that.”
Worthington is also pleased that the new pool will be accessible to everyone.
“The universal change room has 18 private rooms and three of those rooms are barrier-free so it’s fully accessible for people with disabilities.”
Each of the pools has shallow entries and “pool pods” to provide people with mobility devices to enter, while the main leisure pool has a gradual entry from zero depth.
The main features of the pool include:
- A six-lane 25-metre lap pool
- A four-lane 25-metre teaching pool with warmer water and shallow depth
- A leisure pool with a lazy river, beach entry, and play features
- A large waterslide with a run-off lane
- A large whirlpool with two depths
- Dedicated male and female change rooms, as well as a large universal change room
- Three barrier-free shower rooms with ceiling lifts
- A sauna and steam room
- Two classrooms
- A comfortable viewing area
- One of the more striking visual aspects of the new pool is its “tilted box” design, which allows for the increased height needed to house the waterslide at the southeast end of the building. The building then slopes towards the main entrance at 7th Avenue and Quebec Street. The entry plaza will collect water run-off into a rain garden on 7th Avenue.
Construction on the new pool is scheduled to begin later this year and the City expects the facility will open to the public by the summer of 2022.
The Four Seasons will remain open until the new pool is ready for use.
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