Coronation Park Sports and Recreation Centre

The City of Edmonton wanted a recreational facility within Coronation Park that, when paired with the adjacent aquatic centre, would allow for year-round indoor triathlons – a North American first. The building also contains gymnasium courts, a running track, and multi-purpose rooms for general fitness and wellness use.  To further indoor continuity between the two buildings, an enclosed corridor to the aquatic centre was part of the buildings programming.

The building layout of an ellipse was developed based on the velodrome shape.  The need for a clear span over the main volume dictated a type of long-span structure.  The solution was to treat the inner volume as one structure and the outer ring as a separate structural space.  The inner space is created with long-span steel elliptical trusses, which allow for efficiency in material and positive drainage for the roof.  The outer space over the running track is designed as a wood-steel hybrid ‘ribbon’ roof to allow for a more intimate experience – the roof system will be much closer to the guests.

A unique feature of the building design is that the velodrome is placed a full storey above the ground-level floor, making it fully visible from the main floor of the building.  There are change rooms and support facilities below the upper level and multi-purpose spaces around the perimeter below the velodrome and concourse areas.

This project has been many years in the making. The design has remained consistent through its lifespan due to the combination of an iconic exterior appearance and an efficient layout and construction.  Allowing for the many different program functions within one building space will allow this building to be useful and adaptable for the city for years to come.

Completed images by Nic Lehoux.