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Saucier + Perrotte, ATB

The building would look like a giant circle — 140 metres across and 21 metres high. Must of the rest of the facility would be hidden by a berm and green roof, making it look like it’s underground but still allowing natural light for the Olympic-sized swimming pool.

Project inspiration

The idea for the circle comes from a Cree medicine wheel and the irrigation circles common in southern Alberta. Saucier carried the circle theme further with a round picnic site embedded in the green roof on top of the swimming pool, and in a round skate park further west in the park space.

Those smaller circles were inspired by the circular dips that exist on what’s currently farm land, a product of the glacial era, said Saucier.

The twin arenas stand out of the building on the west side. The form and colour is meant to suggest snow or ice, he said. “Very pure, very white, emerging from the ground.”

The recreation centre needs $16 million to finish the detailed design work needed to get the project ready to tender. Council will debate the $215-million construction bill during the 2019-22 capital budget debates.

Budget adjustments

Ward 5 Coun. Michael Oshry is hoping for design dollars in the spring capital budget adjustment, so the project isn’t postponed for four years. “That would be a huge disappointment … Every single house (in the neighbourhood) has two little kids there.”

The 19-hectare site is in Rosenthal at 220 Street and 92 Avenue. It would have two ice hockey rinks, an aquatic centre with a 10-metre dive platform and both competitive and child-friendly swimming, three gyms, a bouldering wall for rock climbers, community meeting rooms, an indoor track and a fitness centre. It will also have a public library, Catholic upgrading school, a daycare and sports fields.