Role*
Prime Consultant, Architectural Design, Aquatic Consulting
Project
H2O Adventure & Fitness Centre
Staff
The H2O Adventure and Fitness Centre for the City of Kelowna was implemented through a new project delivery system, adopted at the request of municipal and provincial government authorities, in which schematic designs were prepared by an integrated design team. This team, consisting of city representatives, the city’s project manager, PCL Constructors, Cannon Design and the full team of consultants, developed a mutually acceptable design for the H2O Aquatic and Fitness Centre ultimately achievable at an initial cost of $41.2 million. The scheme enabled PCL Constructors to sign a fixed-price design-build contract for the project in September 2007.
Project features include a 50m, eight-lane competitive pool with two bulkheads and 1m and 3m diving boards; a wave pool with up to 1.2m waves; a wave river with integral vortex pool; a waverider surfing facility; a children’s water park; a universally accessible family whirlpool for 20; an adult whirlpool for 12; four water slides; a steam room; a fitness centre; an aerobics studio; a childcare facility; a multiuse meeting room; and associated changing, administrative, and service facilities.
The H2O Adventure and Fitness Centre for the City of Kelowna was opened to the public in March 2009. Constructed at a time of unprecedented and unpredictable construction cost escalation, the project was delivered on time and on budget and has been extremely well received by the people of Kelowna and surrounding area. Project challenges related primarily to ensuring that the City’s program requests were delivered regardless of cost escalation. The design approach emphasized functional space and performance of the pool facility over finish or elaborate form, and relied on straightforward industrial construction systems used with modularity and repetition.
*Work completed by JSA Sport Architecture Inc. personnel while employed by Cannon Design
Completion
March 2009
Client
City of Kelowna, British Columbia
Location
Kelowna, British Columbia