The City of Maple Ridge selected SHAPE Architecture to develop a complete redesign of the Leisure Pool and Hot Pool including significant upgrades to the pool mechanical systems and a renovation of the lobby and reception with a new reception desk and staff offices. The pool tanks in the existing facility did not meet accessibility requirements with pool tanks on multiple levels, while other issues were raised during stakeholder workshops with pool user groups. SHAPE Architecture’s design raised the new leisure pool to create a new common pool deck level and incorporated a new beach entry which leads to a warm lap area and elliptical lazy river to be used for therapy and recreation.
The Maple Ridge Leisure Centre was Western Canada’s first Public Aquatic and Multi-use Recreation Centre.
A main feature of the pool area is the custom public mosaic art piece by Rebecca Bayer “Maple Ridge Community Mosaic”.
From Rebecca: “About the mosaics: 540 unique geometric patterns were gathered from community members at workshops conducted throughout Maple Ridge in 2018-19. At these workshops, participants were provided with triangular cardboard tiles and an equilateral grid to place them onto. Each pattern created by the public was documented and then over the following months, curated and combined into a diagonal stripe motif representing the dynamic coming-togetherness of the local community at this place.”
Custom glazed tiles were hand-made locally by Interstyle Glass, assembled by the artist Space Make Place, and installed on site.
The 12 custom colours are based on a palette chosen for this project from photos of the local landscape, submitted by Maple Ridge community members in early 2018.
