Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre

CITY OF HAMILTON BERNIE MORELLI RECREATION CENTRE Hamilton / Ontario / Canada

URBAN PRECINCT

The Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre (BMRC) is developed as part of a larger urban precinct to create an important new community hub for east Hamilton.

The precinct design incorporates three buildings and a new urban park: the new BMRC, expansion to the existing Jimmy Thompson Memorial Pool (built for the first British Empire Games in 1930), and the new North Secondary School. Master planned together to create a holistic urban environment–with the adjacent Tim Horton’s Field–they form an outdoor courtyard creating a new prominent civic destination for Hamiltonians.

Located between Barton Street East and King Street East in east Hamilton, the site formed part of the ‘South Pan AM’ Precinct that included the construction of the new Pan Am Soccer Stadium (now the Tiger Cat’s Tim Horton’s Field) for the XVII Pan American Games.

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CONTEXT

SITE CONTEXT

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MASTER PLAN 1 NEW BERNIE MORELLI RECREATION CENTRE 2 EXISTING JIMMY THOMPSON MEMORIAL POOL 3 NEW NORTH SECONDARY SCHOOL 4 TIM HORTON’S FIELD

SITE

This project establishes much needed public park space as the defining, central figure of the project.

The east side of Hamilton, south of Barton Street East is an area of ‘blue-collar’ single family houses. The largest built object interrupting this urban texture was Ivor Wynne Stadium, also built for the 1930 British Empire Games. This project establishes much needed public park space as the defining, central figure of the project. The new Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre connects to the existing heritage pool to form a continuous 2 storey volume on Balsam Avenue. The new secondary school occupies a hockey-stick shaped footprint on the west side of the site to define a street face to Melrose Avenue.

FOUR-SEASON USE

This project creates generous open space for the community that doubles as a summer splash pad, a winter skating loop, and a fall reflecting pond, connecting this new civic space to Tim Horton Field’s public plaza.

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1. 4 Season Activity Area: Splash Pad, Reflecting Pool, and Ice Rink 2. Curbed, Landscape Islands 3. Berms 4. Barrier Free Entry Ramp 5. Pedestrian Boulevard 6. Entry Courtyard

7. Main Entrance 8. Entrance Lobby 9. Cafeteria and Lounge 10. Gymnasium 11. Dance Studio 12. Cannon Street Entrance

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SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE

The City believes good civic architecture creates robust social infrastructure that supports a connected community.

This project is anchored by the two large public halls of the natatorium and gym, naturally lit and inviting communal rooms that reflect the local site materiality of Southern Ontario hardwood forests and the textured limestone of the Niagara Escarpment that is the dominant land form of the City.

CONNECTING OLD AND NEW The massing of the new BMRC extends the form and the unit masonry materiality of the existing heritage Jimmy Thompson Memorial Pool in a subtle and differentiated way — creating a ‘natural extension’ of this well-loved, stalwart facility in Hamilton. A lower ribbon of glazed circulation transitions into a transparent vertical reveal to the existing structure, allowing for a new elevator, entrance, accessible washrooms, and stair connection to the existing facility. This link allows uninterrupted accessible access from the parking lot directly to the existing pool’s upper surround seating level with new wheelchair viewing platforms. A sorely needed servicing area, mechanical well and maintenance enclosure is neatly tucked behind the two buildings. The overall urban solution is one of unity and sensitively integrates modern design and heritage infrastructure.

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

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Main Entry Vestibule Secondary Entry Accessible Entry + Link to Heritage Jimmy Thompson Pool Multi-purpose Room 1 Cafe / Lounge Kitchen Youth Room Gymnasium Dance / Yoga Studio Dance / Yoga Studio Admin Men’s Change Area Women’s Change Area Universal Change Area Natatorium Viewing Gallery

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Meeting Room Multi-purpose Room 2 Multi-purpose Room 3 Multi-purpose Room 4 Multi-purpose Room 5 Walking Track Wellness Centre Mechanical Well Heritage Jimmy Thompson Pool

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The Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre (BMRC) is a new public facility for the community of east Hamilton.

Situated among single family homes and adjacent to an urban park, high school and sports field, the site exists within a larger urban precinct and community hub. BMRC houses swimming and fitness facilities designed for people of all abilities, supporting health and wellness-focused lifestyles. Program areas include a leisure pool, gymnasium, running track, teaching studios and community rooms.

STONE The iconic Niagara Escarpment is a dominant natural feature that weaves through the City of Hamilton. Its exposed limestone face is a defining aspect of local history and identity. This natural wonder is reflected across the interior spaces with large limestone clad walls. Natural daylight filtered in from the skylights above highlight the stone feature, exposing the unique natural graining and character of this material.

With the use natural materials, daylighting and views, the Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre celebrates the everyday experience, lifting one’s spirits and making the health and wellness lifestyle inclusive and accessible across a broad demographic of users.

SKY Over 60m of skylights flood interior spaces with natural light. Electrical light demands are significantly reduced while direct light and views are optimized. Despite the building’s large footprint, views to the sky are visible throughout the building. Shadows from passing clouds emanate across materials and surfaces, shape-shifting and animating the space throughout the day. The active and lively gymnasium provides users with optimal performance daylighting, while leisure spaces offer more diffuse lighting opportunities, creating spaces for quietude, reflection, teaching and socializing.

FOREST Situated within the deciduous forest region of southern Ontario, the oak wood ceilings mirror the sites natural history and local geography. The ceiling’s abstract geometry recalls the texture of a forest canopy while its colour and natural grain elevates the interior spaces, creating a welcoming and inviting environment unique to its context.

WATER

BMRC houses swimming and fitness facilities designed for people of all abilities, supporting health and wellness-focused lifestyles. Program areas include a leisure pool, gymnasium, running track, teaching studios and community rooms.

The 200sm leisure pool has been optimized for group classes and casual swims. Its shallow depth and ramp entry allow universal access to all age groups and abilities while an integrated hydrotherapy area is ideal for recovery and rejuvenation. Open views and transparency to the surrounding neighborhood, park and school reinforce its identity as an inclusive and shared public amenity.

MJMA Copyright Š 2020 by MJMA All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

For more information about this project, please contact:

Amanda Chong T: 416-593-6796 ext 245 E: achong@mjma.com www.mjma.ca