John Fry Park is a 68 acre/5.5ha parkland site located in South Edmonton between 28 Avenue and 31 Avenue. The name was chosen in recognition of John Wesley Fry (1876 - 1946), who served as an alderman from 1932 to 1936 and Mayor from 1937 to 1945. During this time he played a significant role in devising a plan to refinance Edmonton?s debt during the final bleak years of the Great Depression and guiding Edmonton through WWII.
The site contains a number of ball diamonds, rugby fields, and a city of Edmonton Parks operations yard. Some of the organized sports clubs currently have lease arrangements with the City for preferential use of the site, but the general public may also book the sports fields when available. A 4.6 ha parcel within the site has been identified for a potential future recreational facility.
A central amenity building is required to serve a variety of functions. It shall provide public washrooms and must accommodate several articulated needs of site stakeholders, as outlined in the detail space list. The partner organizations would like to have the ability to utilize meeting space, change rooms, officials' rooms, and private storage space.
The fundamental concept for the design is a community friendly and flexible structure. Community space and public washrooms are the primary programmatic elements. The structure shall be designed for LEED Silver rating as per the City of Edmonton's EcoVision and shall include a high standard for day lighting and natural ventilation. The proposed design shall respect the function of the park as a host site for major events.
First Prize: Marc Boutin Architectural Collaborative Inc.
This park is particularly challenging given its industrial setting and the dominant presence of high voltage power transmission lines. The park needs a robust response to the challenges associated with its industrial context, as well as the relative site isolation and consequent security concerns. The jury felt that this scheme offers a strong response to its setting, while at the same time offering a clear and achievable response to the program. The building, which has a modular quality, can be constructed incrementally if necessary. The jury liked the clear graphic quality of the presentation which, when finally implemented, will make the different user portions readily identifiable. The jury thought that this scheme was particularly honest and well-organized. Some planning refinements will be required to improve the relationship of the building to the sports fields to the north of the building.
Second Prize: ABSTRAKT Studio Inc.
Then jury found this entry to be inviting and friendly. It is a relatively compact solution and is nicely situated on the site. It would be welcoming to the users. With some careful design, it could probably be constructed within the budget. This pavilion cannot be constructed incrementally, so would require that all the user groups be on board. The jury really enjoyed the graphics and imagery of this submission.
Citation: Sturgess Architecture
This submission generated a lot of discussion among the jury. The technical advisor recommended that it would be difficult to build this project within the budget given the amount of exterior wall surface and the required earthwork excavation. On the other hand, the overall design and the proposed exterior amphitheatre were praised for their visibility and practical utility. The building has an appropriately robust response to its setting. The graphics of this submission were appealing.
(From the jury report)
Edmonton Park Pavilion Architectural Design Competition, Canadian Architect, 2011
Competitions (February 01, 2011), Canadian Architect, 2011
Winners of Edmonton Park Pavilion Design Competition announced, Canadian Architect, 2011
Edmonton unveils winning park pavilion designs, CBC News, 2011
Competitions (May 01, 2011), Canadian Architect, 2011
Kent, Gordon, Park pavilion plans to 'raise the bar' for local design, Edmonton Journal, 2011
Rochon, Lisa, Edmonton gives the green light to new park pavilions and library updates, The Globe and Mail, 2011