Centrally located in the park master plan as a gathering place, the John Fry Sports Park Pavilion is designed as a conceptual gesture of the ball game.
Beginning with the park master plan, small revisions have been made to bring "park" to the site while drawing on the orthogonal qualities of the large utility rights of way. A north/south main access boulevard lined with trees runs through the park to create a sense of arrival and departure. It is from this axis that the park program elements are ordered, creating linear access for intuitive way-finding. This develops an easily understood connection to all parking areas and playing fields.
The orthogonal quality is then reinforced with the existing and revised locations of the new playing fields, creating a sense of progression through, and arrival at, each playing area, whether moving through the park by foot, by bike or by car. This creates a sense of connection with the other activities on the site.
As a centrally located amenity, the pavilion serves as a gathering point and landmark and must serve users as an everyday game facility, a tournament facility and year-round event facility. Therefore, the pavilion needs to be both pragmatic in its function and dramatic in its form.
To accomplish both the pragmatic and the dramatic, the pavilion is a modern interpretation of the elements of the ball game. The plan begins as a trace of the existing ball diamond on which it is to be located, creating an echo of what is currently there.
The lower level functions as the private change, team space - a literal interpretation of the dug out. The lower level circulation traces the base path of the existing ball diamond. Ramps at both the north and south ends create not only universal access but also draw upon players' excitement of emerging from the tunnel to play in the big game.
The upper level is elevated as if perched on the pitcher's mound (the most visible position in the game) and is dedicated for public activities. The form is completed by a large sweeping roof, a simple yet dramatic gesture reminiscent of the arc of a batter's swing.
The north common area is sheltered from the intense summer midday sun while being exposed to the late day sun for tournament banquets and award ceremonies. A balcony wraps around the upper level to create easy access, way finding, viewing access and covered outdoor rest area. The circulation originates from "home plate" to cut through the common area then creates a seating area on the stairs to view the 'stage' for game information, awards ceremonies, or other outdoor events.
Sustainability considerations include light wells/skylights to drive ambient daylight into the lower level change rooms, clerestory windows on the north side of the building to provide ambient daylight into the public bathrooms and a large scale glass enclosure of the common room for significant ambient day lighting. The roof has large overhangs to create shaded areas in the summer to allow for respite from the summer heat for people plus reducing the need for excessive cooling for internal spaces. The slope of the roof also allows for the collection of rainwater while its white colour provides reflectance of radiant sun energy.
Ramps and wide stairs provide easy access to all areas of the building. The lower and upper levels are not connected internally allowing for the lower level to be secured and "turned off" in the winter when not in use and for both areas to be used by separate groups without interfering with each other.
The building is designed to be durable, using many typical local building materials. Concrete and concrete block form the foundation and walls of the lower level. By splitting the building into two levels, significant savings will be realized from a foundation that is half the size of the building program.
(Competitor's text)
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