Projects: Sports & Recreation
University of Calgary Red & Gold Gym
Calgary, Alberta
The Red and Gold Gyms, which first opened in 1962 at the University of Calgary's Kinesiology Complex, have often been described as unpleasant places in the past by students who have written exams or played sports in their dark and dated spaces.
SAHURI + Partners, in conjunction with Diamond Schmitt Architects, created a renewal and expansion plan to bring the gyms out of decades past and into the modern age with a necessary facelift. Project goals included altering the exterior walls to enhance lighting and maximize the gym's presence, while being mindful of budgetary constraints and high traffic use in the area. Designers worked closely with the University to assess programming needs so the space could be revitalized with minimal impact to gym users' ongoing activities.
With natural daylighting critical to this design, giant clearstory windows were incorporated on the east and west elevations. These open the interior, allowing the University population to catch glimpses of a dynamic, kinetic, and growing Faculty. The new fenestration creates a much-needed bright and airy feeling within, while also minimizing unwanted glare. The design incorporates a carefully selected, innovative combination of materials such as glass, Solara wall, vertically mounted zinc panels, and a durable granite base. Solar louvers on the south-facing clear glazing enhance a subtle and cleanly detailed façade. The design is grounded by two lanterns at either end of the gyms which provide a snapshot to the interior and flood walkways with light at night.
After these small-scale but dramatic changes were completed in 2015, the Red and Gold Gyms now open up directly onto the quad at the heart of the campus and serve as a central backdrop to a main campus entry point. The new exterior is unique; symbiotically channeling light between the interior and exterior, beautifying the U of C campus, and contributing positively to the public realm.
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