To be host to a world class, high performance competition like the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/ Parapan Am Games, a venue must meet strict requirements set by sports federations and international organizations like the International Olympic Committee. In addition, those seeking to host Parapan competitions must also achieve exemplary accessibility through universal design. Meeting both was made a priority for all venues at Toronto 2015, with the Abilities Centre in Whitby, Ontario serving as an exemplary case study of universal design in high performance sports venues.

Completed in 2012 and designed by B+H Architects, the Abilities Centre is a barrier-free centre for excellence for people with varying degrees of abilities and challenges. The Centre helps people of all ages and abilities improve their health and well-being, increase their mobility, follow their passions, explore their creativity, and connect with their community. This Parapan Am venue is recognized for both meeting the highest accessibility and sports standards, and its unique structural design. It is the recipient of a CISC-Ontario Steel Design Award and an Award of Distinction from the International Olympic Committee (IOC)/International Paralympic Committee (IPC)/ International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS). The Award of Distinction is the top honour given in the International Paralympic Committee stream of these awards.

 

Photo credit: Toni Hafkenscheid

 

Distributed over two floors, the facility includes a mix of programs which range from sports and recreation to the preforming arts. The first floor includes three full regulation-sized basketball courts, a six lane, 200m indoor training track, two resistance training areas – including a weight room with specialized equipment that uses compressed air technology to reduce noise and injuries –, a rock climbing wall, two aerobics class rooms, and a universally accessible cardiovascular exercise area. On the second floor a library, a sensory therapy room, spaces for life skills, and a theatre complete the community-minded facility. Connecting both floors is a centrally located ramp as well as an elevator.

 

Drawing courtesy of B+H Architects

What makes the centre particularly remarkable is its seamless integration of accessibility and universal design to create an environment welcoming to users with all varying degrees of abilities.

"Throughout the centre, there are a lot of subtle things that the architects and the engineers have put in to address accessibility needs but that the average person wouldn't necessarily notice," says Jessica Vreugdenhil, manager of community relations and marketing at the Abilities Centre.¹

 

Photo Credit: Toni Hafkensheid 

 

From layout to colour choices, every element in the Abilities Centre takes accessibility needs into account, creating an attractive and intuitive environment that is accessible to a broad range of users. The large and open-concept atrium is an elegant entry way to the facility, but its design also minimizes congestion when multiple wheelchairs and scooters are in the same space, and its tactile walking surface and uninterrupted views provide easy navigation. Similarly, yellow is featured prominently in the building, providing a cheerful and energetic environment, but it was also chosen because it is one of the last colours that people losing their vision are able to see. The wayfinding system displays bright contrasting colours, integrating braille, icons and fonts which facilitate navigation for a wide range of users. The colours extend to the floor, where hallways are colour coded and yellow tactile borders and markers help those with limited vision easily traverse through the facility. Other universal design features include mirrors at all T intersections in hallways and strobe light alarm systems.

A unique space within the Centre is the life skills rooms. This replica of an apartment-style living environment is designed to offer independent living training through assistance with physical and cognitive skills. It also exemplifies the highest standards for universal design in residential architecture, with clearance beneath sinks and stoves that allow those in wheelchairs to use the spaces.

 

Photo Credit: Toni Hafkenscheid 

For the Parapan Am Games, the Abilities Centre will use the courts located on the infield to host judo (August 12-14) and boccia (August 8 -11).

Sources:

1. Pessian, Parvaneh, Beyond Barriers: A closer look at the Abilities Centre in Whitby, in Durham Region. http://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/3509488-beyond-barriers-a-closer-look-at-the-abilities-centre-in-whitby/