Mani-Utenam Sports Centre

The main objective of this project was to create a new infrastructure in the community to allow its members to move, swim and practice physical activities as a family. Mani-Utenam is located in a remote part of Quebec. The community, at the moment, does not have much infrastructure dedicated to recreation. This generation wants to change that and support future generations by offering modern recreation facilities within the community.

Through the consultation process, the design for the sports centre was inspired by two sacred indigenous symbols, the canoe and the sacred drum (Tewegan). The structure of the pool addition is inspired by the canoe hull. The hull structure is used throughout the whole building and acts as a sunshade at the entrance of the building.

The exterior of the building is composed of white aluminum siding and a sunshade mesh. The roofs are sloped towards the street in order to match the surrounding residential scale. On the interior, a central gathering space has been incorporated that allows families to watch activities in the pool and the courtyard. This area includes bleachers that provide storage and ample natural lighting. What could have been an ordinary back door access to the arena has become a nice entrance with a welcoming water park protected from the prevailing winds.