Just north of Montreal proper, the city of Laval doesn’t usually rival its much larger neighbour as a cultural hub. Yet, the largest of the metropolitan suburbs — and the third-biggest city in all of Quebec — boasts destinations in its own right, foremost among them the Comsodôme museum. An escape into the history and adventure of space exploration, the museum is a year-round hub of activity. And next door? A striking new aquatic centre every bit as immersive and exhilarating as the stuff of science fiction next door.

The new aquatic centre (left) sits alongside the Comsodôme.

Designed by Montreal’s Sid Lee Architecture (SLA), the 13,700-square-metre public hub combines state-of-the-art aquatic facilities with a sociable and emphatically welcoming setting. Catering to budding competitive athletes and young families alike, the sporting and recreational complex is immediately distinguished by its circular form and expansive windows.

While the building’s eye-catching body offers a subtle nod to the adjacent Comsodôme’s central room, the seemingly whimsical form is also a rational response to a challenging site. On an infill lot hemmed in by a busy highway, the circular building leverages its relationship to a pocket of wooded greenery, with the rounded windows deftly stretching a view of the trees across the building.

“The presence of the woodland on the site guided the architectural vision from the start,” said Jean Pelland, architect and principal partner at SLA. “The spaces were developed to create a symbiotic relationship between the aquatic plates and the intimacy provided by the tranquil nature of the area.”

Inside, the building is organized into three distinct zones. Lively shared spaces — including the lobby and a recreational pool equipped with a child-friendly slide — are clustered together near the public realm and the entrance. Meanwhile, the core of the structure is given over to more private spaces, including change rooms and administrative offices. Past this middle zone, an Olympic-size swimming pool and a 10-metre diving tower — one of the few in the province — cater to competitive and casual athletes. Custom equipment, like a movable bridge that splits the pool in two, and an adjustable pool floor, ensure a versatile setting.

Splashes of yellow bring energy and vitality to the public zones, while a deep blue backdrop anchors the quieter private spaces with a sense of calm. “On the inside, the simplicity of the spaces offers a refined setting that lets the magnitude of the pools and the views of the surrounding nature shine,” says SLA design director Carl-Antonyn Dufault.

And for all the ramps and slides and curves, the whole of the complex is designed for universal access. According to Marjolaine Plasse, architect and project manager at SLA, it’s a paradigm that reflects the universality of water. “Aquatic activity, which is inclusive by nature, transcends age and physical capacities,” says Plasse. “It was essential for us, as well as for the city of Laval, that our intervention allowed for all members of the community to enjoy the new facilities.”