York Regional Police Association (YRPA) New Office & Facility Clubhouse
The new office and clubhouse facility at 63 Eric T. Smith Way in Aurora offers YRPA and its members a new contemporary facility with office space for the association’s growing staff complement as well as additional rentable office spaces for suitable tenants. The facility also includes a new private member social space and a separate event space.
The two-storey building presents an elegant, contemporary expression upon approach. The first storey is clad in Eramosa limestone (quarried locally in Wiarton) with large storefront openings into the Credit Union space. The second floor is open and transparent with large expanses of glass accented by translucent glass and aluminum panels. All office areas are provided with operable windows to allow for natural ventilation during the spring and fall seasons. The north side of the building is crowned with a gently sloping standing seam metal roof interrupted by a two-storey entry lobby atrium of curtain wall glass. A continuous ribbon of clerestorey windows allow natural light into the north side tenant spaces.
The rear south facing façade is accented by a rhythm of stone piers with wood beams and soffits which define a continuous terrace that provides both open air trellis and covered outdoor spaces. The member terrace is punctuated at the west end by a stone clad fireplace. The terrace opens directly off the member dining and games rooms offering outdoor dining and lounge areas.
LOCATION
Aurora, Ontario
COMPLETED
2021
SIZE
35,962 ft²
SERVICES
New Construction
Garnet A. Williams Community Centre Renovation
The Garnet A. Williams Community Centre (GAWCC) is located in Thornhill, Vaughan and was constructed between 1982-84 with a subsequent fitness centre addition and comprises 125,000 square feet of program space including a pool, arena, gymnasium fitness centre, and activity/program rooms.
The facility was in need of a significant refresh as well as improvements to address major accessibly challenges. The split-level nature of the circulation created barriers for many users.
+VG Architects developed a design that proposed two new entrances: one for the community centre at the west end of the complex and a separate arena entrance at the east of the complex providing direct access to ice level. The project fully renovated the change room areas to provide gender neutral/family change room spaces, designed new glass enclosed program rooms that animated the circulations spaces of the building and a new system of gently sloping ramps to facilitate barrier-free access throughout the facility.
The project also involved a complete refresh of the pool deck, fitness room change rooms and a new splashpad in the adjacent York Hill Park integrated with the exterior pool deck and a new exterior ramp providing access from GAWCC to the park.
New change rooms were provided to serve the existing outdoor skating rink and the new splashpad. A new public elevator was introduced between the ice level of the arena and the viewing areas which also connected to the rest of the community centre.
Much of the original mechanical equipment was replaced including the cooling tower which was craned into place in the rooftop mechanical penthouse.
The completed project resulted in a “like new” experience for the community and a fully accessible and refreshed community asset.
LOCATION
Vaughan, Ontario
CLIENT
City of Vaughan
COMPLETED
2024
SIZE
125,000 ft²
SERVICES
Renovation & Addition
Kingston East Community Centre
The Kingston East Community Centre is designed as a state of the art recreational facility that features a full gym and running track, an EarlyON childcare facility, a fitness studio, a splash-pad, and a community kitchen.
The building is uniquely situated amongst existing recreational infrastructure to create a recreation hub for Kingston’s east-end community of Pittsburgh Township. The new facility was designed in compliance with all applicable municipal accessibility design standards and with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).The programming and facilities offered through the new facility promote inclusive and healthy living to the immediate community and beyond.
In conjunction with the goal of enhancing the surrounding area, the Kingston East Community Centre contributes to the City of Kingston’s goal of reducing carbon emissions to become a leader in sustainability and environmental stewardship at a city scale. The facility employs a geothermal field, solar infrastructure, high-performance building envelope, enhanced day-lighting strategies and LED lighting throughout to provide a total-carbon emission reduction of over 50%. A new stormwater management design was developed for the entire site in order to improve drainage and conform with the local conservation authority’s guidelines. New landscaping and plantings will improve the environmental quality of Grenadier park. The project aspires to be a learning tool to highlight the benefits of sustainable design to the community and act as an example for future community centres and public buildings for the City of Kingston.
LOCATION
Kingston, Ontario
CLIENT
City of Kingston
COMPLETED
2021
SIZE
20,500 ft²
SERVICES
New Construction
AWARDS
2023 Livable City Award
City of Kingston
PRESS
Kingston hands out Livable City Design Awards
Ontario Construction News
Winners Announced for Livable City Design Awards
Kingston Herald
Kingston East Community Centre, Kingston, Ontario
Canadian Architect
Kingston East Community Centre cuts the ribbon for ‘soft open’
Kingstonist
East Kingston’s new community centre set to open
The Kingston Whig Standard
City officials break ground on Kingston East Community Centre
The Whig
Royal Canadian Yacht Club City Club
+VG were retained by the Royal Canadian Yacht Club to carry out renovations to the clubs’ two clubhouses, the City Club located downtown Toronto and the Island Club, located on Toronto Island.
The City clubhouse is heavily used during the winter months and provides fitness rooms, indoor pool, racket sports, locker facilities and dining/bar amenities. The renovations involved creation of a new open, flexible and contemporary bistro dining and bar space to replace the existing banquet room on the main floor and extensive updating of the men’s and women’s locker areas and the creation of a new ‘family’ change room to address the changing club demographics. The renovated areas comprised approximately 6,700 ft².
LOCATION
Toronto, Ontario
COMPLETED
2018
SIZE
6,700 ft²
SERVICES
Renovation
Royal Canadian Yacht Club Island Club
+VG were retained by the Royal Canadian Yacht Club to carry out renovations to the clubs’ two clubhouses, the City Club located downtown Toronto and the Island Club, located on Toronto Island.
The historic Island clubhouse (circa 1919) is the home base for the sailing members of the club and is heavily used during the summer months. The clubhouse is predominantly used by members for ‘apres’ sailing dining and socializing. The upper floor banquet space is booked extensively for weddings and receptions. The project involved the restoration of the building exterior, provision of a new elevator serving the inaccessible upper floor, new main floor member washroom facilities and the creation of a new city-facing bar/bistro/dining area. The renovated areas comprised approximately 10,350 ft² not including outdoor verandah areas that were also restored.
LOCATION
Toronto Island, Ontario
COMPLETED
2018
SIZE
10,350 ft²
SERVICES
Renovation
Oshawa Golf & Curling Club
The project involved various renovation scopes to refresh the private clubhouse that was last renovated in the early 1990’s.
The project entailed:
- Recladding most of the building exterior except for the curling rink
- Renovation and reorganization of the member social areas and pro-shop that improved circulation as well as providing a new contemporary bistro dining and bar area
- Renovation of the locker area and associated shower and washroom spaces including new wood lockers, new plumbing fixtures and finishes throughout.
The reorganization of the ground floor level provided much improved access to outdoor patio areas for members and guests while offering pro-shop staff with direct visual access to the first tee and staging areas.
The renovations were scheduled to minimize impact to the club by staging work to begin on the exterior work during the fall months and interior renovations occurring during the winter. The project was completed for the new golf season. The contractor mobilized on site in September 2016 and the interior areas were completed in May 2017.
LOCATION
Oshawa, Ontario
COMPLETED
2017
SIZE
48,112 ft² (Overall Building)
13,780 ft² (Renovation Area)
SERVICES
Renovation
Cataraqui Golf & Country Club
The project involves an extensive renovation and a 3,000 ft² addition to the main floor of the existing clubhouse.
The existing clubhouse was constructed in the early 1970’s and the main goal was to completely refit the golf lounge and locker facilities. The golf lounge includes full food and beverage service with a curling lounge, administration offices, and event spaces on the second floor.
Renovation of 7,400 ft² provides expanded locker rooms and associated washroom areas, including new larger lockers; towel and grooming stations; and increased shower facilities, including barrier-free accessible shower stalls in each locker area. The new golf lounge includes a curved bar, double-sided fireplace, and a variety of seating areas for both casual après-golf gatherings and more formal dining.
LOCATION
Kingston, Ontario
COMPLETED
2011
SIZE
7,400 ft² (Renovation Area)
3,000 ft² (Addition)
SERVICES
Renovation & Addition
PHOTOGRAPHY
David Bell
Hamilton Golf & Country Club
Hamilton Golf and Country Club retained +VG to design a comprehensive master plan and renovation of the existing historic clubhouse.
The original clubhouse was constructed circa 1924 and retained much of its original fabric. The project involved the redevelopment of the building to provide contemporary member and event space, including newly configured locker rooms for men and women, new kitchen facilities, new lounge and member restaurant areas, as well as a new addition to accommodate large member and external events (capacity for 210).
LOCATION
Hamilton, Ontario
COMPLETED
2008
SIZE
48,000 ft²
SERVICES
Master Plan, Renovation & Addition