The Vivo for Healthier Generations facility, located in the northwest community of Country Hills in Calgary, is reimagining health and wellness and challenging the notion of a traditional recreation centre.
With an emphasis on supporting physical, social and emotional health, the facility offers better access to inclusive and accessible spaces and programs for healthy living.
“The project’s completion is a testament to the power of rethinking spaces to be more flexible, encouraging purposeful flow and engaging the outdoors,” says Marion LaRue, Dialog partner. “We are incredibly proud to bring residents and visitors to Calgary the benefits of a renewed gathering and activity space that, in its essence, is a place for everyone.”
Dialog rooted the vision for the project in a community co-design process, aiming to address key needs like maximizing a connection to nature and spontaneous play; increasing environments for holistic wellness, and building community resiliency – all with thoughtful design interventions.
The new and renovated space, expanded to 269,000 square feet, unites all ages, abilities, and cultures in stronger physical, social, and emotional health. This includes making sure the centre was rooted in inclusivity. The indoor park, market plaza, community garden, hub, youth areas, community courtyard and preschool are all meant to connect with different audiences. The facility also houses Calgary’s first ever indoor park, slated for LEED Gold certification.
Aligning with the facility’s mission to expand opportunity for unstructured play and spontaneous activity, the most innovative aspect of Vivo is the indoor park – a literal moving space complete with all the physical and social activities one would participate in outdoors – allowing for continuous use in all seasons.
The facility also features a new six-lane, 4,878 square foot pool, fitness centre with dedicated studios, research lab, yoga studios, tinkering lab, classroom, spa with European steam and sauna rooms, outdoor activity space and community rooms.
“This project will be a significant cultural addition to Calgary and a catalyst for change within the many communities that share the space of this city. The architecture at Vivo promotes a greater understanding of our potential for wellbeing. In the end, this will be a gift for all of us,” says lead designer Robert Claiborne.
Completed in 2023, Dialog partnered with EllisDon Construction on the expansion of Vivo for Healthier Generations.
