Interior acoustics in the large pool areas were a primary focus of our team’s work. Achieving acceptable speech intelligibility in a space of this scale—with hard, reflective boundary surfaces and significant ambient noise from water, ventilation, and spectators—required careful selection and placement of sound-absorptive finishes alongside a coordinated approach to the public address system design. The result supported clear communication during competition events that were broadcast to an international audience.
Sound isolation and acoustic privacy were addressed across the facility’s diverse programme. The adjacency of high-activity spaces such as pool halls, gymnasiums, and the field house with offices, training rooms, and the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario required systematic assessment and design of separating assemblies to ensure that activities in one area did not compromise those in another.
Environmental noise control addressed the facility’s impact on the surrounding residential district, while mechanical noise and vibration control ensured that building systems did not degrade acoustic conditions in sensitive spaces. Structural vibration control was applied to spaces within the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario where vibration-sensitive activities required isolation from the broader building structure. Our team’s work contributed to a facility that met all key acoustic performance requirements, supporting the success of the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games aquatic events and the facility’s ongoing role as a landmark community and elite sport venue.
