As recreation pursuits increasingly expand beyond the traditional competitive focus, there is a growing opportunity for facilities to shift their design and purpose to better accommodate evolving patterns of participation and physical activity. How can we move beyond outdated facility models to achieve different outcomes?

On Friday 22 November, 9-10 am (PST), the IAKS Canada team will be diving into innovative ways to reimagine sports spaces for the future. Look forward to insightful discussions! 

Learning from Denmark

Despite Denmark having one of the highest numbers of recreation facilities per capita in the world, there has been a decline in physical activity, especially among children, teenagers, and women. Could design be part of the problem?

The design of traditional sports facilities is often rooted in thinking from time periods with different activity patterns, attitudes, and societal challenges, sometimes going as far back as Ancient Greece. Compounded by a 60-year focus on cost-efficiency and construction, this influence can result in facilities that no longer meet all the needs of their users.

In this webinar, Development Consultant Ola Mattsson from LOA fonden (Danish Foundation for Culture and Sport -  Facilities Team Sports) will explore how the foundation is reimagining its leisure facilities to address the needs of modern society. He will discuss the foundation’s innovative approach to shifting away from historic forms of competitive sports design, and embracing new models that prioritize inclusivity and reflect the varied ways people engage in physical activity today.

This session will be facilitated by the IAKS Canada team: 

Darryl Condon (Managing Partner, HCMA Architecture + Design), Benjamin Ellah (Senior Mechanical Designer, Stantec), and Scott Gomeshi (Associate Principal and Government & Culture Sector Leader, Introba)