THE CHALLENGE

Ontario Racquet Club (ORC), Canada’s largest private health, wellness and sports club, has been offering outstanding indoor and outdoor sports facilities to the Greater Toronto Area since 1975. ORC was seeking to expand their facilities to include a new aquatic centre and wanted to exceed their guest’s expectations.

THE SOLUTION

OpenAire had the opportunity to create a breathtaking curved roof design and wall enclosure over ORC’s new aquatic centre, measuring 62’ wide, 114’ long and 23’ high. OpenAire’s automated retractable roof system allows members to swim in the sunshine and fresh breezes of hot summer days, but closes automatically at the first sign of rain or inclement weather, letting everyone enjoy ORC’s aquatic programs 12 months a year.

The enclosure contains a 25-metre-long Junior Olympic pool and opens onto a brand new patio with a small children’s splash pad, BBQ pit, extensive lounge area, and a beautiful waterfall feature.

Along with the club’s other new additions, it has already become a hit with members and has increased membership at the club by 20%. OpenAire’s Oakville manufacturing plant builds all of its enclosures with energy efficiency in mind, meaning this new pool enclosure will give ORC substantial savings on heating, air conditioning and lighting costs compared to a conventional indoor pool structure. The energy efficient structure allows the pool to maintain a perfect temperature of 83 degrees Fahrenheit in any weather.

“The OpenAire enclosure for our pool has exceeded our expectations in every way,” says Jeff McCarrol, CEO of Ontario Racquet Club, “It is perfect for the summer months with its retractable roof, and even has that summer feel in the winter with the glass enclosure. We absolutely love it, and more importantly, so do our members.”

Video: Ontario Racquet Club Renovation