LOON LAGOON REC CENTRE (Loon)

Manning Park Resort, BC 1998/2005

"No sadder sound salutes you
than the clear, wild laughter of
THE LOON."
                     ~  Celia Thaxter                 

The Manning Park Loon Lagoon Recreation Centre is a geo-exchange heated green resort building—a commercial swimming pool, two indoor hot tubs, a sauna, and exercise facility. The design also includes an outdoor hot tub and other amenities. In keeping with the resort's fresh air experience, healthy mandate, the pool and hot tubs are ozone treated. A laundry facility is incorporated in an attached wing to the centre.  Adjacent to the Loon Lagoon Recreation Centre is the renovated Nordic Centre which caters to cross country skiers and snowshoeing enthusiasts.

The "Loon" has been used as a design metaphor for this mountain ski resort facility, recalling and promoting the lure and sanctity of the wild. The Loon Lagoon Recreation Centre was one of the first commercial projects in British Columbia to incorporate geo-exchange heating. It was also the first project to use  locally harvested "beetle" impacted wood. Natural building materials have been used throughout this green eco resort building.