Loudon Park Improvements

PROJECT OVERVIEW & BACKGROUND

For over 25 years, the City of Nanaimo has been planning to redevelop Loudon Park for the community, the Nanaimo Rowing Club and the Nanaimo Canoe & Kayak Club. Both clubs offer a variety of rowing and paddling programming for all ages, including lessons, programs and hosting competitions. NCKC has called Long Lake their home since forming in 1988 and the Rowing Club since 1992. Both clubs require improved boat storage and facilities for their club members. The clubs joined together to form the Long Lake Flatwater Training Society for the purposes of fundraising for certain aspects of this project.

In 2019, Council gave approval for staff to work with the Rotary Club of Nanaimo North and the Long Lake Flatwater Training Society on the designs for this project.

The organizations have committed to each contributing $100,000 at minimum to the project. The groups are actively fundraising for specific items that are needed. Funds raised can be used towards vessel storage and new dock.

Multiple engagements have been held with the nearby community, user groups, and City Council during the last 25 years to solicit feedback upgrade its site facilities to make Loudon Park a more desirable park for the surrounding community to use and enjoy. The Loudon Park Improvement Plan has been the guiding document during the development of this project over the years.

Loudon Park is a busy waterfront park on Long Lake enjoyed by many and is home to the on this project and have been incorporated into the final design.

DESIGN OVERVIEW

Artist rendering of boathouse and activity centre. The concept for the structure is a signature re-curved timber-framed roof form from the shape of the waterline on the sides of boats as they move through the water.

Exterior design

floor plan

Natural wood materials were used for the structure of the building and are expressed throughout the interior and exterior of the building. The timber design is inspired by the craft of traditional wooden boat building. The  curved  glulam beams that form the  wave-like roof are  large-scale versions of the carefully radiused bents used by craftsmen to build  traditional racing skulls,  tenders, skiffs and  canoes. The exterior is clad in durable corrugated cladding with exposed timber and expansive windows to connect the building to its surrounding environment.