Aquatic Complex work

Formerly known as the Chalet des baigneurs, Parc Jean-Drapeau's Aquatic Complex officially opened in 1953 on Île Sainte-Hélène. The first municipal outdoor swimming pool complex built in Montréal, the venue accommodates thousands of bathers, swimmers and divers every year, enabling them to take advantage of water games and Olympic calibre facilities.

Restoration work

In conjunction with its 2020-2030 Conservation, Design and Development Management Plan, the Société du parc Jean-Drapeau has conducted renovation work on many of the Aquatic Complex's facilities to enhance the swimmers' overall experience and make the venue safe.

Features and components of the sector

The Société du parc Jean-Drapeau has made every effort to organize the series of renovation work so that it has the least possible impact during the summer season and it allows the Aquatic Complex to remain open for users.

The Aquatic Complex is located amid the outstanding, heritage-rich sector of Île Sainte-Hélène, which entails devoting special consideration and attention to this aspect in doing the work and enlisting specialized work crews to carry out the respective tasks.

The breccia stone that composes the structure is no longer available because the quarry the stone is drawn from on Île Sainte-Hélène is no longer in operation. Specialists recommended another type of stone that will oxidize and change appearance over time, making it resemble the style of the existing stone and compensate for the lacking stones.

Timetable

Phase 1
November 2020 to September 2021

Restoring the balconies

The work done on the Aquatic Complex's balconies is designed to:

Rebuild them so that they will be safe and accessible for users while preserving the heritage aspect of the premises.
Enhance the users' experience by providing outdoor showers beneath the balconies and a shade place.
Restore the Aquatic Complex's iconic heritage timepiece.

Budget	$2.2 million
Status	Finished
Impact	Some noise expected and the balconies won't be accessible while construction work is going on.

Grandstand renovations

The Aquatic Complex's grandstand renovations are designed to:

Enhance the overall structure of the facility.
Add a shade roof to enhance the experience for spectators alongside the competition pool.
Install planting boxes to contribute to the greenery of the swimming pool beaches in the coming seasons.

Budget	$2.3 million
Status	Finished
Impact	Some noise expected and the grandstands are not accessible while construction work is going on.

Phase 2
October 2021 to June 2022

Preserving the building envelope

The work done on the Aquatic Complex's building envelope is designed to:

Restore the building's original wood windows and doors and give it back its former lustre.
Clean the exterior stones and look over the joints of the stones to ensure the longevity of the building's envelope.
Install various elements such as gutters to facilitate and optimize the building's upkeep and maintenance year-long.

Budget	$1.2 million
Status	Finished
Impact	A meticulous phasing-in of the work will help to reduce the impact on activities scheduled at the Aquatic Complex and keep the facility accessible to citizens.