When SAIT needed an interim athletics facility, Sprung delivered a bright, fully functional gymnasium in less than a year.
At the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), athletics and wellness are considered key components of student life. That’s why, when the Calgary-based school was poised to begin work on a new permanent athletics and wellness centre, campus leaders faced a pressing question: How could SAIT continue to keep its students active while construction of the new permanent facility was underway?
The answer, or course, was to build an interim gym facility that students would actually want to spend time in. SAIT turned to Sprung for a fast, reliable and cost-effective solution.
“We were exploring different options to keep athletics here at SAIT,” explains Michelle Fernandes, the school’s director of planning, design and projects. “The quickest option was to build a Sprung structure here. It was going to be the fastest way we could do it, and it was a great solution.”
Why Sprung made sense
Indeed, speed of delivery and installation were essential for SAIT’s interim gym facility, but not at the expense of quality or year-round usability.
Though temporary, the structure had to feel and function like a permanent athletic building. It had to be spacious, fully insulated, climate-controlled and durable enough to withstand Calgary’s often-challenging seasons. The Sprung structure—which consists of an architectural membrane, aluminum structural framework and performance insulation—met all of those criteria. In fact, many Sprung structures that begin as temporary solutions ultimately become permanent, as customers experience their durability, flexibility and long-term performance.
With more than 12,000 structures deployed in over 100 countries, Sprung’s building system has been proven, time and again, in demanding environments around the world. And for project stakeholders at SAIT, that track record mattered, along with the structure’s versatility when it came to design.
“Once we started to see the kind of versatility and the applications that Sprung can actually host, it alleviated a lot of pressure,” says Kyle Auch, an associate architect at DIALOG, the firm overseeing the project.
From idea to opening day
Design work began in the month of May, ground was broken the following September, and by March, the facility was fully operational—less than 11 months after the initial concept took shape.
Unlike traditional builds, which often require extensive site work, the site for the Sprung structure needed minimal preparation. The simplified foundation requirements and prefabricated components allowed crews to move quickly and efficiently once materials arrived on-site.
“The benefit of a Sprung structure is that you lie it all down, [then] you stand it up—it’s been done thousands of times before,” says Paul McCarthy, a project manager at Chandos Construction, which handled the installation.
A facility in full use
Inside, SAIT’s temporary Wellness Centre is bright and welcoming. The 15,000-square-foot facility, which was engineered to ensure barrier-free access, houses a full-size gymnasium capable of accommodating basketball, volleyball and badminton. Adjacent to the court are locker rooms, washrooms and a dedicated wellness space outfitted with cardio machines, free weights and other fitness equipment.
Students using the facility can also enjoy the natural light that filters through the structure’s translucent daylight panels and custom glazing wall, as well as the integrated LED lighting, which ensures consistent brightness for practices and games alike. Additionally, the high-performance insulation system keeps the space comfortable during Calgary’s cold winters and warm summers.
Today, the gym is alive with activity. Students gather for pickup games and intramurals. Varsity teams train without interruption. Wellness programming continues seamlessly while the permanent athletics centre rises nearby.
For project stakeholders, the real success lies in that level of continuity. SAIT hasn’t lost momentum during redevelopment, and students haven’t lost access to spaces that support their physical and mental well-being.
“It’s a year-round facility,” says Fernandes. “We [still] have a place for wellness here at SAIT.”
