Spring is often associated with growth and renewal. For municipalities and organizations, it is also a time to assess priorities and plan how to better serve their communities. Increasingly, that discussion includes a practical challenge: how to meet the growing demand for indoor sports and recreation space.
That’s where Sprung Structures is changing the equation. By offering fast, cost-effective athletic facilities, Sprung provides a solution that, for many communities facing tight budgets and urgent demand, can mean the difference between moving a project forward or shelving it indefinitely.
Interest in organized sports continues to rise, with more families enrolling in year-round programs in aquatics, ice hockey, soccer, basketball and other activities. Registration numbers remain strong, and many programs face lengthy waitlists. At the same time, aging arenas, pools and field houses are closing or operating at capacity, leaving communities struggling to keep pace.
The strain is particularly visible in aquatics. Recently, Swimming Canada declared an infrastructure crisis, warning that too few facilities are being built to replace aging 50-metre pools or support growing participation. Limited pool time affects both recreational swimmers and competitive athletes. When practice space is scarce, clubs compete for limited hours, families travel farther and athletes lose valuable training time.
The issue extends beyond swimming. Ice time is limited in many regions, while indoor field sports often rely on facilities that are fully booked or located far from the neighbourhoods they serve.
Meeting facility needs amid rising challenges
For local leaders, meeting recreational needs can be difficult. Communities want greater access, but traditional construction timelines and costs can put new facilities out of reach. In many cases, the choice is not between different types of buildings, but between building something or nothing at all.
Recognizing these pressures, Sprung engineers tensioned-membrane athletic facilities that can be constructed much faster than conventional buildings. Modular design and minimal foundation requirements shorten timelines, so communities can respond more quickly to demand within a reasonable budget.
The Idaho Central Aquatic Center is one example. Built to address rising interest in swimming and aquatic programming, the project moved from planning to operation in a fraction of the time required for conventional construction.
“The speed at which the building could go up was a huge benefit to us,” said Ryan Stratton of the Idaho Central Aquatic Center. “Rather than spending a year building a bricks-and-mortar building, we could get a Sprung building up in a matter of months.”
Beyond speed, Sprung offers financial flexibility that can make new infrastructure more attainable where it otherwise might not be. Lower upfront costs, along with buying and leasing options, give municipalities and organizations more room to move projects forward. For budget-constrained communities, a Sprung facility is often not just a preferred option, it is the only viable path to delivering new recreational space.
Long-term operating costs also factor into planning decisions. Sprung facilities are designed with energy efficiency in mind, an important feature for ice arenas and aquatic centres that require significant heating and cooling. Advanced membrane technology and high-performance insulation help keep indoor temperatures consistent while reducing energy consumption, lowering overall operating expenses.
“Over the long haul, [our Sprung] building is going to save us a ton of money on upkeep, on repairs, on updates and upgrades,” says Nick Gaggiano, also with the Idaho Central Aquatic Cente.
Durability is another priority. Engineered with 6000 series structural-grade aluminum, Sprung structures are designed to perform in demanding climates, including regions with heavy snowfall, high winds or extreme heat. This long-term performance and return on investment influenced Regis University when it selected a Sprung gymnasium for its Berce Athletic Center.
“We can maximize profits in this facility for a longer period of time,” says Mike Redmond, Associate Vice President of Physical Plant and Capital Projects at the university, citing life cycle advantages compared with traditional construction.
Flexible spaces for multi-purpose recreation
Flexibility further sets Sprung apart. Its modular structures can be expanded, reconfigured or repurposed as programming evolves. Clear-span interiors free of support columns create open space for NHL-sized ice rinks, multi-lane pools, indoor fields, gymnasiums and multi-purpose courts, with layouts that can adapt as community needs change.
“I think it’s a perfect environment and venue … because it gives adequate clear space for athletics to perform,” Redmond says. “[These structures] can be adjusted and re-set up in a way that they’ll work for athletics very well.”
While athletic performance often draws attention, indoor sports facilities also serve a broader purpose. They host tournaments, school events, fitness programs and community gatherings. They also promote physical health, help strengthen social connections, and can generate economic activity through regional events.
As spring signals growth, it also presents an opportunity to prepare for the future. Demand for indoor recreation space is here: families want accessible programs, athletes need consistent training environments and organizations require buildings that can evolve over time.
Thinking differently about how facilities are built is increasingly important. Rather than following traditional construction models that can delay or limit projects, municipalities must explore alternative approaches that prioritize speed, flexibility and cost control. In this context, choosing Sprung is a way of thinking outside the box to deliver infrastructure that might not otherwise be possible.
By combining faster construction, durability and adaptable design, Sprung Structures offers municipalities and organizations a practical way to expand recreation and athletic capacity. For communities planning ahead, spring can be more than a symbol of renewal, it can be a starting point for investing in infrastructure that helps people stay active and connected for years to come.