Milliken Mills Community Centre

Location: Markham, Ontario
Client: City of Markham

The Milliken Mills Community Centre interior renovation project is an accessible washroom renovation project that increased the functionality of the change areas and washrooms for the City of Markham staff and patrons. The revitalization and interior renovation began as a building and facility study, which included community meetings and engagement to encourage discourse to help develop a clear understanding of the requirements and vision for the project.

ward99 architects worked collaboratively with the City of Markham, and the stakeholders of the Milliken Mills Community Centre, on the revitalization and redesign of the Pool Change Rooms, Staff Office Areas, and the Main Information Desk. The renovation involved the redesign of staff work areas, both for the administrative staff as well as the Pool staff, a complete redesign of the Pool Change Rooms and Washrooms, and a redesign of the Information Desk and Lobby Areas. Through these renovations, the facility wanted to introduce a new concept of accessible Unisex Universal Change Rooms which would be more accessible and inclusive to all.

The Unisex Universal Change Rooms were introduced to the community through several community meetings, as this was deemed a new concept which may be challenging for the facility’s aging population. Through the introduction of private showers and change stalls, the facility was able to overcome concerns voiced by the community, to crease a space that could be comfortably used by all. Further considerations were made, with the facility also being able to offer the flexibility of designating one set of change rooms as female and the other as male temporarily, should programming require this.

Special accommodations were made in the design of these areas, as the washrooms and changerooms will be in heavy use by a wide range of community centre staff and patron for years to come. For families that are using the facility together, special accommodations for parents to both accompany children into the change rooms were made to add for ease of use. Similarly, universal washrooms and showers were also a priority, and are provided in each of the change areas to allow for flexible programming and accessible use.

These renovations were supported with a new accessible Information Desk in the Lobby, visible from all entrances, that acts as a beacon for visitors to the facility who may need to be directed to the Library, Arena, Pool, or Program Rooms. The project was a successful transformation of the busy Milliken Mills Community Centre into a truly accessible and inclusive community hub.