Photo courtesy of Basha Media Group

Brantford Sports Hall of Recognition

Overview

The Brantford Sports Hall of Recognition brings high energy and fresh perspectives to inspire future generations with stories of accomplishments of local athletes, including hometown star Wayne Gretkzy.

Client: City of Brantford
Project: Brantford Sports Hall of Recognition
Size: 3,000 sq. ft.

Scope: Exhibit Design - Culture
Location: Brantford, ON, CA
Year Completed: 2014

The
Goal

The new Brantford Sports Hall of Recognition is located in the renovated Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre, a local hub for sporting activities in the region. The City of Brantford’s vision for the Hall was an exhibit that would reflect the energy and intensity of sport while feeling like a fully integrated part of the Sports Centre. The equipment, uniforms, trophies, awards, and memorabilia bring together stories of great athletic accomplishments, and is a hub of activity for the arena and includes an area dedicated to the career of Wayne Gretzky (the region’s most celebrated sports hero), as well as other local athletes.

Photo courtesy of Basha Media Group

The
Design

To create the feeling of high energy and intensity experienced in playing sports, R&P’s graphic team developed a visual language using multicoloured ascending and descending vertical bars to represent the ups and downs of an athlete’s heart rate. This is coupled with striking imagery of athletes in motion, actively interacting with the bars – racing between them, leaping through them, and winding their way around them to create a striking visual language.

Artifacts are displayed in cases on themed display “islands”. Each use a sports field graphic to help bring context to the objects. The Inductee Wall of Honour displays wrap around a central recognition hub with its own unique aesthetic to set it apart as an area of prestige. The recognition hub is composed of two parts – a digital component and an updateable plaque system. At the outer perimeter, interactive multimedia stations engage visitors in new ways to broaden the understanding of Brantford’s sports heritage. These use multisensory activities and experiences to engage and entertain a wide visitor demographic. A special tribute area to Wayne Gretzky with his trophies and jerseys are a highlight and fan favorite.

The biggest thing I hear when people walk into this space is just ‘wow’.Kayla Cicman, Marketing Assistant,
Wayne Gretsky Sports Centre

The
Result

The Brantford Sports Hall of Recognition completes an important piece of the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre. It provides a place to honor the accomplishments of Brantford’s athletes and pay special tribute to local sports hero, Wayne Gretzky. It also offers a new visitor attraction and opportunity for education and family engagement in the area.