University of British Columbia, Aquatic Centre

Vancouver, British Columbia

Firm

MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects (MJMA)

Client

University of British Columbia

Area

83,850 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$33,000,000

Completion Date

11/2016

The University of British Columbia Aquatic Centre varsity and high-performance competition venue provides athletes with an Olympic-level training facility and addresses the community aquatic needs of the burgeoning student and family populations on campus. The siting of the project will create a new pedestrian precinct that connects existing athletic venues and a new outdoor field.
The project includes a 51-meter FINA basin, a 25-meter diving well with moveable floor and a warm water leisure basin. The plan is divided north-south into four “program bars:” change rooms, community aquatics, competition aquatics and bleachers.
The requirement to co-program elite-level training and competitions with daily community use led to a two-sided pool hall divided by “Y-shaped” columns and a continuous skylight bisecting the building. A translucent screen creates a luminous barrier between the two spaces, reflecting abundant sunlight into the “leisure” side, while providing the required controlled and balanced light into the “competitive” side.