Add To Collection
Add to Collection
təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre
təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre
New Westminster, Canada
Jury Winner, 2025 A+Awards, Built - Sustainable Sports and Recreation Building
Project of the Day on Nov 08, 2025
Project Featured on Nov 08, 2025
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
Other Projects by hcma architecture + design
təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre
New Westminster, Canada
Jury Winner, 2025 A+Awards, Built - Sustainable Sports and Recreation Building
Project of the Day on Nov 08, 2025
Project Featured on Nov 08, 2025
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2024
SIZE
100,000 sqft - 300,000 sqft
BUDGET
$100M +
təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre in New Westminster, BC, aims to be the heart and soul of the community. The CDN $114 million centre is designed for all ages and abilities, focusing on how communities engage in recreation today and in the future, with a greater emphasis on human connection and wellness-based activities alongside traditional sporting and fitness pursuits.
Woven into the landscape with a dramatic unifying roof, təməsew̓txʷ makes a strong civic statement while being sensitive to the environment and human-scale experience. Located on the site of the former headwaters of Glenbrook Ravine, lost to development decades ago, the project takes a strong stance on reinstating this landscape.
Prioritizing an east-west orientation over the colonial grid, the building follows the natural topographic line of the ravine. The headwaters have been reconnected with the remaining branch to the south, establishing a major public green space and rain garden adjacent to the facility’s south plaza. The stepped elevation achieves a human scale where the building meets the ground, while the strong black roof unifies the diverse program elements.
təməsew̓txʷ is Canada’s first completed all-electric facility to achieve the Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building - Design Standard, a significant transition for a building typology traditionally among the largest emitters of greenhouse gases.
Over two years, more than 3,000 people, including urban Indigenous, Host Nations, multicultural groups, and an accessibility committee, participated in public and stakeholder engagement. The facility’s inclusive design features generous circulation, high-contrast braille signage, universal washrooms, ramps, zero-entry pools, a transfer ledge in the adult hot pool, and a moveable floor in the 50m pool.
The name təməsew̓txʷ means “Sea Otter House” in hənqəminəm, and was gifted by a panel of urban Indigenous people and local First Nations.
Woven into the landscape with a dramatic unifying roof, təməsew̓txʷ makes a strong civic statement while being sensitive to the environment and human-scale experience. Located on the site of the former headwaters of Glenbrook Ravine, lost to development decades ago, the project takes a strong stance on reinstating this landscape.
Prioritizing an east-west orientation over the colonial grid, the building follows the natural topographic line of the ravine. The headwaters have been reconnected with the remaining branch to the south, establishing a major public green space and rain garden adjacent to the facility’s south plaza. The stepped elevation achieves a human scale where the building meets the ground, while the strong black roof unifies the diverse program elements.
təməsew̓txʷ is Canada’s first completed all-electric facility to achieve the Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building - Design Standard, a significant transition for a building typology traditionally among the largest emitters of greenhouse gases.
Over two years, more than 3,000 people, including urban Indigenous, Host Nations, multicultural groups, and an accessibility committee, participated in public and stakeholder engagement. The facility’s inclusive design features generous circulation, high-contrast braille signage, universal washrooms, ramps, zero-entry pools, a transfer ledge in the adult hot pool, and a moveable floor in the 50m pool.
The name təməsew̓txʷ means “Sea Otter House” in hənqəminəm, and was gifted by a panel of urban Indigenous people and local First Nations.
Product Spec Sheet
Were your products used?
Join as a manufacturer to add your products.