University of British Columbia, Aquatic Centre
Vancouver, British Columbia
The UBC Aquatic Centre is a central component in the rejuvenation of the primary student precinct. As an infrastructural and gateway element, it defines a new campus pathway, the ‘Athlete’s Way’, and enlivens the main transit plaza where half of UBC’s 50,000 students arrive each day. Full-height windows face the plaza, offering sightlines deep into the heart of the building and inviting passersby to enter.
The 85,000 sf facility is designed to seamlessly balance parallel uses — training and competition for elite athletes with recreational use by members of the campus community and surrounding neighbourhoods. It can operate ‘learn-to-swim’ classes and simultaneously run a 1,000-person swim meet. The design maintained a tight budget while delivering a highly sustainable building distinctive for its natural light, optimal acoustics, progressive inclusivity, and innovative water reuse and air quality strategies.
Collaboration: Acton Ostry Architects
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Structural: Equilibrium
Mechanical: AME Group
Electrical: AES Engineering
Sustainability: Recollective Consulting
Aquatics: Water Technology Inc. (WTI)
Landscape: PFS Studio
Civil: Kamps Engineering
Program
10-Lane 54m FINA Competition Pool, 10-Lane 25m Lap Pool, Diving Well with Moveable Floor, Leisure Pool, Hydrotherapy Pool, Steam Room, Sauna, Lazy River, Wet Classroom, Spectator Viewing Areas
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2020 Governor General’s Medal in Architecture
2019 International Olympic Committee (IOC) / International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS): Award for Exemplary Sports and Leisure Facilities
2019 Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) Excellence Awards: Merit Award
2018 AIA International Awards: Award of Merit
2018 AIA Sustainable Futures Award
2018 Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Medal in Architecture
2018 Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) Design Excellence Award
2018 Global Architecture and Design Awards: 'Re-Thinking the Future': First Award
2018 Piscine Global Pool Design Awards "Most Beautiful Public Pool" 3rd Place
2018 Interior Designers Institute of British Columbia (IDIBC) Awards of Excellence
2018 Interior Designers of Canada (IDC) Value of Design Awards (VODA) Award of Excellence
2017 Athletic Business Architectural Showcase Facilities of Merit Design Awards
2015 American School & University's Architectural Portfolio Awards
2014 Canadian Architect Award of Excellence
The first and last building seen when coming to campus, the Aquatic Centre was conceived to be a gateway and beacon, welcoming students during the day and bidding them farewell each night. It frames the space of a new transit plaza, providing shelter and terraced seating.
The simple but effective parti divides the plan north-south into four program bars: Changerooms, Community Aquatics, Competition Aquatics, and Spectator Bleachers.
The two-part aquatics hall is divided by a continuous skylight, striking Y-shaped columns, and a translucent screen — a luminous barrier that reflects abundant daylight into the leisure side of the hall while controlling the natural light and glare in the competition pool.
The design team took a truly holistic approach to sustainable innovation by prioritizing inclusivity, accessibility, transparency, and participation alongside physical comfort and health.
