The federal government is investing up to $67.4 million to support the development of the Burke Mountain Community Centre in northeast Coquitlam, B.C., through the Direct Delivery stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund.
The project is currently at the conceptual stage. An RFP has been issued for commissioning authority consulting services for the future community centre, which is planned for Coquitlam, B.C.
Burke Mountain is among the fastest-growing communities in the province, according to the federal government. The new facility is expected to become a central hub for the planned Burke Mountain Village Centre, bringing a broad range of recreational, cultural and community services closer to local residents.
The centre is being planned with a wide selection of aquatic, fitness and recreational amenities. These will include a six-lane lap pool, a steam room, sauna, climbing wall and drop slide. A double gymnasium will provide additional space for sports and other active recreation.
Residents will also have access to a fully equipped fitness centre featuring a weight room and studio space. The facility is set to include multi-purpose rooms that can be used for community programs, meetings and events, as well as a new branch of the Coquitlam Public Library.
Sustainability is another key element of the project. The community centre will be designed to meet the Zero Carbon Building Design Standard, supporting the City of Coquitlam’s broader greenhouse gas reduction objectives.
Climate resilience has also been built into the plans. The facility will incorporate features allowing it to function as a place of refuge for residents during extreme weather events, adding an important community-safety function alongside its recreational role.
Accessibility is also a core part of the design. The project has been planned to achieve Gold certification through the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Rating system.
The City of Coquitlam is contributing further funding to the project, allocating $4.6 million from the Housing Accelerator Fund funding it has received toward the community centre.
The project is part of the broader development of Burke Mountain, where new public infrastructure is being planned and built alongside rapid population growth, including the $115.1-million Northeast Recreation Centre – Burke Mountain Village currently listed as under construction.
