Metro Vancouver Recreation Facilities Win Prestigious IOC Awards

Two new recreation facilities in Metro Vancouver have received prestigious recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Sea Otter House (təməsew̓txw) Aquatic and Community Centre and the Rosemary Brown Recreation Centre both won the IOC IAKS Architecture Prize, underscoring the region’s reputation for outstanding sports and leisure facility design.

The IOC IAKS Architecture Prize, awarded biennially, highlights exceptional designs in sports, leisure, and recreation facilities. The 2025 awards recognized both facilities, designed by the Vancouver-based architectural firm HCMA, which opened in Spring 2024. These projects were commended for their innovative and sustainable designs, showcasing Metro Vancouver on a global stage.

Sea Otter House Aquatic and Community Centre

The City of New Westminster’s Sea Otter House, constructed at a cost of $114 million, replaces the Canada Games Pool and Centennial Community Centre. The jury described it as “a place where everyone can come together and enjoy being active.” This facility is Canada’s first all-electric aquatic centre and the first to implement a gravity-fed filtration system, significantly lowering energy consumption.

Sea Otter House features an eight-lane, 50-metre lap swimming pool, a leisure pool with 25-metre lanes, spray features, and a lazy river. Additional amenities include a hot pool, sauna, fitness centre, two gymnasiums, multipurpose rooms, and childcare facilities. Its design integrates solar panels on the south-facing rooftop and uses mass-timber materials, ensuring a seamless fit with the surrounding landscape.

Rosemary Brown Recreation Centre

In Burnaby, the new Rosemary Brown Recreation Centre, valued at $54 million, enhances the Edmonds neighbourhood with two ice rinks, each accommodating up to 200 spectators. The design, characterized as “architecturally stunning,” features an interior linear lobby that provides exceptional views of the ice rinks and a mezzanine level, facilitating social interaction among visitors.

The extensive use of mass-timber materials not only creates an inviting atmosphere but also helps regulate humidity levels, ensuring a stable environment for skating. This focus on community and functionality exemplifies the region’s commitment to developing inclusive recreational spaces.

Metro Vancouver is experiencing a surge in new community and recreation facilities, driven in part by initiatives from the City of Burnaby. These award-winning projects are among the first of many developments underway or planned across the region.

The IOC IAKS Architecture Prize awarded nine prizes for 2025, chosen from 69 entries across 25 countries. Established in 1987, the competition continues to celebrate innovative designs in sports and community facilities. Notably, during the 2023 awards, three Metro Vancouver projects were also recognized: the outdoor stadium at Simon Fraser University’s Burnaby Mountain campus, the Rainbow Park in downtown Vancouver, and the Maple Ridge Leisure Centre expansion.

As Metro Vancouver continues to invest in its community infrastructure, the recognition of these new facilities highlights the importance of sustainable and inclusive design in fostering active and engaged communities.