This is the concept of Coquitlam's $148-million new aquatic and rec centre | Daily Hive

This is the concept of Coquitlam's $148-million new aquatic and recreational centre

July 2025 preliminary design concept of Burke Mountain Community Centre. (HCMA Architecture and Design/City of Coquitlam)

The City of Coquitlam has released the preliminary design plans for its long-awaited community and recreational hub on Burke Mountain, unveiling a striking, modern facility and adjacent new public park aimed at meeting the needs of the fast-growing Northeast Coquitlam neighbourhood.

Previously referred to as the Northeast Community Centre, the project has now been officially named the Burke Mountain Community Centre.

It will be built near the easternmost fringes of Coquitlam, located on a large empty parcel just east of the intersection of Princeton Avenue and Mitchell Street — fully integrated with the future Burke Village Park.

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Situated on a steeply sloped site, the facility will be designed to showcase sweeping views of the surrounding valley, river, and mountain peaks through expansive windows and a second-storey balcony.

The municipal government intends to achieve a Zero Carbon Building certification and Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification.

Burke Mountain Community Centre Coquitlam

Site of the future Burke Mountain Community Centre and Burke Village Park. (Google Maps)

July 2025 preliminary design concept of Burke Mountain Community Centre. (HCMA Architecture and Design/City of Coquitlam)

This will be an 80,000 sq. ft. facility, featuring an aquatic centre with a six-lane, 25-metre lap swimming pool, a warm-water leisure pool with two leisure lanes and a lazy river, a hot pool, a steam room, and a sauna.

Other spaces entail a double gymnasium with flexible sport court configurations, a fitness gym and multi-purpose active studio space, a neighbourhood public library, multi-purpose rooms, a community kitchen, and common areas for lingering and programs.

To support the facility’s uses, there will be a combination of both surface and underground vehicle parking.

July 2025 preliminary design concept of Burke Mountain Community Centre. (HCMA Architecture and Design/City of Coquitlam)

The City selected HCMA Architecture and Design as the project’s lead design firm. HCMA’s previous work includes Rosemary Brown Recreation Centre in Burnaby, Minoru Centre for Active Living in Richmond, the new aquatic and community centre replacing Canada Games Pool in New Westminster, West Vancouver Aquatic Centre, Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre in North Vancouver, and Clayton Community Centre and Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre in Surrey, as well as Hillcrest Centre (Vancouver Olympic Centre), Killarney Pool, and River District Community Centre in Vancouver.

EllisDon has been selected as the construction contractor.

Adjacent to the facility, the new Burke Village Park is set to become a year-round community gathering space. Plans for the park include a splash pad with interactive jets, flexible event spaces with seating for outdoor movie nights and farmers’ markets, and an accessible, gently sloped elevated pathway to connect visitors to the park’s hillside terrain. A dedicated streamside protection zone will help preserve important local watercourses.

July 2025 preliminary design concept of Burke Mountain Community Centre. (HCMA Architecture and Design/City of Coquitlam)

July 2025 preliminary design concept of Burke Mountain Community Centre and Burke Village Park. (HCMA Architecture and Design/City of Coquitlam)

Burke Mountain Community Centre was last budgeted at $147.9 million, while Burke Village Park carries an estimated cost of $14.2 million.

According to a City staff report in July 2025, both the facility and the park will be mainly funded by development revenues, with a legislated City contribution and supplementary grant funding. The municipal government will use the Housing Accelerator Funding Grant and development-related revenues through leveraging debt financing as needed, as a measure to bridge cash flow gaps.

The project’s detailed design is expected to be finalized by late 2025, with permitting and initial construction activities completed by early 2026. Early site preparation will also begin around that time, followed by major construction starting in mid-2026. Completion and opening of the facility and park are anticipated in the latter half of 2029.

The Burke Mountain neighbourhood currently has a population of over 20,000 residents. This will eventually grow to 50,000 residents by 2050 — comprised of single-family houses, townhouses, multiplexes, and some low- and mid-rise multi-family buildings, with such higher densities particularly immediately adjacent to Burke Mountain Community Centre.

The new facility and park will anchor the municipally-designated Burke Mountain Village district — a 39-acre site primarily owned by the City. There will be over 2,000 apartment and townhome units and about 120,000 sq. ft. of local-serving retail/restaurant uses.

burke mountain village coquitlam concept

Preliminary concept of Burke Mountain Village. (City of Coquitlam)

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