COQUITLAM, B.C., Feb. 7, 2023 – The plans have been approved and work will start soon to change Coquitlam’s Innovation Centre into a new community centre in Town Centre Park.
Coquitlam Council has approved the final design and budget for the renovation project, which is substantially more cost-effective than building an entirely new facility elsewhere in the City Centre neighbourhood. Once complete, it will re-open as the Town Centre Park Community Centre, an inclusive space for discovery, participation and celebration with panoramic views of the park’s floral landscape and Lafarge Lake.
The new community centre will relieve pressure on nearby civic facilities, in particular Pinetree Community Centre and Glen Pine Pavilion, by providing much-needed capacity for recreation and culture programs.
Construction will start in April 2023 and the facility is expected to open in spring 2024. For more information, including renderings of the new space, visit coquitlam.ca/facilityprojects.
A New Social and Cultural Hub in Town Centre Park
On the upper level, users can expect a large open space that will function as a community living room, including a concession area with services provided by Praguery Food Limited. This space allows for drop-in visits during operating hours, as well as events, community art, heritage and culture displays, guest lectures and more.
The upper level also features multi-purpose rooms and flex space, as well as a covered deck that allows for exterior programming with lakeside views.
The lower level will include a studio/maker’s space located next to the exterior plaza to allow for indoor/outdoor programming, as well as a lounge space to be used as a waiting area or gathering space. Existing meeting rooms and multi-purpose spaces will benefit from cosmetic upgrades to modernize the space.
The project also includes improvements to the existing plaza on the east side of the building to improve accessibility and enhance the outdoor social space connecting the community centre and the park.
The exterior will also benefit from a large-scale mural on the south and west walls. A public call for artists will be posted in early 2023.
Potential Programs and Rentals
The revamped community centre will be used to support new programming opportunities that cannot currently be met in other facilities. This could include:
- Meeting existing and anticipated demand for recreation and culture programming
- Expanding out-of-school programs, camps and other offerings
- Providing an indoor casual gathering space for park visitors (1 million lake loop pedestrian visits were counted in 2021)
- Supporting a range of events at Town Centre Park including Canada Day, Kaleidoscope and Winter Lights, as well as park programs such as Park Spark volunteers
- Acting as an extreme weather respite space, if needed
Proposed activities could include programs that take advantage of the natural setting such as: children’s nature play and learn, after school programs, camps, and outdoor recreation opportunities; science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and arts programming (both City-delivered and in partnership with the City’s cultural partner organizations); and lifelong learning opportunities, including talks and lectures, demonstrations and language classes. Community event rentals are also expected.
New Chapter for Long-Standing Facility
The Innovation Centre (1207 Pinetree Way) is an 11,250 square foot facility built in 1996 near the Evergreen Cultural Centre. Over the years, the facility has supported a variety of civic and commercial uses including offices for the Smart Choices Team and Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce, the Peter Legge Library and short-term office spaces for local startups and small businesses.
Since 2004 the City has operated the facility using it for office and meeting space for staff and to support events taking place at Town Centre Park. In 2021 it was used as a temporary fitness space during renovations at the City Centre Aquatic Complex.
Media contact
Ted Uhrich
A/Manager, Recreation & Culture Facility Planning
604-927-6710
tuhrich@coquitlam.ca