Project Name: Rosemary Brown Recreation Centre

Location: Burnaby, Canada

Design Team: hcma architecture + design

Total Floor Area: 8,547 m²

Completion: 2024

Photography: Ema Peter

Feature:

Project - hcma architecture + design has created the Rosemary Brown Recreation Centre in Burnaby, British Columbia, radically redefining the concept of ice arena design. This CDN $49.5 million facility abandons the traditional cold, windowless, steel-trussed ice arena structure in favor of warm wood, natural light, and a transparent, open layout, creating a rich, dynamic experience for visitors both on and off the ice.

The design team implemented an innovative structural approach that floods the rinks with north-facing light without impacting ice quality. The exposed mass timber roof creates a warm and inviting space for both players and spectators. This unconventional approach necessitated a hybrid steel-timber roof system, utilizing wood as a key component for its geometric flexibility, ease of construction, and warm, inviting aesthetic.

On this compact urban site, the two NHL-sized ice sheets adopt a non-traditional L-shaped arrangement with a central lobby positioned at their intersection. This configuration not only improves the interface and openness between the lobby and ice sheets but also provides a friendly, animated elevation to the street and community beyond.

The recreation center offers multipurpose rooms and spaces within the lobby for activities beyond ice sports, from pickleball and Pilates to playoff watch parties. Second-floor warm-side viewing galleries provide spectators with comfortable, accessible viewing experiences, while informal play areas directly behind allow children to engage in casual, self-directed play. Inclusive design extends to every aspect of the facility, with braille and tactile signage created by hcma's Communication Design team, ensuring all community members feel welcome.

Named in honor of Rosemary Brown—a trailblazing Canadian advocate for social justice and equality—the recreation center embodies her legacy as a place for all Burnaby residents to gather, play, and compete. Now open to the public, the center is set to be an essential fixture in Burnaby's Southgate community, inviting future generations to build lasting memories at their friendly neighborhood rink.

Design Team - Founded in 1976 by Roger Hughes as "Roger Hughes Architects," hcma architecture + design has evolved into one of Canada's most innovative interdisciplinary design practices. Operating from offices in Vancouver, Edmonton, and Victoria, the firm has established itself as a leader in creating spaces that foster community engagement and social connection through thoughtful architectural interventions.

Under the current leadership team, hcma has expanded beyond traditional architectural services to embrace a holistic approach that integrates architecture, brand strategy, wayfinding, placemaking, and inclusive design. This interdisciplinary methodology allows the practice to address complex spatial and social challenges from multiple perspectives, resulting in projects that respond meaningfully to both programmatic requirements and broader community needs.

The firm's portfolio showcases their expertise in civic architecture, with notable projects including the award-winning Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre in Surrey (2016), featuring an innovative undulating roof structure; the adaptive reuse of the Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre into the Hillcrest Centre (2011); and most recently, the Rosemary Brown Recreation Centre in Burnaby (2024), which reimagines the ice arena typology through a sophisticated hybrid steel-timber structural system.

As a Certified B Corporation, hcma demonstrates their commitment to using design as a force for positive social and environmental impact. Their practice emphasizes inclusive accessibility, environmental sustainability, and community engagement throughout the design process—from initial feasibility studies and stakeholder consultation to detailed architectural documentation and post-occupancy evaluation.

Through their interdisciplinary approach and dedication to meaningful social outcomes, hcma continues to redefine the boundaries of architectural practice in contemporary Canada.