Sunset Community Centre

The new Sunset Community Centre, with its uniquely curved roofline, opened its doors to the public in 2007. The facility’s major programmable space includes a full-sized gymnasium, two multi-purpose rooms, a fitness centre, aerobics/dance room, arts and crafts room, youth room, and two preschools.

Size

30,000 sq ft

Sustainability Features

Sustainable Site

• conceived as a link between nature and the multi-cultural communities that surround it
• the original Sunset Community Centre was sited two blocks from the nearest major street, lacking visibility and accessibility
• the re-development of the community centre situates it on Main St, a major north-south thoroughfare, while also siting it harmoniously among the fields, greenhouses and planting beds of the adjacent City nursery

Water Efficiency

• the entire roof system collects storm water; a retention pond and runoff control systems redistribute the water to irrigate the site and for (dual-flush) toilet flushing
• 30% reduction in potable water consumption
• soft-surface parking and bio-swales are designed to reduce water run-off and control the heat island effect

Energy and Atmosphere

• high-efficiency glazing to prevent heat loss
• geothermal heating and cooling system, radiant floor heating
• light sensors in every room
• solar hot water panels to provide heating and cooling
• green power being purchased for 50% of the building electrical needs

Indoor Environmental Quality

• no VOCs in any construction materials
• used construction indoor air quality management
• provision of daylighting and views for building occupants
• provision of individuals controls and opening windows for occupants

Audio Tour of this building

This building is part of the City of Vancouver Green Building Audio Tour, a collection of audio recordings about Vancouver's greenest buildings. Each three-minute recording takes the listener on a virtual 'tour' of the building's green design features, guided by the architect or member of the design team. You can listen to them online, via podcast, or via your cell phone by calling 604-673-8150. The Vancouver Green Building Audio Tours were created through a partnership between City of Vancouver Sustainability Office and the Open Green Building Society.

To hear the audio guide for this building click on the player at the top of the left sidebar on this webpage, or dial 604-673-8150 and enter code 11.