Upper Skeena Recreation Centre
The 54,000 SF Upper Skeena Recreation Centre is a new, year-round recreational facility that will benefit the health and wellness of the people of the Hazelton. The project consists of an NHL sized ice surface, seating for 500 spectators, and a full-sized gymnasium. Located in the remote north-western community of Hazelton, British Columbia, the Upper Skeena Recreation Centre acts as a demonstration project showcasing the possibilities of cost-effective wood construction.
The facility’s exposed wood roof, supported by glue-laminated timber beams and columns, represents an economical framing solution. Simplified construction methods for the roof and exterior walls, which are made with plywood and dimension lumber, deliver further cost savings. To speed construction, the wood wall and roof panels were prefabricated by local workers and then dropped in place for rapid assembly.
This all-wood solution delivers a structural performance and ease of installation that is comparable to steel, with the added benefits of aesthetic warmth, natural insulation, carbon sequestration, and locally sourced materials and labour. The practical yet beautiful wood structure was made possible through grassroots community involvement and gives the region a focal point of pride that will last for decades to come.
Learn more on the project case study page.
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Location
Hazelton, BC, CAN
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First Nation Location Name
Gitxsan/Wet'suwet'en
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Completion Date
2019
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Area
54,000 SF
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Typology
Sports / Leisure
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Architect
Hemsworth Architecture
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Awards
2021 Architizer A+ Award Finalist - Sports and Recreation: Stadium/Arena
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Photo Credit
Hemsworth Architecture & Ema Peter