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DECEMBER 2019 | 41 Port Coquitlam Community Centre – Phase 1 RENDERINGS COURTESY ARCHITECTURE49 Port Coquitlam Community Centre – Phase 1 by LAURIE JONES T he long-awaited opening of Phase 1 of the Port Coquitlam Community Centre is being celebrated as a new beginning for the growing city. The new Centre is now home to the Terry Fox Library and two ice arenas. A leisure pool and fitness centre will be opening in early 2020 with a third arena, gym- nasium, underground parking, and other amenities to open in 2021. "Port Coquitlam is a growing city," says Mayor Brad West. "We have a lot of young families moving to our com- munity and we were at a point where it was time to make the investment in this facility. This ensures that both the recreation and community build- ing needs of the public are met, both for now and into the future." West says the City purposely wanted to build not just a recreation centre, but also a community gathering place. "You see the integration of the library with open spaces and multipur- pose rooms. The pool, fitness centre, and the three ice arenas make it some- thing for everyone." Mayor West sees the Community Centre as a catalyst for positive devel- opment in the downtown area. "It's a link to the work we're doing in Port Coquitlam to make it an attractive, exciting place to be. The Centre will give people more reasons to come downtown and spend time with the family to go out for a walk, shop or grab a bite at a local restaurant." Stella Nicolet, managing principal at Architecture49, adds: "The Community Centre is replacing two separate facili- ties – the existing two ice rinks will be three rinks, including a spectator arena which is going to be completed in phase two. The new library is much more modernized and updated with study rooms and comfortable seating, data connections, and power connec- tions so when people come in with laptops and tablets they have access to data ports and other functions. "It's a new and improved version of the library. The design is open to views on two sides – the Coquitlam water- shed mountains and the view of the community." The former library was next-door and will be demolished to make room for the Phase Two plaza. "There's also a two-level fitness room and the leisure pool with a beach entry that is good for little ones," says Nicolet. "A feature of this facility is its inclusion for all ages from young to seniors, and for all physical and emo- tional abilities. The pool is easily accessed by people with mobility chal- lenges and it incorporates things that teens will enjoy as well as seniors. The programming will run the gamut, and the hot tub will be there for both ther- apy and enjoyment." Also available in

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