The Musqueam First Nation has a rich heritage in the lower mainland and continues to be a thriving community with a unique, living culture. In recent years they have developed We Speak with One Heart and Mind, a comprehensive sustainable community development plan to ensure the continued growth and success of their band. This new community centre, funded by the 2010 Legacy Trust Community Priorities Project, is a significant part of this community plan and the Heart of the Community that will see continued development of the physical and cultural centre of the community.
The new 31,000 square foot facility is a community, recreation and office facility, including a full size gymnasium, a fitness centre, change rooms, lounge, youth centre, a full commercial kitchen and administration offices.
The Musqueam band had extensive consultation with community user groups to ensure the building met the Band’s environmental and cultural standards. These guidelines informed many aspects of the building, such as the overall building and roof design, use of natural materials such as wood, and allowing space for traditional native art and cultural gatherings.
The projects consists of custom made structural steel, composite steel deck flooring, an open web steel joist roof, and Glulam timber columns and beams with wood roof decking.
Images: © Bob Matheson