July 29, 2025

Carmen Corbasson Community Centre has officially opened the doors to its newly renovated and expanded recreation facility which introduces a mass timber natatorium, fitness centre, aerobics studio, and an expanded and welcoming lobby to the building’s existing arena and gymnasium complex. 

Adding to a previous addition completed in 2000, Diamond Schmitt has designed the centre’s 43,000 sf expansion to create a seamless connection between the new and old through form and materiality.

Nestled adjacent to a wooded area, the design takes advantage of its park-like setting to connect with the natural surroundings with a transparent volume that brings sunlight into the interior, creating a ‘Pavilion in the Forest’ where the community can connect—with one another through physical activity and with nature. 

“Connecting with Cawthra Wood was the fundamental inspiration for this project. The solution was making a simple timber pavilion that allowed for an essential relation to the forest,” says Principal Jarle Lovlin.

One enters through a new glazed vestibule into a large, double-height lobby illuminated from the south. The original timber roof structure is replicated and extended, linking the renewed lobby to the natatorium. This connective path unites old and new, with linear openings and a continuous skylight bringing daylight and views into program spaces to foster openness, transparency, and intuitive wayfinding.

At the heart of the renovation and expansion is the natatorium. Composed as a simple rectangular volume, it is defined by a mass timber structure which provides a warm yet light order within the space. Clear glazing connects the interior to the adjacent forest while offering passersby glimpses of the activity within—encouraging engagement and participation.

This sense of openness and material warmth extends to the fitness room and aerobics studio that accommodate a full range of activities. Designed to welcome natural light, these spaces support not only physical, but also mental well-being.

Responding to the growing contemporary needs of the neighbourhood, the renovation and expansion of the Carmen Corbasson Community Centre provides a more comprehensive and accessible space that revitalizes its presence within the community. 

Read full press release here.