Sunset Community Centre open

Under grey skies and heavy April showers, a dramatic flower-inspired community centre blossomed yesterday in South Vancouver.
The design of the city’s new $12.3-million Sunset Community Centre suggests the opening petals of a flower, said Bing Thom, the world-renowned architect who also designed the Canada Pavilion for Expo ’92 in Seville, Spain.
It takes its inspiration from the blooms and flowers in the city nursery that sits adjacent to the community centre.
The 2,643-square-metre building was designed to meet strict environmental standards and features geo-thermal heating and cooling, a reflective roof and large windows to keep the building cool in the summer.
Bing said the building’s two main axes were poured as large concrete slabs and were lifted into place with special cranes.
The process, Bing said, shortened the construction period by about one month and resulted in stronger, more durable walls.
jeff.hodson@metronews.ca