Pacific Canada Pavilion of the Vancouver Aquarium

The Pacific Canada Pavilion addition has become the “living room” of the Vancouver Aquarium and the Marine Science Centre by weaving previously existing and disparate buildings into a thoughtful harmony. It not only provides a place for visitors to pause and orient themselves to the different exhibition areas, but also grounds the institution through a celebration of Pacific Canada’s aquatic life. This celebration is achieved through the architecture of the Pavilion and its exhibitions. The two-level, 13,000 sq ft complementary new space and renovation also houses new exhibition and expanded gift shop areas. In addition, visitor circulation has been significantly improved with the provision of fully accessible facilities. From the exterior, the Pavilion creates a dramatic backdrop for the highly popular whale-watching amphitheatre.

The Pavilion encloses the existing U-shaped courtyard centered by the original whale pool of the Aquarium. Over the courtyard, a large roof was placed to create a column-free space, while the pool was renovated and maintained as the central focus of the space. A new stair and acrylic wall were inserted through the original pool to allow visitors to descend into discovery the Pacific Canada exhibit and view a “slice” of British Columbia’s coastal waters. A special louvred skylight that directs sunlight over the pool was developed in conjunction with the University of British Columbia’s Physics Department. This skylight, which acts more like a spotlight, ensures that the light levels in the pool are higher than the surrounding viewing areas, resulting in a stunning presentation of BC’s local aquatic environment. [Bing Thom Architects]