June 23, 2025 – Arcadis, in partnership with WTI and Clark Builders, has delivered one of the most ambitious public infrastructure projects in the Northwest Territories: the new multimillion-dollar Yellowknife Aquatic Centre.
Officially opened by the City of Yellowknife on May 5, 2025, this transformative facility meets the community’s evolving recreational needs and pays tribute to local heritage and culture.
Spanning more than 57,000 square feet, the centre features a diverse range of water amenities for recreational and competitive use, including a splash pool, a three-lane leisure pool, a lazy river, therapy pool, eight-lane competition pool, and an indoor waterslide.
From the outset, Arcadis approached the centre as more than just a recreation facility—it was envisioned as a community landmark and was designed in collaboration with Yellowknife Dene First Nation to be inclusive. “This project was about creating a space that reflects the people of Yellowknife,” says Brad Kimball, CanWest Government and Civic Practice Lead at Arcadis. “We were proud to help deliver a centre that prioritizes accessibility, environmental stewardship, and Indigenous inclusion, while meeting the unique technical demands of building in the North.”
Designing for place and purpose
Constructed on bedrock, the centre’s steel-framed structure required rock-socketed piles, suspended structural slabs, and a robust concrete foundation system to support its complex aquatic systems. During the final design phase, the deep end of the pool was strategically shifted from bedrock to a deep sand dune, reducing the need for blasting and providing the opportunity to include a full basement to house the aquatic mechanical room. Kimball explains, “Engineering solutions were carefully tailored to ensure the building’s structural integrity, ability to withstand extreme climate conditions and long-term resilience.”
Cultural storytelling played a central role in the design vision. Collaborating closely with Yellowknife Dene First Nation, Arcadis incorporated Indigenous perspectives and symbolism into the space. Design workshops were held in collaboration with these groups to review the facility’s structural and interior design and ensure their recommendations were incorporated. For example, the circular lobby, inspired by the shape and form of a medicine wheel, features acoustic elements reminiscent of traditional Dene drums, setting a meaningful tone for visitors as they enter the facility.
Sustainability in the subarctic
Despite operating in one of Canada’s most northern urban environments, the aquatic centre is a pioneering example of sustainable civic infrastructure. The design integrates photovoltaic panels, solar hot water heating, and triple-glazed curtain walls to maximize energy efficiency and reduce the building’s environmental footprint.
The facility’s walls required a high insulation value to withstand the subarctic temperatures. The design team worked with Soprema, developing a custom wall system that combined rigid and semi-rigid insulation. This innovative technique reduced insulation thickness while maximizing the facility’s thermal performance, aligning with Arcadis’s broader commitment to high-performance design, particularly in remote and climatically challenging regions.
A national example of inclusive design
Accessibility was integral to the project from day one. Through community engagement led by Level Playing Field, feedback from people with disabilities helped shape the final design from parking and entrances to changerooms and poolside amenities. Each of the facility’s pools includes a ramp to accommodate water wheelchairs, and the changerooms are gender-inclusive, featuring private changing stalls to support comfort and dignity for all users. Every area of the centre was designed to support an inclusive, family-friendly experience.
“We heard from residents across the spectrum of age, mobility, and need. Their voices directly informed how we approached everything from slope grades to sightlines,” Kimball notes. “It’s a model for how civic projects should be designed, with the people they serve at the centre.”
He added, “We’re proud to have helped the City of Yellowknife bring this facility to life—it represents the kind of thoughtful, resilient design that we believe will shape the future of municipal development across Canada.”
