Discover the partnership websiteLiving Atlas of Quality
6 August 2026By MJMA and Acton Ostry Architects, the UBC Aquatics Centre redefines accessibility as a core architectural value. From its inception, the building was designed not only to accommodate diverse users, but to celebrate their presence within a shared space. Universal design principles shape every aspect of the facility: the central spine connects competition and community pools with clear, intuitive circulation; change rooms are inclusive and barrier-free; and level thresholds ensure seamless movement throughout. The architecture uses openness, light, and transparency to dissolve hierarchies, making athletes, students, families, and individuals of all abilities equal participants in the experience of the building. Accessibility here becomes more than compliance, it is an architectural language of welcome, belonging, and civic identity.
| Resource type |  |
| Author | Rabih Cheaitani and Tristan Routhier |
| Copyright owner | Laurentian University SSHRC Partnership Grant |
| Type of viewpoint | Researcher |
| Language | English |
| Copyright | Creative Commons |
By MJMA and Acton Ostry Architects, the UBC Aquatics Centre redefines accessibility as a core architectural value. From its inception, the building was designed not only to accommodate diverse users, but to celebrate their presence within a shared space. Universal design principles shape every aspect of the facility: the central spine connects competition and community pools with clear, intuitive circulation; change rooms are inclusive and barrier-free; and level thresholds ensure seamless movement throughout. The architecture uses openness, light, and transparency to dissolve hierarchies, making athletes, students, families, and individuals of all abilities equal participants in the experience of the building. Accessibility here becomes more than compliance, it is an architectural language of welcome, belonging, and civic identity.
