West Fraser Centre

Quesnel’s West Fraser Centre is located in the Cariboo region of British Columbia. The project is an important catalyst for economic vibrancy in the city center, as the building hosts ice sports, trade shows, concerts and other events. Building planning considers functional zones and separates participants from spectators vertically upon entry to the building. The west plan includes a lobby, a multi-use room, guest services and access to the upper concourse. The north plan houses locker rooms. The south and east plan houses administrative and user-group offices, as well as building operations. The upper level of the facility features 1,300 fixed seats and a capacity of about 1,500. The upper-west plan includes concessions and a multipurpose room with a VIP-seating balcony. The south seating extends from the concourse to ice level, while north seating is perched upon the locker rooms below.

The arena ceiling was executed in wood to reflect the importance of the timber industry to the community. A local public artist contributed a large mural that captures the essence of the region’s outdoors, while other interior spaces are robust and feature a color palette that complements the exterior.

The exterior of the building primarily uses insulated metal panels that perform well in an environment where temperatures can swing significantly between seasons. Concrete masonry is used at lower levels to add durability and help break the massing down to a more human scale. Natural lighting is brought into the arena concourse level and lobby space that identifies the facility as a public building.