The City of Vancouver and the city’s parks board are moving forward with its plans to renew the Vancouver Aquatic Centre, which has reached the end of its lifespan. With the next phase of work set to begin, it means the VAC will officially close on June 28. Crews will then begin preparing the site for demolition before the new facility begins construction in late 2026. Meanwhile, park board staff are reviewing capacity levels across the city’s full aquatic system to try and find alternative options for residents and groups while construction begins. The city says once completed, the new, $175-million aquatic centre will be a modern, accessible community facility featuring a 25-metre lap pool for swimming and competitive events. The new building will also feature a diving tank with multiple board heights, hot pool, sauna, expanded fitness room, multi-purpose rooms and accessible change rooms. A group opposed to the renewal of the VAC will head to the B.C. Supreme Court on June 19 to have its case heard. The group’s legal action is strongly connected to the city’s decision to downsize the current facility’s 50-metre pool down to the approved 25 metres The Vancouver Aquatic Centre, located at Sunset Beach, opened in May 1974 after its predecessor Crystal Pool, which was built in 1928, was demolished. The city did not provide a timeline for when the renewed facility would open.
