A new community centre will better serve the Calgary Japanese Community Association (CJCA), its members, and local residents after an investment of more than $4.4 million from the federal government through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program.
This was announced by Parliamentary Secretary Corey Hogan, CJCA President Susan Matsumoto, and Co-Chair for the Legacy Building Project, Roger Teshima.
Funding will be used to construct a new facility that will replace the existing aging CJCA buildings while incorporating traditional Japanese concepts and techniques, as well as sustainable design principles.
The community centre's irregular form and asymmetry will invoke wabi-sabi, or appreciating imperfection, and ma, the balancing of solid and void. The community centre will host cultural, social, and educational programs, and will include event halls and other auxiliary spaces (e.g., kitchen, Tatami Room) that can be rented out for social and community events. It will also feature a traditional Japanese garden designed to be barrier-free, providing exterior space for the building's wide range of programs and spaces.
The roof design of the facility will take advantage of Calgary's sun path, funneling natural light into the courtyard and interior while generous overhangs will help control glare and heat. Stormwater collected from the roof will be used for grey water needs and garden irrigation. The use of local wood and mass timber will further enhance the project's sustainability.
Once complete, the new community centre will better support the CJCA's mission to preserve and celebrate Japanese heritage, culture, and legacy within the Nikkei community and with all Canadians, including those in the broader Calgary community.
