Sechelt Water Resource Centre

The Sechelt Water Resource Centre reimagines municipal infrastructure as a transparent public space. Replacing the traditional locked chain-link fence with a vibrant greenhouse, the facility reveals the biological systems that clean wastewater, inviting the community to witness their role in the hydrological cycle. This shift connects the facility to its residential context, where staff now tend to flourishing plants instead of malodorous tanks. Public Architecture designed the centre to reduce water consumption by 69% through on-site reclamation. Beyond its utility, the building serves as an educational hub for school groups and a catalyst for environmental health, discharging ten times less waste into Trail Bay. By managing waste at the source, Sechelt has transformed a hidden utility into a landmark of sustainability and community pride.