A new and different kind of civic facility is coming to Langley. Together with Langley City Hall and the City of Langley branch of the Fraser Valley Regional Library the corner of 203rd Street and Douglas Crescent will welcome the brand new Timms Community Centre, expected to open to the public on Feb 24.
On an exclusive tour of the construction site, staff from the Langley Advance saw how the new Timms is taking shape and how inviting it will be. One of those providing information on the tour was chief administrative officer Francis Cheung.
“Every room in this building is really bright,” Cheung said.
In the lobby area it’s obvious Cheung’s statement is accurate.
There’s plenty of West Coast attitude in the building. Broad expanses of windows deliver natural light while engineered wood finishes, ample places to sit, and a living green wall keep things friendly and welcoming.
Entrances off Douglas and the rear parking area facing Fraser Highway will provide primary access for Timms, City Hall, and the library. One shared reception desk will help guide visitors.
If a visit to the gymnasium is on the schedule, be sure to look up. On the second level, the gym is ringed by a four lane walking and running track.
Look for expanded programming in the multi-purpose rooms. Two have sprung wood floors ideal for dance and exercise classes.
There will also be an outdoor rubberized area to allow for a range of uses.
“People can play ball hockey or badminton or we can set up yoga,” Cheung said.
Groups looking for kitchen facilities will find what they need with a double galley kitchen in one of the multi-purpose rooms.
“There may be the ability to host community dinners,” added Cheung.
As a LEED Silver-equivalent building, the new Timms Community Centre has the features that ensure energy conservation at a LEED Silver status without the price tag of certification.
“It’s not necessary to actually be certified,” Cheung said. “We chose to save that money.”
Visitors can see the efficiency of the building on a specialized monitor which displays data and charts based on system usage.
