Aaniin Community Centre & Library

The Aaniin Community Centre & Library is situated in Markham, Ontario. “Aaniin” means “hello” and “welcome,” or more closely, “I see your light” in Ojibwe, and it was chosen as the name for this beautiful structure to honour the Indigenous peoples of Ontario, to welcome the diverse community in Markham, and to empathize the communal nature of the building. Housing a gym, library, pool, indoor play areas, and a central, tiered agora, Aaniin was envisioned as a hub for the community and it succeeds brilliantly by sheltering a broad range of activities for all ages and backgrounds under its massive Glulam roof. The community centre has 815 m³ of Glulam roof members and over 7300 m² of Glulam decking. The building is certified LEED Gold.

Owner: City of Markham

Structural Engineer: Jacobs Engineering (previously CH2M HILL)

Awards: 2018 Institutional Wood Design Award > $15 M WoodWORKS!, 2018 Best of Year Institutional Interior Design Magazine, 2019 Interiors Award Civic/Public Contract Magazine, 2019 Athletic Business Facility of Merit Award , 2021 Building of Significance Markham Design Excellence Awards.