Deer Lake Park Arts Precinct

Burnaby, British Columbia | 2008-2010

Deer Lake Park is a sprawling public green space in Burnaby that has long been a magnet for walkers, birdwatchers, and families, but a five-hectare portion between the lake and the Shadbolt Theatre—the Shadbolt Terrace and Festival Lawn—is also a popular outdoor venue. To better accommodate crowds that flock to summer concerts, PWL Partnership led a multidisciplinary team to upgrade the grounds. 

The festival lawn was expanded, and structural improvements increased the capacity and extended the outdoor concert season—making it possible to operate in rainy months. Our work included the renovation of the main plaza—integrating custom furnishings and original art by Coast Salish artist Thomas Cannell. We also improved pathways for visitors and service vehicles, and designed discrete permanent fencing to help with crowd control during events.