In 2017, the City of San Bruno embarked on a transformative project to revitalize its community amenities by designing a combined recreation, aquatics, and community destination. The new facility replaces the existing, aging swimming pool and gymnasium/recreation center with a state‑of‑the‑art, 55,000 square foot community center that seamlessly blends aquatics and recreational programming, including approximately 18,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor pools. With a design focused on minimizing environmental impact, the new center preserves outdoor spaces in San Bruno City Park while establishing a new civic landmark for generations to come.
The design concept was born from extensive community and stakeholder engagement. Over 2,000 participants, including residents and City leadership, provided feedback to inform the project’s programming, design strategies, and materials palette. This input guided the conceptual design phase, ensuring the new facility meets the needs and desires of the San Bruno community.
In 2018, the San Bruno City Council approved Phase 2 of the project, moved forward with the detailed design, construction, and eventual completion. The facility incorporates both indoor and outdoor pools, which include a comprehensive space for recreation, fitness, and community gatherings.
BKF Engineers provided crucial civil engineering design and coordination for the site’s improvements. This included paving, grading, and utility design, as well as the realignment of the existing drainage channel and the installation of a new sanitary sewer main within the park. These infrastructure upgrades are essential for the successful construction and long-term operation of the new center.
This project has won the following awards:
ENR – 2025 Northern California Best Sports/Entertainment Project
Award-winning Core Team
- Owner: City of San Bruno
- Architectural Consultant: Group 4 Architecture
