Discover Circus School
key design features
Rigging Structure Integration
The existing industrial structure provides an ideal foundation for overhead rigging. The design includes certified attachment points, load-bearing reinforcement where required, and concealed pathways for rope and fabric management.
Flexible Multi-Use Floor Plan
Aerial training zone (high-clearance area)
Ground-based movement / acrobatics zone
Warm-up & conditioning zone
Reception & waiting area
Instructor storage and equipment management
Warm, Creative Aesthetic
To balance the industrial shell, the design introduces warm wood accents, dynamic lighting, soft seating, and color elements inspired by circus arts. The result is a space that feels both spacious and playful—aligning with the organization’s values of joy and expression.
Public-Facing Identity
The building’s former entrance was located at the rear of the property, overlooking a car park. It has now been relocated to the front, opening directly onto the public realm and facing the heart of Nelson. This new entrance strengthens Discover Circus’s welcoming philosophy, creating a more inviting and engaging arrival experience.
Discover Circus is a community-based circus school and performance hub operated by the non-profit Kootenay Circus Arts Association (KCAA). Founded by local artists and performers who value artistic expression, cooperation, inclusiveness, and play. The organization outgrew its previous home and has relocated into a larger industrial space consisting of high ceilings.
The KCAA’s long-term vision is to infuse circus arts into the culture of the Kootenays. This project supports that mission by transforming an otherwise raw industrial unit into a safe, flexible, and inspiring environment where students of all ages can learn aerial arts, acrobatics, dance, and flow-based movement.
location: Nelson, BC
Scale: 3,375 sf
Status: completed 2025
designed by: f2a architecture ltd
structural engineers: elemental engineers
photography: austin hawkins and jessica sigurdson
