From 2001 to 2002, the Vancouver Parks Board began studying options related to the replacement of the Mount Pleasant Community Centre. The Board elected to relocate the facility from its current park setting, at the extreme south edge of the Mount Pleasant community, to an urban site at the geographic heart of Vancouver's historic up-town. The facility will house a community centre, library, childcare centre, rental housing and retail. Given the size and significance of this unique facility, it is expected to be the catalyst for neighbourhood renewal at the centre of the Mount Pleasant area.

The Mount Pleasant Community Centre is a precedent setting sustainable building for the City of Vancouver, and a LEED Silver certification has been mandated; LEED Gold is expected. In accordance with this sustainable mandate, one of the first exercises undertaken by Busby Perkins+Will was a one day seminar for the entire project team and client groups, including building maintenance staff, on the uses related to green buildings and the LEED Green Building Rating System. Overall, compared to the Canadian Model National Energy Code reference building, the Community Centre will consume 42% less energy and reduce greenhouse gases by 59%. In addition to full building design services, Busby Perkins+Will was asked to do an urban design review of the Mount Pleasant district and make recommendations for changes to the current zoning. During the review process, view studies within and around the area were conducted and recommendations regarding building massing, building height, the street edge and occupancy were made.

The design process involved an iterative sequence of meetings with the client user groups, community groups and the City, leading to a consensus on the priorities for the project and the resulting final design. On several occasions public open houses were held to involve the broader community and seek their input during the design process.