cooling center

American  

[kool-ing sen-ter] / ˈkul ɪŋ ˌsɛn tər /

Sometimes cooling shelter

noun

1. Also called cooling station.  an air-conditioned or otherwise cooled facility, such as a school, library, or mall, that is open to the public during a period of hot weather in order to provide relief from the heat.

   The Department of Health can assist in arranging transportation to a local cooling center.

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Etymology

Origin of cooling center

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

County residents without access to air conditioning are encouraged to seek relief at a county pool, splash pad or cooling center near them.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

“The library protects the homeless in our community as a warming and cooling center and as a safe and free place for parents to take their children.”

From Seattle Times • Sep. 20, 2023

“I’ve got to try to stay inside and stay cool,” said Christopher Duggan, who was sitting at a cooling center run by the Salvation Army in downtown Tempe on Tuesday afternoon.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 19, 2023

While not a designated cooling center, the nonprofit facility can hold roughly 40 people at a time for brief cooldowns.

From Scientific American • Jul. 17, 2023

The Salvation Army has also offered a daytime cooling center in Las Vegas, which saw a daily average of 250 visitors last week.

From New York Times • Jul. 15, 2023