Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex, Kitchener ON

The Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex is a new model for a resilient community recreational facility, designed to be the first to pursue net-zero carbon facility carbon certification under the Canada Green Building Council’s ZCB Standard v3 – Design. The 189,600 sf facility houses an aquatic centre, elevated FIFA-sized soccer pitch, indoor walking and running track (with views to the landscape outside), a cricket batting cage, and other athletic amenities for the over 380,000 expected annual visitors. SpruceLab is proud to be the landscape architect and to support First Nations engagement for what is the largest capital project in the history of the City of Kitchener.  Located at RBJ Schlegel Park, a large multi-use district park located in the south-west area of the city, it will serve a growing and diverse population. Sustainability aspects of the design include extensive native species gardens and tree plantings, geothermal heating and cooling, rooftop solar panels, and a high-performance building envelope.  

This work was informed by extensive stakeholder and public engagement conducted by the City of Kitchener from 2019-2022. A groundbreaking event was held May 31, 2024, and construction is now underway. The project is also an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) process (informed by LEAN methodology, to reduce waste, streamline collaboration, and increase overall value), led by Multiplex Construction and Unity Design Studio, with early support from Colliers International.