Zero Carbon Arena Complex Opens in North Bay

On August 21, EllisDon joined the City of North Bay, project partners, and community members to celebrate the official opening of the North Bay Community Recreation Centre, a new recreation facility designed to serve residents well into the future. 

Located at the Steve Omischl Sports Complex, the North Bay Community Recreation Centre represents the largest recreation infrastructure investment in the City's history. The facility features twin ice pads and flexible community spaces that will support athletes, families, community groups, and visitors from across the region. Designed with accessibility and inclusion at its core, the centre creates welcoming spaces where everyone can participate, connect, and belong.

While the building expands recreation opportunities for the community, it also represents a significant step forward in sustainable construction. As one of Canada's first Zero Carbon Building Design v3-certified arena complex, the facility was designed to dramatically reduce its environmental footprint while providing best-in-class operational performance.

The project team implemented a range of innovative and practical sustainability measures, including cold-water flooding technology, optimized daylighting, low-e ceiling finish, high-performance building envelope, and a partial timber structure, as well as future-proofed systems such as solar-ready roof and battery-ready electrical infrastructure. Together, these features are expected to reduce energy consumption by approximately 26 per cent and lower carbon emissions by nearly 50 per cent compared to conventional arena designs.

At the heart of the arena’s operation and the facility's energy strategy, is a CO₂-based ice plant, one of the first systems of its kind in Canada and a first for EllisDon. While the system produces high-quality ice, the rejected “waste heat” is repurposed through a whole-building energy loop. This excess heat is used to pre-heat shower water and provide in-slab radiant heating to spectator seats, eliminating the need for natural gas and further reducing emissions.

While the facility's sustainability features set a strong precedent for arena design, its success will ultimately be measured by the people who use it. Thoughtful accessibility and adaptive design considerations were integrated throughout the building to ensure athletes, spectators, and community members alike can fully participate in and enjoy the space.

"What makes this facility special is that it was built for everyone," said Randy Reymer, Senior Vice President & Area Manager, Southwestern and Northern Ontario, EllisDon. "From athletes and families to spectators and community groups, there's a place for people to connect, participate, and feel welcome. Seeing the community come together in a space that was designed with accessibility and inclusion at its core is something our team is incredibly proud of."

Delivered in collaboration with BBB Architects, J.L. Richards & Associates Limited, and the City of North Bay, the project reflects a shared commitment to creating infrastructure that meets today's needs while preparing for tomorrow's challenges.

"Projects like this don’t come along very often," added Reymer. "To help deliver the largest recreation infrastructure project in the City’s history and see it open to the community is incredibly rewarding. We’re proud to have worked alongside our partners to create a first-of-its-kind facility for the region that will bring people together and serve North Bay and the surrounding area for generations."

As the doors open to residents, the North Bay Community Recreation Centre stands as a new gathering place for the community, combining high-performance sustainability with inclusive design to create a facility built for the future.