The Scarborough Gardens Arena is a new net-zero emissions, 4,500 sm single ice pad rebuild with heritage features in Scarborough. The project replaces and expands the facility. The existing building footprint was approximately 240 feet by 120 feet wide. The 1950’s era wood truss spanned approximately 120 feet across the width of the building and were spaced at approximately 16 feet on centre.
The City of Toronto retained WGD and team to perform State of Good Repair work at Scarborough Gardens Arena. The first phase of the work involved investigations into the building systems and components, with a focus on the structural integrity of the wood truss system. The roof trusses were determined to not meet the OBC requirements and were overstressed.
The bowstring truss, due to it’s resemblance to the existing system, and the pre-engineered system, due to it’s anticipated lower cost, were explored further and a budget was prepared for each option. The long span wood structure was sourced with wood from Ontario or from northern Quebec. Sequestered carbon in the wood will reduce the over all building carbon impact.
The new facility along with the new bowstring structural roof truss system, includes; new refrigeration ice plant system complete with concrete rink slab, new mechanical and electrical systems to new net-zero guidelines, new change rooms, gender neutral washrooms, and new multi-purpose rooms and accessibility improvements. The new building has been designed to incorporate a geo thermal field and photovoltaics and satisfy the requirements as outlined in the CaGBC Zero Carbon Building design standards (Version 3). The ZCB standard requires that the project report the operation carbon, embodied carbon and all avoided emissions values. The end result will an arena that has a zero-carbon balance.
The building is fully accessible with a universal washroom, a variety of accessible viewing options, accessible lift, and accessible change rooms. The building is also being designed for sledge hockey with lower viewing panels from the benches and removable benches.