Komoka Community Wellness and Recreation Centre
Municipality of Middlesex Centre
~$20 Million
Cornerstone Architecture Inc.
Wellington Brothers
2011
The Komoka Community Wellness & Recreation Centre, opened in 2011, is a vibrant 88,000 ft² hub serving Komoka and the surrounding Middlesex area. Anchored by two NHL-sized ice rinks (one with tiered seating), it supports local hockey teams like the Komoka Kings and accommodates figure skating, shinny, and public skating.
The YMCA of Southwestern Ontario operates a 12,000 ft² fitness centre, aerobics studio, suspended indoor running track and double gymnasium—ideal for group classes, weight training and youth programs. A branch of the County of Middlesex Library and multiple multi purpose meeting rooms further enhance its community offerings.
Outdoors, families enjoy a playground and seasonal splash pad, open from mid May to late summer. Notably, the centre features sustainable design with Green Globes certification, a rooftop solar-ready ice rink, and Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification, ensuring inclusion and eco friendly operation. Open daily from 6 am to midnight, it stands as a true heart of Komoka’s active and connected community.
The Komoka Community Wellness and Recreation Centre posed unique structural challenges due to its multi-use layout and large-span spaces. The twin NHL-sized rinks required long-span steel roof trusses to provide clear sightlines and support suspended mechanical systems, with careful control of deflection and vibration. The arena roofs also supported one of the first large-scale rooftop solar arrays in the region right when the technology was becoming more accessible. Gymnasium and fitness areas also demanded open-span framing, coordinated with lateral systems and the roof-suspended walking track. The integration of distinct occupancies—arena, fitness centre, library, and community rooms—necessitated complex load transfers and movement joints. Structural solutions also supported sustainability goals, including rooftop solar and Green Globes certification.
