Kitchener Cowan Recreation Centre

The Cowan Indoor Recreation Centre is set to become Kitchener, Ontario's first Net zero carbon building and one of Canada’s most sustainable recreation facilities. Spanning more than 222,000 sq. ft., the multi-purpose community hub will feature an indoor aquatics area, a FIFA-sized indoor field, an elevated walking track, cricket batting cages, and flexible community spaces designed to serve a growing and diverse population.

Hybrid Steel and Mass Timber Construction

Designed following an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) process, the primary steel structure incorporates cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels for the building envelope, demonstrating how hybrid steel and mass timber systems can be combined to deliver large-scale civic infrastructure efficiently and cost-effectively.

In addition to the exterior envelope, Spruce-Pine-Fir (SPF) prefabricated CLT and nanoCLT panels were designed for precision installation across the aquatic, gym and field house walls. The use of prefabricated mass timber components improved coordination, accelerated installation timelines, and supported Lean Construction principles throughout the project lifecycle. BIM and 3D modelling were used extensively to align design, fabrication, and construction teams, helping optimize scheduling, improve cost certainty, and enhance overall construction efficiency.

Sustainability Meets Community Impact
Sustainability was central to the project vision. Alongside geothermal heating and cooling systems and one of the city’s largest solar panel arrays, the use of mass timber contributes to lowering embodied carbon while supporting the facility’s pursuit of the Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building Standard v3 – Design certification.

Once operational, the complex is projected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 22 tonnes annually while generating an estimated $100,000 in yearly utility savings for the City of Kitchener.

 The Cowan Recreation Centre demonstrates how mass timber and prefabrication can support the delivery of next-generation civic buildings that prioritize sustainability, speed, and long-term community impact.

The mass timber component of the project has been completed. The building is under construction and targeting full completion in late 2026.