The City is proceeding with improvements to Scarborough Arena Gardens as part of a state-of-good-repair project to address the existing roof structure.

  • 2021: Hire a consultant and preliminary schematic design
  • 2022: Develop schematic and detailed design
  • Spring 2023: Hire a construction team
  • Summer 2023: Construction starts
  • Spring 2025: Construction complete, facility reopens

The timeline is subject to change.

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November 2024

Construction is progressing and is approximately 60 per cent complete. The non-load-bearing walls, metal roof deck, slab on grade around the rink and heating pipes beneath the bleachers are installed. Site servicing, including storm sewers and electrical tubing, is finished. Work continues on the solar panel foundation, parapet, bleachers, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Next, the surface below the rink will be levelled and layered.

A partially constructed arena with a rink in progress. Concrete blocks and wooden planks are scattered across the dirt surface of the rink floor. Grey brick walls form the building’s interior, with metal scaffolding in place to support the roof structure and unfinished exterior.

A close-up of the arena’s bleachers under construction, formed from large slabs of concrete. Workers in orange vests and helmets are visible in the background, along with various equipment. Wooden beams span the ceiling above.

October 2024

Construction is progressing and is approximately 55 per cent complete. The wood beams in the lobby and metal deck over the rink have been finished. Installation of the non-load-bearing walls, metal roof deck and foundation for solar panels is ongoing. Preparation for the rink flooring will start soon.

An exterior view of an arena under construction. Wooden beams and steel framing span the partially completed roof. Construction materials are piled on the ground along two brick walls that form the building’s interior. In the background, a worker operates machinery beneath the completed metal deck over the rink.

Two excavators break up a paved surface outside of a large building with exposed wooden and steel trusses supporting the roof. Two workers in fluorescent vests and hard hats stand nearby, observing the work.

September 2024

Construction is progressing and is approximately 50 percent complete. The load-bearing walls, exterior brick siding (also called veneer), structural steel beams and door frames have been installed. The installation of the slab on grade, structural steel framing, and metal roof deck is currently in progress, with geothermal installation set to begin soon.

Construction site with exposed wooden roof trusses and large equipment, including a JLG lift and Load Lifter. The structure is still in progress, with scattered building materials and machinery on the ground.

Partially built structure with concrete walls and metal framework. The floor is covered with rebar in preparation for concrete pouring, and plumbing or other utilities are visible in the openings.

August 2024

Construction is progressing and is approximately 45 per cent complete. The load-bearing walls and wood trusses are finished, and work continues on the steel framing, building exterior and mechanical and electrical systems. Next, the metal roof deck, floor slab and geothermal system will be installed.

A construction site showing the framework of a building under progress. Wooden trusses are installed on top of the load-bearing walls. Steel scaffolding surrounds the walls, and workers can be seen in the background. The ground is unpaved, and construction materials are scattered around the site. The sky is clear and sunny.

An aerial view of the arena while under construction showing an exposed and elevated roof with curved wood framing and the unfinished concrete walls.

July 2024

Construction is progressing and is approximately 40 per cent complete. Underground plumbing and electrical work is done, and the load-bearing walls are almost complete. The framing and wood trusses are being installed and anticipated to be completed by mid-August, and then work will start on the interior structural steel and metal roof deck.

A construction site showing a large crane lifting materials, with workers on the ground. The structural framing, including wooden trusses, is being installed, and load-bearing walls are visible in the background. Metal beams and construction materials are scattered across the ground. A nearby building is partially visible in the distance.

June 2024

Construction of the foundation walls, backfilling and cast-in-place concrete at the bleachers are completed. Construction is progressing for the concrete masonry walls, thermal insulation and vapour barrier, structural framing, and mechanical and electrical services.

A construction site with scaffolding alongside concrete bricks forming the perimeter of the arena.

May 2024

Excavation is completed. Construction of the foundation walls and backfilling is nearing completion and the underground services and exterior masonry walls are progressing.

Construction site with exposed foundation and pipes, partially built cinder block walls, and scaffolding in the background.

April 2024

Excavation is nearly complete, and the construction of the foundation walls and backfilling is progressing. Installation of underground services and masonry walls have started.

: A photo of the construction site showing an excavator behind a low concrete brick wall with scaffolding the length of the entire photo.

March 2024

Excavation work continues alongside the installation of the footing and building foundation.

A photo of the construction site showing two excavators removing dirt from the site, which is mostly flat. The flat area of the site had low long concrete foundation walls spanning the length of the entire photo.

February 2024

Excavation work continues alongside the installation of the footing and building foundation.

A photo of the construction site showing a below-grade excavation with tall, enclosed wood framing on top of a concrete foundation in the foreground. In the background is a large mound of soil from the site excavation.

January 2024

Construction Progress Update

Demolition is complete and excavation work continues alongside the installation of the building foundation.

A photo of the construction site showing a below-grade excavation with some wood framing in the foreground. In the background is a crane excavating the site.

December 2023

Construction Progress Update

Demolition continues and is near completion with the removal of the existing building envelope and concrete slab.

A photo of the building exterior during construction, which shows two cranes demolishing the exterior of the building.

November 2023

Construction Progress Update

Construction continues with the demolition of the building envelope and interior of the building.

A photo of the building exterior during construction, which shows the intersecting steel beams along the demolished opening of the building from floor to ceiling.

October 2023

Construction Progress Update

Construction continues with the initial demolition of the building envelope (the building components that separate the indoors from the outdoors).

A photo of the building exterior during construction, which shows a red bulldozer and the exterior walls being demolished. Piles of concrete and materials are around the perimeter of the building.

September 2023

Construction Progress Update

Construction continues with initial demolition to remove existing materials at the interior and exterior of the building.

A photo of the building exterior during construction, which shows the adjacent parking lot in the foreground two lift machines working on the exterior walls.

August 2023

Construction Starts

In late August, construction started and the facility and parking lot surrounding the facility are closed to the public. The construction hoarding has been installed around the perimeter of the facility. Construction is anticipated to be completed in winter 2024.

A photo of the construction fencing around the parking lot and perimeter of Scarborough Gardens Arena taken in the evening.

Construction Update

As of early August, the detailed design and construction procurement for the arena improvements are complete. A contractor has been retained and will commence construction shortly. The parking lot surrounding the facility will be closed for the duration of the project.

Map showing areas temporarily closed due to construction, including the entire parking area south and west of the arena as well as the south entrance to the parking lot on Birchmount Road.

December 2022

The detailed design for the arena improvements is progressing in advance of construction procurement, which is anticipated to start in early 2023.

June 7, 2022

Virtual Public Meeting

The City hosted a meeting share information about the improvements coming to the facility. Approximately 18 community members were in attendance.

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December 23, 2021

The City has procured design services for the roof structure and additional potential improvements as part of the overall state-of-good-repair work.

The design phase is progressing and includes a roof structure replacement, state-of-good-repair improvements and accessibility and energy upgrades.

December 21, 2020

After the need for structural repairs or replacement of the arena roof was identified in early 2020, Scarborough Arena Gardens was closed to the public.

A temporary shoring scaffolding system was installed at this location so that an engineering consultant could assess the roof structure’s condition and recommend options for repair or replacement.  The shoring remains in place to ensure the roof structure does not collapse and cause significant damage to the facility.

After a thorough review of the engineering consultant’s report and detailed costing of the various options, we have determined that a repair of the existing roof structure does not provide good value for investment as it will not significantly extend the structure’s lifespan.

For this reason, the City will proceed with the procurement of design services and construction tendering for replacement of the entire roof structure and roof cover.

The arena will remain closed for the duration of this work.

Direct communication with Scarborough Arena Gardens user groups will occur in early 2021 and an ice relocation plan will be developed to provide alternative locations for permit and city-run programming.

April 2020

A temporary reinforcement of roof structure was installed to further assess the roof structure’s condition and recommend options for repair or replacement.

Scarborough Arena Gardens is located near Birchmount Road and Hollis Avenue in Scarborough. It houses an indoor ice rink, mechanical and electrical rooms, change rooms, and office spaces.

The roof and building structure has reached the end of its lifespan and requires a full replacement. The improvements to the arena include:

  • Upgrades to community spaces i.e. lobby, multi-purpose room
  • Upgrades to the refrigeration system
  • A new rink slab and associated dasher boards
  • Upgrades to the public washrooms and changing rooms
  • Upgrades to the buildings mechanical and electrical system in order to  meet the City’s mandate to reduce  greenhouse gas emissions
  • Accessibility improvements throughout the facility

The arena will remain closed during construction.

Arena Layout

The new arena layout features:

  • a lobby with a heritage display cabinet, access to reception, and a clear view of the rink
  • an NHL-sized rink with seating for 358, including 11 accessible seats and 18 adaptive seats (without arms)
  • seven dressing rooms, including one dedicated to referees and two that are accessible
  • two multi-purpose rooms for a variety of uses
  • several essential support areas, including:
    • twelve gender-neutral washroom stalls and one universal washroom
    • three bottle-filling stations
    • offices for staff
    • storage areas
    • a Zamboni room
    • mechanical and electrical rooms for facility operations.