Hershey Sports Complex

Mississauga, ON
Construction Cost: $31.5 million (Canadian)
Area / Square Feet: 193,750
Occupancy Date: July 2007

The Hershey Centre Sports Complex is the final phase of an ambitious three-phase, 75-acre sports development for the city of Mississauga. While physically connected to the existing arena complex for ease of operations and multi-venue usage, the core design goal for the complex was to create a singular yet complementary identity. Attached to the original 5,000-seat hockey arena and three-community ice-pad development, the complex includes a fi eld house containing a FIBA regulation-size soccer field, a three-court gymnasium and a separate gymnastics training center for the city’s elite-level club. Support spaces include 24 accessible changing rooms located in close proximity to the gymnasium and field house, and interconnected in pairs to provide for larger teams. Dedicated changing rooms are provided for gymnastics club members. A third level above the main lobby accommodates office and retail space for associated sports organizations and services.

Taking advantage of the sloping site, the design reduces the building mass by recessing the event level one story into the ground, allowing the main entrance to be placed at the upper spectator and administration level. For major spectator events, a separate player’s entrance on the opposite side leads directly to the changing rooms and event level, thereby minimizing congestion.