The Clarence-Rockland Arena, Event and Training Centre was created as a result of a joint venture between the community and the Canadian International Hockey Academy (CIHA), an international residential high school created for the purpose of balancing elite hockey training and competitiveness with academic excellence. The facility includes two NHL-size ice pads (one of which provides seating for 2,000 spectators), 11 changing rooms (four of which are configured to host Hockey Canada training camps), multipurpose training and testing rooms, a fitness center, CIHA offices and offices for local community groups. Clear divisions between the facility's major user groups — participants, spectators and support staff — were created, while clear views to all activity areas allow users to easily orient themselves.
The mass of the overall complex is broken up by a series of reduced-scale volumes located adjacent to the timber entrances and featuring different colored composite siding and architectural masonry accents. All areas of the building are designed to be barrier-free, including the spectator areas, which are raised relative to ice level to enhance sightlines. The heavy timber structures at both the east and west entrances serve to create a welcoming atmosphere and are complemented by the exposed stone veneer used to enclose the elevator shaft. Vibrant paint colors appear on floating ceiling panels and changing room walls.
