ProjectNOW (Sudbury)
Project NOW is an architectural proposal project developed by 3rdline Studio Architects that suggests the renovation and redevelopment of the Sudbury Community Arena located in downtown Sudbury, Ontario.[1] Its aim for the project was to invest in existing infrastructure and adapt the Sudbury Community Arena into a contemporary downtown events space. At the time of this proposal’s release in early 2020, a major city-wide debate was being held as to whether to invest in a new events district outside Sudbury’s downtown[2] which would include a 5,800 seat capacity arena, casino, and hotel[3] or to adapt existing downtown infrastructure in a cost-savings attempt. This debate of where the City of Sudbury should ultimately locate the Sudbury Community Arena was the reason 3rdline Studio Architects developed the Project NOW proposal.
With an ultimate goal of revitalizing downtown Sudbury through strategic infrastructure investments, project NOW was a plan that utilized multiple existing projects and sites located in the downtown area and throughout the city of Greater Sudbury, using an existing borrowed amount of approximately $200 million.[4] Revitalizing the downtown arena is said to be an estimated 40% more cost-effective than building a new arena elsewhere.[4]
The existing Sudbury Community Arena built in 1951 located on Elgin Street in downtown Greater Sudbury is home to the Ontario Hockey League’s Sudbury Wolves as well as the newly acquired National Basketball League of Canada team, the Sudbury Five.
Project Specifics
The project itself proposes the expansion of the main public entry along Elgin Street and creates a new expanded upper concourse. An addition along the northern side of the existing arena creates new loading access and event support spaces.[5]
An additional optional proposal not included in the project’s $55.5 million + HST value is a 450 space parking structure with 60,000 square feet of commercial space. This detached building would be positioned along the opposite side of Minto Street with a cost of an approximate $18 million for the parking structure, and an additional approximate $17 million for attached commercial space.[5]
- Increase parking capacities
- Renewal strategies
- Expand public entry
- Create a new upper concourse
- Create new loading access + event support spaces
- Add 450 indoor parking
- Add 60,000sf of commercial space
- Enhance performance spaces
- Develop universal accessibility solutions
- Consult + collaborate + build consensus[5]
Downtown Sudbury Context
The City of Sudbury’s own Downtown Sudbury Community Improvement Plan report of January 2017 outlines the importance of a city’s downtown core and what potentials there are to revitalize and improve its current condition.[6] Objectives of this study are as follows:
- Revitalize Downtown Sudbury;
- Increase the residential population of the downtown;
- Create and retain employment opportunities;
- Grow the municipal assessment base;
- Grow the municipal property tax revenue;
- Repair and intensify the existing urban fabric with compatible projects;
- Take advantage of existing infrastructure;
- Enhance the quality of the public realm.
In an effort to help re-think the current state of downtown Sudbury, the City of Sudbury has also created a Downtown Sudbury Master Plan in March 2012, in which more specific designs of a possible revitalization may look like along with plan and action strategies to see these changes through.[7] The Laurentian University McEwen School of Architecture also located in downtown Sudbury, hosted an international architectural and urban design ideas competition in 2020 titled Sudbury2050 as a strategy to explore new options and ideas to revitalize Sudbury's downtown core.[8]
The Sudbury city council voted to turn down the motion for a reevaluation to retrofit the Sudbury Community Arena in favour of an alternative project of moving the city's arena to the Kingsway Entertainment District[9]
References
- ↑ Keown, Mary Katherine (October 7, 2020). "Architectural firm pitches KED alternative to council". The Sudbury Star.
- ↑ Keown, Mary Katherine (June 26, 2020). "Makeover proposed for downtown arena". The Sudbury Star.
- ↑ "Kingsway Entertainment District and Arena/Event Centre". www.greatersudbury.ca. Retrieved 2022-04-13.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Project NOW: Architecture firm has a new vision for Sudbury Community Arena". Sudbury.com. June 29, 2020.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 James, Tim (October 6, 2020). "projectNOW".
- ↑ "Downtown Sudbury Community Improvement Plan". Greater Sudbury: Community Improvement Plans and Incentive Programs. January 2017. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Downtown Sudbury - Downtown Master Plan". March 2012. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Sudbury 2050 - Urban Design Ideas Competition". CANADIAN COMPETITIONS CATALOGUE. 2020.
- ↑ MacMillan, Sarah (December 16, 2020). "Sudbury council votes down motion to evaluate 'Project Now' arena proposal". CBC.
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