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University of Waterloo Innovation Arena

Kitchener, Ontario

Factory Conversion to Medical Tech Hub

Located in the City of Kitchener’s innovation district, the Innovation Arena will amplify Canada’s health tech sector. Built-in partnership with the City of Kitchener, the University of Waterloo and Velocity – Waterloo’s renowned startup incubator – this project will streamline commercialization pathways for businesses, fast-track delivery of health technologies and contribute to being the haven for startups that the region is known for.

The conversion of this historic factory space will be a feat of engineering, with the entire dismantlement of the existing factory interior and a complete teardown to the studs leaving a blank canvas for us to execute the fit-outs for a new high-tech collaboration space. Meeting rooms, tenant offices, specialized areas for chemistry and custom-fit workspaces curated for individual companies will be a part of the mix.

Through this project, the University of Waterloo expects to create 730 skilled jobs, support the development and growth of 135 businesses and commercialize 150 new health-related products, services or processes. It will also help anchor a growing number of health-tech firms in southwestern Ontario, contributing to regional growth while attracting international startups to Waterloo.


Consultants

Diamond & Schmitt Architects, RDH Building Science, MTE Consultants Inc., Smith & Andersen Consulting Engineering

Sector

Institutional

Project Duration

Nov 2022 - Dec 2023

Size

90,000 sq. ft.

Value

$ 30,000,000

Project Type

Construction Management

Client

University of Waterloo