Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1529939
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4 | 67 Innovation Arena – University of Waterloo P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y U N I V ER S I T Y O F WAT ER LO O façade to the southeast. This opens into a large two-storey atrium that marks the Arena's community space, an area where companies can display their work and for Velocity to mentor current members. With the atrium as a focal point, the interior is an open interconnected floor space that fos- ters cross-fertilization between users. Szabo likens the revamped build- ing to a village, where on one side of the street are the start-ups and on the other side are labs and manu- facturing studios, all tied together by a spine down the middle with the atrium as its 'town square' terminus. In November of 2022, Melloul- Blamey Construction began stripping the interior of the old warehouse, leaving a blank canvas for fit-outs. A full range of product develop- ment spaces including biotech and chemistry laboratories, electronic shops, product manufacturing facilities, and collaborative office/ meeting spaces were constructed to promote maximum flexibility. Hunsperger says, "A corridor runs the length of the building behind the labs, connecting to a loading dock and elevators, which allows for the trans- portation of materials and equipment without disrupting lab space," he says. "This is an incredibly useful element yet very rare in facilities of this kind." The fact that the warehouse walls were un-reinforced concrete block necessitated a conservative win- dow-to-wall ratio along the sides of the building. Also, in construct- ing the double-height rectangular glazed main atrium entry, special steel frames had to be erected so the old block wall could be removed. Considerable debate revolved around whether to have interior glazing looking into the labs. "We decided that potential intellectual property issues are well managed, so the glazing was installed and it has become instrumental in show- ing the business community how innovation gets done," Côté says. The University of Waterloo expects the completed Innovation Arena will help anchor a growing number of health-tech firms in southwest- ern Ontario, contributing to regional growth, while attracting international start-ups. "As of October, we've already conducted countless tours, and the facility is sparking plenty of curiosity and interest," Côté says. "The Arena represents a new era of manufactur- ing for Kitchener, and it's a major addition to our downtown campus." A P and G Renovation LTD. is proud to have contributed to transforming the University of Waterloo's Innovation Arena in Waterloo, Ontario. This project required the maximum attention to detail to ensure all the areas were completed as needed. As a painting and coatings industry leader, we are honoured to have been entrusted with all painting services for this visionary project. Our work ensures a vibrant and inspiring environment for innovation. Successfully completing this large-scale project demon- strates our capability to handle high-profile projects and underscores our unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional results, ensuring the highest quality in every aspect of our work. This collaboration marks an exciting chapter for P and G Renovation LTD. As we look forward to continuing our journey of growth and recognition as a trusted partner in the Canadian renovation industry, we are filled with optimism and readiness to bring our expertise to future endeavours of similar magnitude, and we can't wait to see what the future holds. P and G Renovation LTD. Phone: 647-864-8227 Email: info@pg-renovation.com Website: Pg-renovation.com P&G Renovations.indd 1 P&G Renovations.indd 1 2024-11-22 3:04 PM 2024-11-22 3:04 PM