In response to the growing needs of Velocity—the University of Waterloo’s flagship startup incubator, which has outgrown its current home—the Innovation Arena is envisioned as a collaborative hub for startups, researchers, entrepreneurs, and community partners addressing health and technology challenges locally and globally.

Set within Kitchener’s Innovation District on the University’s Health Sciences campus, the 90,000-square-foot facility transforms the former 1964 Ontario Seed Warehouse into a future-ready centre for entrepreneurship. Labs, offices, and product development spaces come together under one roof through adaptive reuse, modernized infrastructure, and a complete re-skinning of the building envelope.

Guided by Velocity’s mission, the design expresses innovation, acceleration, and community engagement through adaptable, inclusive, and sustainable architecture. The facility serves as a bold landmark that respects its historical context while supporting rapid reconfiguration and future growth.

The building’s design conveys a sense of possibility. A dynamic sawtooth façade, angled planes, and generous glazing invite natural light deep into the interior while creating a visual identity. A contemporary brick frontage, informed by the original warehouse’s rhythmic structure, highlights key spaces through a balance of exposed and solid modules that reveal the activity within.

Designed to foster collaboration, the transformed interior space features an open, interconnected layout. A two-storey atrium marks the entry, offering a light-filled gathering area with views of the sky and surrounding district. It serves as a central hub where companies display their work, and Velocity alumni connect with and mentor current members.

At the heart of the Arena, “Velocity Main Street” functions as the central spine linking a wide range of resources that support product development, connection, and growth. Along this axis, flexible workspaces including co-working areas, meeting rooms, labs, and social zones, can be easily reconfigured to support ventures at every stage.

With a strong focus on equity, accessibility, and sustainability, the Innovation Arena aligns with the University of Waterloo’s Net Zero Building Guidelines and extends these values beyond the building, through accessible circulation, green links to the broader community, and a welcoming public realm.