Sudbury unveils what its new $200M events centre will look like

Greater Sudbury has released the architectural drawings for its new $200 million events centre as it officially launched the start of construction.

At a ceremony Tuesday morning, Greater Sudbury unveiled architectural drawings of the new $200 million events centre to be built downtown.

The event brought the city another step closer to the project coming to fruition.

Mayor Paul Lefebvre unveiled two large boards showing the events centre from two different angles.

“It’s inspiring, certainly, the way that it was designed in consultation with a lot of different groups,” Lefebvre said, adding that local First Nations, business groups and accessibility advocates gave input.

The schematics were created by BBB Architects from Toronto, which specializes in designing large multi-use buildings, including similar facilities in other cities in the Ontario Hockey League.

Unique design

“It’s a very unique design. I think this one is a lot more open and transparent than past projects,” said lead architect Chris O’Reilly.

O’Reilly said that, given the feedback from focus groups, the building will use materials that reflect the natural surroundings and the local history of industry. As well, Indigenous influences include integrating curves (no hard edges) into the building.

“The way that the glass concourse wraps around on Brady Street and Minto,” he said.

“It’s kind of a two-sided design because people are coming from different locations in your downtown, depending on where they park or whether they might go for dinner in the little restaurant district around the corner here.”

“I think it’s a really modern building that basically has all the parameters to host major events because that’s what it’s all about,” Lefebvre said.

“It’s about economic development and community coming together. We’re very happy with the design.”

Maximum capacity for a concert will be 7,200; 6,200 for a basketball game; and 5,800 for a hockey game.

There will also be a ceremonial entrance off Shaughnessy Street for Indigenous events like powwows, where it’s important to enter where the sun rises in the east.

News of the project has generated buzz downtown.

“We’re seeing developers willing to invest in the downtown,” said Jeff MacIntyre, executive director of Downtown Sudbury.

“They’re seeing the city put their money where their mouth is and showing that belief in the success of downtown. Those are dividends that will pay for the entire city.”

The city chose PCL Construction as the construction manager for the event centre.

Site preparation will begin in October, with major construction set to start early in 2026. The hope is that the events centre will open in 2028.