Unity in Motion: Spring 2025 Milestones
Unity in Motion: Spring 2025 Project Milestones
Designing for Human Connection at the Shaw Festival
At the end of May, the Unity team joined the Shaw Festival’s Opening Weekend, an annual celebration that this year marked something more: the public launch of All.Together.Now., a bold $150-million campaign to reimagine The Shaw as a creative campus rooted in connection, creativity, and lifelong learning.
It’s an ambitious and inspiring vision. One that places theatre at the heart of something deeper: a movement for real human connection.
Unity Design Studio is proud to be playing a central role in shaping this transformation. We’re leading the design of two foundational projects:
The new Royal George Theatre, a complete reimagining of the beloved 110-year-old venue in downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake. Once completed, it will be the first carbon-neutral theatre in North America, preserving its historic character while offering world-class performance amenities and fully accessible, inclusive spaces for audiences and performers alike.
The Shaw Artists’ Village, a dynamic multi-building redevelopment that will house studios, performance spaces, classrooms, wardrobe facilities, and seasonal artist accommodations. At its heart will be the Burton Centre for Lifelong Creativity, a welcoming and inclusive hub designed to spark imagination and reduce isolation across generations, supporting artists, students, teachers, seniors, and community members alike.
During Opening Weekend, Design Principal Michael Gallant and Senior Project Lead Meika McCunn led behind-the-scenes tours of the Artists’ Village, offering donors and supporters a first-hand look at the project’s progress. The feedback was incredibly positive, and the momentum behind the campaign is undeniable: more than $110 million has already been raised toward the $150-million goal.
We’re honoured to contribute to a project that celebrates the power of art to bring people together, and proud to support The Shaw as it builds a more connected, creative future.
Raising the Final Beam at the Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex
On June 16, the final steel beam was hoisted into place at the Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex, a defining moment in the life of this landmark civic project.
Before it rose into position, our team joined City staff, builders, and partners to sign the beam, leaving behind names, messages, and a shared sense of pride. It was a meaningful pause in the pace of construction, and a tribute to the collective effort that has brought the project this far.
Delivered using an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) model, this project has brought designers, builders, and stakeholders together from day one. Today’s milestone is a testament to that collaboration.
Spanning 189,600 square feet, the facility will feature a competition-grade aquatic centre, elevated FIFA-sized turf field, indoor track, cricket batting cage, multipurpose community spaces, and a future-ready quad gymnasium. Designed for inclusivity, flexibility, and intergenerational use, it’s expected to welcome more than 380,000 visitors annually.
But its impact reaches beyond recreation. With a geothermal heating and cooling system, rooftop solar, and a high-performance envelope, the complex is on track to become the first in Kitchener to achieve Zero Carbon Building – Design certification under CaGBC’s ZCB Standard v3.
This milestone reminds us what’s possible when civic infrastructure is built not just for today, but for generations to come.
Brock Community Health Centre: A Long-Awaited Opening
On June 20, the Brock Community Health Centre officially opened its doors in downtown Cannington. Unity has been part of this project’s journey since 2009, working closely with the Brock CHC team to bring their vision for dignified, community-focused care to life. The new 19,000-square-foot facility includes expanded clinic space, dental suites, a teaching kitchen, physiotherapy and foot care services, and a dedicated multipurpose room for fitness and education. It’s a milestone shaped by deep collaboration, shared purpose, and a commitment to serving rural health needs with compassion and care.
LOFT Bradford House: Building Upward for Seniors’ Care
The superstructure is now complete at Bradford House, marking a major milestone for LOFT Community Services and the residents they serve. Once complete, the new 99-unit residence will offer accessible, supportive housing for older adults facing complex health challenges in York Region and Simcoe County. Unity’s design centres dignity and independence, with private units, barrier-free features, and integrated care spaces throughout. This expansion will double LOFT’s current capacity—helping more seniors live safely, comfortably, and with the support they deserve.
Georgian Triangle Humane Society: Construction on the Horizon
This summer, construction begins on the Georgian Triangle Humane Society’s new Regional Centre for Pets and People. Designed by Unity and built in partnership with Bertram Construction, the 19,000-square-foot facility will more than triple shelter capacity and enable the GTHS to provide crisis support, youth programming, and affordable veterinary care at a dramatically expanded scale. From the earliest design stages, the goal was clear: create a space that reflects the deep bond between animals and people. We’re proud to support GTHS’s next chapter in compassionate, community-driven care.
Peterborough Fire Station No. 2: A Net-Zero Milestone
Peterborough Fire Station No. 2 is now fully powered by its rooftop solar array—a 96-kilowatt system that brings the facility one step closer to its net-zero energy, net-zero carbon goals. Combined with geothermal heating and cooling, the system is expected to reduce energy costs from $25,000 to nearly zero. Completed in Fall 2024, the mass timber facility sets a new standard for sustainable emergency infrastructure. It’s a resilient, high-performance space designed to support first responders, reduce emissions, and lead by example in civic climate action.