Rose Kohn and Jimmie Condon Arenas Rehabilitation
Inner City Ice
Built in 1968 and 1983, the Rose Kohn and Jimmie Condon Arenas had long served as a neighbourhood anchor—home to hockey practices at sunrise, figure skating lessons, and weekend tournaments. But after decades of steady use, the facilities were reaching the end of their life cycle.
The City of Calgary needed a renewal that honoured the arenas’ community legacy while bringing them up to modern standards for accessibility, energy efficiency, and user comfort—all without interrupting operations or exceeding budget.
GEC approached the project with a focus on clarity, collaboration, and respect for the existing buildings. The Jimmie Condon rink was expanded to NHL size with a new refrigerated slab, improved dasher boards, and additional spectator seating. Within the original footprint, we reconfigured the change rooms to provide universal access and contemporary amenities for both hockey and figure skating programs. An exterior expansion created a brighter, more welcoming lobby with better circulation and clearer wayfinding, while newly added meeting rooms—introduced late in design—quickly became a valuable community resource.<o:p></o:p>
Behind the scenes, upgraded mechanical, electrical, dehumidification, and refrigeration systems significantly improved energy performance. Close coordination with the City, user groups, and contractors allowed us to navigate hazardous materials, firewall issues, and review timelines without impacting schedule or cost.
Today, the renewed arenas offer an accessible, inclusive, and flexible environment that supports recreation, wellness, and community connection—strengthening the civic life of the neighbourhood for decades to come.
“The upgrades to Rose Kohn and Jimmie Condon arenas are a welcome improvement to a key community gathering place. Accessibility and capacity for spectators has been increased and amateur sport groups will find a new energy from the facility upgrades.”