South Campus Community Ice Arena, University of Alberta
Collegiate Excellence
The South Campus Community Ice Arena (SCCIA) is designed as a place where varsity athletes, students, and Edmonton residents can train, play, and celebrate achievements together.
More than a home for varsity hockey, it is planned as an elite sports venue that supports connection, movement, and community pride. Strategically located on the University of Alberta’s South Campus, the arena links transit, pedestrian routes, and adjacent destinations like the Saville Sports Centre and Foote Field, ensuring it is visible, accessible, and part of everyday campus activity.
Inside, the arena is designed around how people move, gather, and experience sport. Separate circulation keeps athletes and spectators flowing smoothly, while a steep seating bowl keeps fans close to the ice, creating the intensity and energy Clare Drake Arena was known for. A lantern-like façade announces the arena across campus, and sustainable systems, combined with a phased construction plan, allow the University to meet immediate needs while planning for future growth, including a High-Performance Training and Research Centre to support varsity athletes and hockey performance research.
Although SCCIA is paused until funding is secured, its influence continues. The project has shaped a shared vision for the South Campus, guided municipal planning for recreation, and reinforced the University of Alberta’s commitment to varsity sport, research, and community connection. By combining thoughtful design, innovative partnerships, and support for elite and community hockey, SCCIA shows how a single facility can strengthen a campus and contribute to the broader hockey community for generations.
“GEC’s work was thorough, thoughtful and professional, and they brought current knowledge and experience in high-performance sport, recreation and community ice and spectator and event facilities… GEC’s work is always to the highest standard.”