Skip to content

MTE Consultants Acquires RIZZ Engineering, Strengthening Expertise in Structural Design and Precast Concrete

UW Innovation Arena
Education 

UW Innovation Arena

Partners

Diamond Schmitt Architects, RDH Building Science, Smith & Andersen Consulting Engineering

Project overview

The University of Waterloo’s Health Innovation Arena is a redevelopment project that aims to expand the University’s and Velocity’s footprint in downtown Kitchener. Located within the former Ontario Seed Warehouse, the existing building forms part of the University’s downtown campus, which also includes the School of Pharmacy and the Integrated Health Building.

The redevelopment will convert the original structure into an 80,000 ft²m modern facility designed to foster entrepreneurship, collaboration, and innovation in the health sciences. The Arena will feature flexible workspaces and shared facilities to encourage partnerships between researchers, founders, businesses, and community organizations. It will also become the new home for Velocity, the University’s renowned entrepreneurship program.

MTE's Involvement

The site redevelopment includes the modernization of the existing building, as well as the addition of landscaped areas, a loading dock, and expanded parking facilities. The Innovation Arena is part of the region’s growing health innovation corridor and is being funded by FedDev Ontario, the Government of Ontario, and the City of Kitchener.

MTE was retained to provide civil engineering services for this high-profile redevelopment. Our team was responsible for the site grading, servicing, and stormwater management design required to secure approval and support the construction of the building conversion.

Working in close collaboration with the broader design team, MTE developed detailed reports and engineering drawings that were submitted as part of the Site Plan Approval process through the City of Kitchener.

Our deliverables included:

  • Stormwater Management Study
  • Fire Flow Analysis
  • Pollution Prevention Plan
  • Site Grading and Servicing Plans

As part of our stormwater analysis, additional water quality controls were required to meet municipal standards. To address this, our team recommended and coordinated the installation of a municipal oil grit separator (OGS) unit downstream of the site, in addition to a hydrodynamic separator, to provide an enhanced level of stormwater treatment.

During construction, MTE continued to support the project by conducting site reviews, shop drawing reviews, and documentation of the civil works, ensuring the construction aligns with the approved design and regulatory requirements.