Carmen Corbasson Community Centre Mississauga, New Ontario building photos, Modern Canadian real estate

Carmen Corbasson Community Centre in Mississauga

July 29, 2025

Architecture: Diamond Schmitt

Location: 1399 Cawthra Rd, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Photos by Scott Norsworthy

Carmen Corbasson Community Centre, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Carmen Corbasson Community Centre has officially opened the doors to its newly renovated and expanded recreation facility which introduces a mass timber natatorium, fitness centre, aerobics studio, and an expanded and welcoming lobby to the building’s existing arena and gymnasium complex.

Adding to a previous addition completed in 2000, Diamond Schmitt has designed the centre’s 45,000 sf expansion to create a seamless connection between the old and new through form and materiality. Nestled adjacent to a wooded area, the design takes advantage of its park-like setting to connect with the natural surroundings with a transparent volume that brings sunlight into the interior, creating a ‘Pavilion in the Forest’ where the community can connect—with one another through physical activity and with nature.

“Connecting with Cawthra Wood was the fundamental inspiration for this project. The solution was making a simple timber pavilion that allowed for an essential relation to the forest,” says Principal Jarle Lovlin.

Carmen Corbasson Community Centre sits directly adjacent to Cawthra Wood, home to a mature deciduous forest to the north and east and fronting Cawthra Road to the west. The original building organization is a staggered series of brick planes interrupted by moments of glazing to maximize views and light. Its position takes advantage of this relationship on the northwest side of the site with the gymnasium connecting directly to the forest to the north with double height glazing.

Along the east side of the building there was an expanse of blank façade adjacent Cawthra Wood which presented an opportunity to place the new natatorium and fitness programs within this zone, organized within a simple clear volume with uninterrupted transparency to the east.

Building on the established community centre’s sequence of forms, the overall massing of the new expansion is a two-storey rectangular prism. Highly visible from Cawthra Road, the design features a glazed opening at the southwest corner that invites patrons in. The horizontality of the building’s composition is reinforced through a terracotta panel cladding system, which is strengthened by a similar ceramic frit pattern for the natatorium glazing. Wrapping around the corner to the east, this pattern provides protection from solar gain and glare to the water surface within. This glazing and frit pattern also extends across the main entry, providing solar shading while reinforcing the horizontal expression of the new addition and its connection with the original building.

One enters the building through a new glazed vestibule and is welcomed by a large double-height lobby illuminated from the south. Immediately from the lobby, patrons have views into the arena ahead, aquatics and fitness areas to the right, or the gym to the left, with new glazed openings creating clear and intuitive wayfinding throughout.

Above, the existing second storey path has been opened to overlook the main volume and extends east alongside the new block towards and aerobics studio and fitness room. Overlooking the lobby space and outward to the south, the aerobics studio is wrapped in a band of translucent glass that animates the area with activity.

Creating continuity between old and new, the timber structure of the original lobby roof has been replicated and extended to link the renewed lobby towards the natatorium to the east—the terminus being a double height window that offers views to the pool and park beyond. This east-west axis is the central circulation spine of the facility and provides a vital link between the new block and the gymnasium and multipurpose rooms to the west.

Maintained as an interconnected two-storey space with linear openings along its length, and a continuous skylight along the arena side, the path provides the building’s core with access to daylighting and views into the program spaces, creating a sense of openness and transparency. Several viewing areas to the arena have been provided along the east west axis, with large vertical openings extending to the second floor, allowing views to the ice surface from both the main floor and upper floor connection.

Designed as broad open spaces, the fitness room and aerobics studio have open plans that accommodate a full range of activities. The mass timber structure of the fitness room features direct views to the pool to the west, establishing a visual connection to the natatorium. Windows to the east west corridor provide connection to other areas, encouring patrons to take part in other programs. Located to the west of the fitness room is the aerobics studio. Featuring floor to ceiling glazing that allows natural light to flood the interior and a mass timber ceiling that brings warmth into the room, it is a space not only catered to physical, but mental well being as well.

At the heart of the renovation and expansion is the natatorium. Composed as a simple rectangular volume, it is defined by a mass timber structure which provides a warm yet light order within the space. Glulam columns placed at regular intervals along the east façade support glulam beams stretching east to west across the width of the room. A cross laminated timber roof deck sits atop these beams, providing a variegated surface that aids in diffusing the acoustic resonance of the space. The surrounding glazing reflects the regularity of the structure, with mullions spaced at 1.5-meter increments. Clear glazing along the lower portion of the space at water level make the relationship with the adjacent forest clear, while also allowing passersby a glimpse at the activity within. It is surmounted by a more translucent level of diffuse glazing, which in cooperation with the exterior ceramic frit and operable blinds, protects the room from direct sun to the south and west as well as glare.

Responding to the growing contemporary needs of the neighbourhood, the renovation and expansion of the Carmen Corbasson Community Centre provides a more comprehensive and accessible space that revitalizes its presence within the community. Drawing on its proximity to nature, the use of mass timber in a simple pavilion- like form strengthens a relationship with the surrounding natural environment, and demonstrates the positive effects of natural materials on health and wellness.

The renovation and expansion of Carmen Corbasson Community Centre upgrades the existing structure and adds 45,000 square feet of new recreation space.

While fronting Cawthra Road to the west, the project sits directly adjacent to Cawthra Wood—home to a deep stand of mature forest—to the north and east. The existing building is connected to the forest to the north with glazing, however the east side of the building had a long expanse of blank façade. This zone presented an opportunity to place the new aquatics facility and fitness components, providing a simple clear volume with uninterrupted transparency to the greenspace to the east. The idea was simple, to build a pavilion in the forest.

Mass timber was chosen for the new addition for its beauty and durability. The biophilic properties of wood, its warmth and the subconscious effects of natural materials on users of the facility, were critical to the design choices, while also respecting the materiality of the existing facility—creating a seamless connection between old and new.

The design is organized around a central spine that provides a vital link between the new block and original programs with glazed openings along the path that provide daylighting and views into the various spaces, creating a sense of openness and transparency.

Carmen Corbasson Community Centre in Ontario, Canada – Building Information

Design: Diamond Schmitt – https://dsai.ca/

Location: 1399 Cawthra Rd, Mississauga, ON L5J 4L1
Opening Date: May 12, 2025
Total Square Feet: 43,000 sf

Space Breakdown
The building is 45,000 square feet, and includes:
10,800 square feet, natatorium
5,600 square feet, fitness centre
2,600 square feet, aerobics studio
6,380 square feet of lobby space
4,200 square feet of universal changing rooms

Total Project Cost: $52 Million
Cost Per Square Foot: $1,210 (construction only)

Features and Amenities
The indoor aquatic centre is a Douglas fir long-span glulam and cross-laminated timber structure that features a 25m x 3m deep lap pool, therapy pool, and ancillary spaces
Club-format, equipment-based fitness centre and aerobics studio, including an indoor walking track and full-size gymnasium
Shared community facilities with large welcoming lobby, and viewing areas into various programmatic spaces
Large universal changing room

Building Materials
Structure: [mass timber, glulam, steel]
Exterior: [mass timber, masonry, terracotta, curtain wall glazing with custom frit pattern]
Interior: [cross laminated timber, masonry]

Certifications: LEED level, additional certifications (if applicable)

Project Team
Greg Colucci (Principal, Design Architect)
Jarle Lovin (Principal in Charge, Design Architect)
Ashraf Hanna (Contract Administrator)
Joe Troppmann (Senior Associate)
Euan Cox (Architect)
Peter Kirby (Architect)
Melina Davari (Interiors)

Building Partners
City of Mississauga – Client
Aquicon Construction Co. Ltd. – Construction
Moses Structural Engineering – Structural Engineer
Husson – Civil Engineer
Crossey Engineering Ltd. – Mechanical and Electrical Engineer
PMA Landscape Architects – Landscape Architect
Salas O’Brien – Lighting Consultant
Novita Techne Limited – Audio/Visual Consultant
CEL Gruenn – Sustainability
RJC – Building Envelope

About Diamond Schmitt

Diamond Schmitt is a global architecture firm that designs transformative, purpose-driven, and highly sustainable buildings across sectors. Delivering innovative architecture that empowers people, communities, and organizations to harness change for the greater public good, Diamond Schmitt employs a collaborative process to create bold designs renowned for their exceptional performance and meticulous craftsmanship.

This Canadian architectural firm has designed unique recreation and community spaces—including the Cor Van Raay YMCA in Lethbridge, Daniels Spectrum in Toronto, Marlene Meyerson JCC in Manhattan, and the Oakville Trafalgar Community Centre. Current projects include Marpole Community Centre in Vancouver, Cameron Community Centre and Library in Burnaby, the redevelopment of Parkinson Recreation Centre in Kelowna—all known for their community-focused versatility of space, amenities and striking design. Diamond Schmitt has offices in Toronto, Vancouver, and New York.

Photography: Scott Norsworthy

Carmen Corbasson Community Centre, Mississauga, Ontario images / information received 180725

Location: Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, North America.