The City of Cambridge in southwest Ontario is nearing completion of a major expansion to one of its most historically significant recreation assets. The Preston Memorial Auditorium Upgrades project represents both a strategic investment in modern recreation infrastructure and a commitment to preserving a building that has anchored community sport for generations. Shane Taylor, Manager of Recreation - Placemaking Capital Projects, oversees the work. He describes the project as a substantial transformation of a well-used legacy facility. “The project scope consists of the extensive renovation of a 37,000 sq ft single pad arena, originally built in 1972, and expanding by 40,000 sq ft to a 77,000 sq ft twin pad arena,” he explains. “In addition to the two rinks, the arena also has multi-purpose community rooms, a banquet hall, 12 bookable team change rooms, 3 referee rooms, a dedicated team dressing room, office spaces and storage spaces for City staff and several user groups.” The expansion aligns with Cambridge’s broader municipal strategy to renew aging recreation assets, consolidate services, and increase program capacity. As Taylor notes, “This project is part of a broader strategy to replace older and less energyefficient facilities, to combine uses into multifunctional recreation buildings, and to improve the sports and recreation infrastructure in Cambridge overall.” The twin-pad project is tied to a larger $165 (Photo Credit: Architects Tillmann Ruth Robinson) 66 JAN 2026 | BUSINESS ELITE CANADA
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