LeBreton Flats Master Plan and Arena Concept

This competitive proposal envisions a bold transformation of the historically significant LeBreton Flats, a 47-acre site in downtown Ottawa, into a vibrant, mixed-use community anchored by a new arena for the Ottawa Senators. ROSSETTI led a multidisciplinary team of over ten firms to craft this ambitious plan, aiming to revive a once-thriving district devastated by fire and decades of neglect. Positioned near the Chaudière Falls and Parliament Buildings, the site’s rich industrial heritage and central location offer a unique opportunity to blend cultural history with forward-thinking urban design. The $3.5 billion master plan reimagines the Flats as a sustainable, transit-oriented hub, fostering economic growth, environmental stewardship, and social inclusion while adhering to guiding principles of heritage, vibrancy, ecology, and connectivity.

The master plan integrates key elements such as a reintroduced street grid, mixed-use zoning, and preserved heritage features like the aqueduct and roundhouse-inspired architecture. These elements create a compact, pedestrian-friendly community with varied building heights, active streetscapes, and a seamless blend of modern and historic influences. Connectivity plays a central role, with the site positioned at the nexus of Ottawa’s light rail transit system, enabling convenient access for residents and visitors alike. Ground-floor retail and public spaces energize key corridors, while upper levels feature a mix of residential and commercial uses. Public plazas, parks, and pathways enhance the urban fabric, linking LeBreton Flats to nearby cultural and natural landmarks and creating a dynamic and inviting public realm.

At the heart of the development is a new multi-functional hockey arena for the Ottawa Senators, designed as both a world-class sports venue and a flexible space for concerts and community events. The arena anchors the central plaza and draws design inspiration from Ottawa’s escarpment topography, civic architecture, and industrial heritage. Its sloped facade features vertical metallic colonnades and glazing that echo the rhythms of nearby historic structures, while horizontal wooden textures reference the patterns of stacked lumber from the site’s past. Transparency is a key theme, with extensive glass promoting visual and physical connections between the arena’s interior and the surrounding public spaces. This approach ensures the arena integrates seamlessly into the urban fabric, creating an accessible and vibrant focal point for the community.

The redevelopment of LeBreton Flats represents an extraordinary opportunity to create a thriving and inclusive urban hub that honors Ottawa’s rich history while embracing its future. By combining innovative design with cultural heritage, this visionary plan transforms underutilized land into a sustainable, transit-oriented district anchored by world-class architecture. Positioned as a model for urban revitalization, LeBreton Flats will strengthen Ottawa’s identity as a dynamic capital city, offering residents and visitors a vibrant, connected, and forward-looking community.