Rogers Centre Ottawa
The Rogers Centre Ottawa, formerly known as the Shaw Centre and Ottawa Convention Centre, is a premier event and convention facility located in downtown Ottawa overlooking the Rideau Canal. Opened in April 2011 and renamed in October 2024 following Rogers Communications’ acquisition of Shaw, the centre features a striking curved glass façade and over 365,000 sq ft of space across four levels.
The architectural design features a prominent steel-framed structure, fabricated by Walters Group, which is known for its sail-like curved glass façade, providing sweeping views of the Rideau Canal and downtown Ottawa. The building’s design emphasizes openness and light, with four stacked levels of flexible event spaces illuminated by natural light through its transparent exterior. Its steel frame supports the expansive interior volumes and allows for column-free halls like Canada Hall. Seamlessly integrated into the urban fabric with direct access to the Westin Hotel and Rideau Centre, the Centre also incorporates sustainable features such as rainwater harvesting and recycled materials, earning it LEED Gold certification.
Walters Group provided Design Assist, Connection Design (Seismic), detailing, fabrication and installation of the convention centre superstructure including iconic design and AESS elements.
An innovative approach was adopted early on to harvest the existing trusses from the old structure and incorporate them into the new building – a very successful example of “reduce, re-use, recycle” on a project.