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Civil Engineering for Community Recreation & Aquatic Facilities

For more than four decades, Ontario municipalities and their architects have trusted EMC Group with the sites beneath their community centres, aquatic centres, arenas and sports parks.

45
Years of practice
150+
Projects across Ontario
30+
Recreation & aquatic facilities
5
Award magazine features

The civil engineer behind Ontario’s community recreation buildings

Community recreation facilities are among the most demanding sites a municipality builds: large roofs and parking fields that concentrate stormwater, aquatic programs with heavy water and sanitary loads, sports fields that must drain, and public expectations for sustainable, LEED-calibre design — all delivered through municipal approvals on a public timeline and budget.

EMC Group has engineered more than thirty of these facilities, from the Audley Recreation Centre in Ajax to the new South End Community Centre in Guelph. Much of that work has been in long-standing collaboration with MJMA Architecture & Design — the studio behind many of Canada’s most celebrated recreation buildings — alongside other leading architects, and with municipal clients across the Greater Toronto Area, Simcoe County, Muskoka and southwestern Ontario. The result is a firm that understands what these buildings demand of their sites before the first drawing is issued.

What we bring to a recreation project

Site engineering scoped to the realities of community facilities — from early feasibility through construction completion.

Stormwater & Low Impact Development

Quantity and quality control for large roofs and parking fields — bio-filters, infiltration galleries, rainwater reuse and treatment trains, including fully infiltration-dependent sites with no storm outlet.

Servicing for Aquatic & Arena Programs

Water, sanitary and storm servicing sized for pools, ice plants and high-occupancy uses, coordinated with regional capacity and municipal standards.

Grading, Parking & Fire Access

Site grading, accessible parking, drop-off loops, fire routes and pedestrian connections that integrate the building with its park setting.

Sports Fields, Courts & Park Infrastructure

Drainage and servicing for artificial turf and natural fields, courts, splash pads, trails and outdoor program areas — from sports parks to a Pan Am Games BMX track.

Approvals & Sustainability Support

Site plan engineering submissions, Environmental Compliance Approvals, conservation authority coordination and the civil contributions that help facilities achieve LEED certification.

Construction Administration

Tender support, field review, shop drawing and progress payment review, and certification of the civil works through to assumption.

Flagship recreation projects

Four facilities that define the practice — each profiled in Award magazine.

More recreation & aquatic work

Community centres, aquatic additions, arenas, stadiums and sports parks across Ontario.

Browse all recreation projects

Recognition

Independent recognition of the facilities EMC has helped deliver.

Governor General’s Medal in Architecture, 2024

Churchill Meadows Community Centre and Sports Park — Canada’s highest honour for built architecture.

Award magazine project profiles

Audley Recreation Centre (2013), Churchill Meadows (2021), Muskoka Lumber Community Centre (2024), South End Community Centre and the University of Toronto Academic Wood Tower (2026).

PRO Award of Excellence, 2025

Muskoka Lumber Community Centre — Parks and Recreation Ontario award for facility design.

Athletic Business Facilities of Merit

Audley Recreation Centre, Atlas Tube Centre, Sherwood Community Centre and the University of Guelph athletics facilities.

Planning a community recreation facility?

Bring EMC in at feasibility. Early site engineering shapes the layout, the approvals path and the budget.

Contact EMC Group