Toronto Tempo Performance Centre

Canada’s first WNBA team, the Toronto Tempo, needs a dedicated training facility that supports elite athlete development while expanding community access to basketball. Designed by HOK in partnership with the Tempo and the City of Toronto, the 79,070-sq.-ft. performance center at Exhibition Place will combine high-performance training with year-round community use. Scheduled to open in 2028, it will be just steps from Coca-Cola Coliseum, the team’s home arena.

Design Solutions

The design for the performance center follows five principles: female athlete-first design, inclusive access, civic engagement, sustainability and future adaptability. HOK’s Women in Sport initiative helped inform the center’s design to support and prioritize the needs of elite female athletes including training, recovery, and equity at the highest levels of competition.

The building’s organization responds to the complexities of a dense urban site while balancing professional team operations with meaningful community use. Public-facing programs at ground level and carefully positioned athlete spaces allow community access while maintaining the privacy, security and operational efficiency needed for team activities.

Two WNBA regulation courts anchor the training environment. Closely connected strength and conditioning, sports medicine and rehabilitation spaces will support athletes throughout their daily routines. Hydrotherapy pools, a sauna, a wellness consultation room and advanced recovery areas will provide dedicated resources for treatment and recovery.

The locker room balances individual privacy with team connection. Each player will have an individual shower and changing area, complemented by salon and vanity spaces and a mother’s room. Player lounges, fuel bars and a dining area will support nutrition, recovery and informal interaction. A fully equipped theater for film study and conference rooms will provide dedicated settings for team development.

Basketball operations and business offices will bring the athletic and corporate sides of the organization together under one roof. Clear organization and connected spaces are intended to support efficient daily operations and collaboration.

Community members will have year-round access to courts, training areas and amenities used by the Tempo during the WNBA season. In collaboration with the City of Toronto and grassroots partners, the Tempo will offer development programming designed to expand access to basketball and create pathways for athletes at different levels.

Impact

The Toronto Tempo Performance Centre is designed to give Canada’s first WNBA team a dedicated environment for training, recovery, nutrition and team development while extending access to basketball in Toronto.

By pairing professional basketball infrastructure with community programming and year-round access, the project aims to strengthen athlete development, support women’s professional sport in Canada and contribute to the broader basketball ecosystem.