(Kitchener, Canada) – Kitchener plans to install what the city calls Canada’s first multi-sport glass floor in the Cowan Recreation Centre’s quad gymnasium at RBJ Schlegel Park.

The city announced the project October 29. The centre opens November 14, but the floor is expected to be ready for use in early 2027. Visitors at the opening will be able to see technology that will sit beneath its panels.

Changing court lines with lights

The ASB GlassFloor system uses lighting beneath glass panels to display the markings required for different sports. Staff can change the lines instead of relying on multiple sets of permanent paint or tape.

Planned activities include basketball, volleyball, pickleball, badminton, futsal, floor hockey and wheelchair sports.

City points to maintenance benefits

Kitchener says the surface was selected partly because it avoids regular refinishing and resurfacing, reducing downtime and expanding programming options. Those are the city’s stated expectations; the announcement does not provide a purchase price or a detailed cost comparison.

Source

Lead image: Conceptual editorial illustration, not an architectural rendering of the planned centre.