The MLSE Launchpad is a unique facility located in downtown Toronto. It is designed to combine sports with education, specifically aimed at delivering programming opportunities to children and youth in it’s surrounding communities. The center was built within an existing 45,000 SF space that had been vacant for over 20 years, within a large community housing development. The space was originally intended to house a roller rink but was discovered by MLSE as an opportunity to create a dynamic new program that emphasizes learning with the benefit of a tremendous sports program. The facility serves the large residential tenant population of the four non-profit housing cooperatives that share the buildings occupying a full city block.
The center's features include a multi-use gymnasium that contains a regulation NBA court with a sprung wood floor, three non-regulation basketball courts, a ball hockey court, a rock climbing wall, three multi-purpose classrooms, a community kitchen with cafeteria, a staff room, reception, change rooms, and offices with full-height glass walls that overlook the gymnasium.