The Customer
Rosseau Ridge is a 40-horse boarding and training operation in Muskoka. The prior outdoor arena was unusable for four months of winter and cost the operator client retention every February.
The Challenge
The site sits in one of Ontario's heaviest snow-load zones, and the operator required a fully-insulated envelope so the arena could hold 8-12°C through January with radiant heat. The build window was a single fall-to-winter cycle, before boarders returned in spring.
The Solution
An 80' × 200' × 22' MegaDome with 4" insulation package, translucent north-band skylight, LED perimeter lighting and a framed 400 sq ft viewing lounge on the west end wall. Foundation was concrete pier with a 30" curb wall for kick-protection.
Why MegaDome Was Selected
The clear-span geometry gave the arena a full 80' riding width with no columns. The insulated MegaDome envelope held heat far better than a comparable steel arena — and the translucent north-band skylight cut daytime lighting to near-zero.
Construction Process
Site prep in September, foundation October, frame raising early November, membrane and insulation late November, interior fit-out through December — commissioned before Christmas.
Foundation Construction
Concrete piers to 6' below grade (well below Muskoka frost line), 30" continuous curb wall poured monolithic, thickened footing under the viewing-lounge wall.
Installation
Arches raised in 10 working days using a single mobile crane; membrane tensioned and insulation package installed over the following two weeks. LED lighting and radiant tube heat commissioned in the final week.
Building Specifications
| Building dimensions | 80' W × 200' L × 22' H |
|---|---|
| Footprint | 16,000 sq ft clear-span |
| Snow load | 3.7 kPa Muskoka ground snow (OBC 2024) |
| Frame | Hot-dip galvanized steel arches |
| Insulation | 4" insulation package + translucent skylight |
| Heat | Radiant tube, natural-gas fed |
| Lighting | Perimeter LED, dimmable |
Project Results
- Arena operational through the coldest Muskoka winter on record
- Interior held 8-12°C on radiant heat alone
- Zero boarders lost between the prior winter and the following spring
- Daytime lighting cost reduced to effectively zero
- Delivered on schedule and inside the quoted budget
Customer Benefits
- Year-round riding regardless of Muskoka weather
- Insulated envelope keeps heating cost predictable
- 80' clear-span riding width — full working geometry
- Translucent skylight cuts daytime lighting
- Single accountable Building Depot contract
Project Gallery
"Boarders finally have a full-height, well-lit arena that we can ride in through the coldest weeks of January. Building Depot delivered exactly what they quoted."
Need a building like this?
Building Depot is Ontario's Authorized MegaDome Dealer. Engineering, permits, foundation and turnkey installation — one accountable contract.
