Architect : MJMA Architecture & Design | Toronto, Ont.
Total Construction Cost : $45.3M (Canadian)
Square Feet : 117,000
Occupancy : December 2023
Project Description:
The Wasaga Beach Arena and Public Library is located on the southern end of Georgian Bay. The building brief called for a twin-pad arena, a 200-seat community arena with an elevated fitness track, and a 1,000-seat multipurpose arena suitable for ice hockey, figure skating training, concerts and trade shows. A 4,187-square-foot community hall with a full-service kitchen and landscaped exterior terrace was added to the program to accommodate community-sponsored events and rentals. A new 22,604-square-foot central library features dedicated areas for digital labs, music and film recording, and children’s and youth zones.
The building was built on a strict budget, necessitating a rational steel structure, economical exterior materials and a compact Cartesian plan. Strategies included the use of building orientation to shelter entrances from prevailing winter winds, deep window recesses to reduce solar heat gain in library reading areas and a highly efficient window-to-wall ratio.
A complete environmental graphics program was developed for the project, including exterior and interior signage, directories, room identification and donor recognition. A bespoke suite of pictograms was developed that references the popular local outdoor activities of hiking, paddling and hockey.