The
Design

The site, on the shores of Lake Superior, is located in one of the most dramatic parks in Ontario. R&P reduced the impact on the site by ‘floating’ the building on piers and providing a series of three carefully located and linked pavilions, each with a different character, but utilizing similar natural materials. Visitors enter via a bridge to a grand lobby with columns splaying upwards to support a floating roof and glazed lobby. Connecting passageways with floor-to-ceiling glass bays open the view to the forest. As the visitor travels further into the building and discovers its exhibits, the expansive views of the Lake dramatically reveal themselves. The discovery-based exhibits are positioned to take advantage of the spectacular panorama view of the Lake.

The ‘Power of the Lake’ is the underlying theme for the Centre, offering visitors the chance to explore the dynamic relationships between environmental sustainability and natural, cultural, and First Nations heritage. A highlight is the exhibit introduction where visitors are immersed in dramatic video footage of a raging winter scene, a time of year when the water is most powerful, in contrast to the calm summer waters seen by most visitors.