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 different character, but utilizing similar natural materials. Visitors enter via a bridge to a grand lobby with columns splaying upwards to a visually floating roof. Projecting passages with floor to ceiling glass bays open the view to the natural forest. As the visitor travels further into the building and discovers its exhibits, the expansive views of the lake dramatically reveal themselves.

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 aboriginal heritage. A highlight of the experience is the exhibit introduction where visitors are immersed in dramatic footage of a raging winter scene, a time of year when the water is most powerful, in contrast to the calm summer waters.

The discovery-type exhibits show how Lake Superior influences the landscapes, plants, animals, and people of its northeast coast. Visitors are introduced to half a dozen actual places in the Park, all with very different natural and human histories. Both innovative and traditional exhibit media engage visitors, and the discovery-based exhibits are positioned to take advantage of the spectacular panorama view of the lake. The parting message instilled in visitors is the idea that at some level, they are also custodians of the park.