Muskoka Lumber Community Centre and Bracebridge Library

Bracebridge, Ontario

Single-Pad Arena (1000 Spectator Seats), Concession, Field House, Indoor Track, Sports Hall of Fame, Multipurpose Rooms, Branch Library, Community Hall, Community Kitchen, Multi-Use Trails, Playground
Structural: Blackwell
Mechanical / Electrical: Smith + Andersen
Civil: EMC
Landscape: MJMA
2025 Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD) Global Design Award: Merit Award (Wayfinding)
2025 Parks & Recreation Ontario (PRO): Award of Excellence in Design
2025 Ontario Library Association (OLA): New Library Building Award

The Muskoka Lumber Community Centre is located in the heart of the storied ‘cottage country’ region of Muskoka, Ontario. The project in part replaced two separate stalwart but outgrown facilities, a 70-year-old arena and a 1908 Carnegie Library. Co-locating the new arena and library with other amenities enabled the Town of Bracebridge to take advantage of capital costs and operational efficiencies, while also creating a vibrant gathering place for the region’s growing and diversifying population.

Extensive consultation revealed the client and community desired a ‘Muskoka Look and Spirit’ in the design: our approach paid particular attention to the materiality of the facility’s exterior and interior as well as the close integration of the architecture with experiential graphics and landscape design.

The siting of the complex — straddling the rugged Canadian Shield landscape and the urban fabric of the town — presented the opportunity to make it a defining landmark for the region.

The facility’s Landscape Architecture mediates between the building and views into the varied surrounding terrain. It includes richly planted social spaces adjacent to the building and leading into the lobby.

During community engagement, the design team learned about organizations like a quilter’s guild who used the former arena for an artisans bazaar. This inspired the design of the building’s entry facade that doubles as a monument sign.

Locally sourced and worked materials, including granite and timber are featured throughout. For instance, white oak clads key elements of the lobby, such as the reception and Hall of Fame.

The lobby is a unifying ‘social heart’ that offers views and direct access to the primary program elements — the arena, field house, library, and community hall.

Seasonal shifts in forest colour and Muskoka Lake hues inspired the interior colour palette. A local tradition of cottage country signage is borrowed for wayfinding. The Experiential Graphics program is integrated throughout all signage, graphics, arena seat patterns, and field house court configuration floor markings.