Wasaga Beach Arena and Library

Situated two hours north of Toronto, the town of Wasaga Beach is home to the world’s longest continuous freshwater beach and a storied community that draws locals and tourists alike. While the town has continued to grow and its natural attractions have accommodated increasing demand, MJMA’s state-of-the-art complex added to its civic recreational facilities for the first time in decades — providing not just new amenities but also a place for all residents to come together.

The facility features twin-pad arenas, a new public library (with digital labs, meeting rooms, a children’s zone, and outdoor reading garden), and a spacious, dividable community hall with a full-service kitchen and landscaped terrace that can operate autonomously. Visibility and fluid access between program spaces and from inside-to-out was a guiding design principle. This includes the mezzanine-level walking track circumventing the community arena and offering views to the latter and the lobby as well as access to community offices and a large multipurpose room; these in turn overlook the event arena. The new greenspaces surrounding the facility provide shaded places to rest and gather, including a feature pond that also manages stormwater.