The Wind That Fills Sails
The Centre
2011
“This was a hard one, so many factors come to bear on any one project: offroad planning maneuvers, tight budgets, a lot of planning committees. I almost got fired a couple times. But in spite of all of that we were still able to achieve something that is very fashion forward for Orangeville, and everyone was happy about that. That’s a balance that’s very hard to strike, in my life I’d like to do it really well once. I’ve gotten better over time but I’m not there yet. Just gotta keep working at it.”
The Centre opened its doors in February 2011, situated within a residential area on the North side of Orangeville, Ontario. The building is multifunctional, featuring an operating café, community centre, and church. SGA worked with many committees in the planning of the space, as well as long hours with city planners to marry the activities of the building with the serenity of the surrounding wetlands conservation area.
pure, meditative, and reflective
The space is devoid of extravagant detail: pure, meditative, and reflective in purpose. Large areas of glazing invite light, openness, and transparency.
The property slopes down from the street allowing for a pedestrian-scaled facade, respectfully facing its residential neighbours. The back of the community centre opens up a full two-storeys to the wetlands. Entering at the building, you are met with the cafe and multipurpose rooms. The open, single-storey space is bisected with a fluid wall element, delineating the staircase and then curving upwards to form a sail-like structure on the building’s exterior. Taking the stark white staircase down is a spiritual ceremony, the proverbial device to transition you to the main space for religious mass. There the tranquility of the wetlands is showcased with floor to ceiling windows: a perfect backdrop to the sacred activities taking place within.
The building has a ship-like quality to it, from the ‘prow’ on one end up to the ‘sail’ on the roof. Playing on religious motifs, the building’s nautical form also embodies the interaction and programming of the church with the surrounding community. In a way, a community works much like a ship, with everyone playing the roles of a crew for the greater benefit of society.