The Orillia Waterfront Centre is a significant community space in the picturesque Couchiching Lake park and marina. A popular amenity for the residents of Orillia and a thoroughfare for visiting boaters, the building boasts a CLT, glulam, and glass lounge offering scenic views along the water’s edge. The design-build project was a joint partnership between Brook McIlroy, Bradanick Construction, Steenhof Building Services, and CLT fabricators Element5.

The $1.9 million single-storey design features: administration offices, washrooms and showers, and a large community space. The building provides private services to boaters while also serving the general community as a space for weddings, meetings and events. The principal room overlooking the marina can be divided into two, more intimately sized spaces by means of large CLT pivot doors cut and assembled to reflect a naval flag patterning. While the products were primarily chosen for their aesthetic appeal, the glulam and CLT decking were erected in a single day, saving considerable time over traditional construction methods.

The Orillia Waterfront Centre serves as a beacon for the community and features a lightbox sitting atop the community lounge, drawing the public towards its warm wood interior. In the few summer months since its opening, the building quickly become a well-loved destination point for the visitors and residents of Orillia.