Lake Superior Administration and Visitor Centre

Parks Canada is taking an environmental leadership role in the design and construction of the Lake Superior Administration and Visitor Centre in the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area located in Nipigon, ON. The Centre will be Parks Canada’s first project to seek Passive House Plus certification under the International Passive House Standard. This net zero carbon project aligns to commitments in the Greening Government Strategy to net zero emissions by 2050.

As the Prime Consultant, NORR designed a structure that will engage visitors by highlighting the essence of the surround area and the importance of Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area by integrating the diverse aspects of the area, including waterways, unique marine life, trails and elements of cultural significance to Indigenous Peoples.  The building seamlessly connects the exterior landscape amenities with the interior interpretive amenities. Substantial focus was given to creating a user centric design that promotes a sense of inclusivity and accessibility, supporting an understanding of the local context.

Creating a strong culture of collaboration amongst the entire project team helped to achieve the stringent requirements of the Passive House Plus design and Construction and Certification Standard. The prefabricated wood components, including the building envelope, structural systems and torrefied wood cladding, demonstrate the commitment to a “Wood First Approach” that helps in the reduction of overall embodied carbon. The covered walkway that wraps around building provides an expressive element that shrouds what is a very compact building form making the facility very efficient to heat and cool.

This innovative and novel approach to Passive House Plus design has a very low window-to-wall ratio of 15% helping to control heat gain/loss. The building will be constructed, using sustainable practices such as superior thermal storage due to its super-insulated envelope, optimized site orientation, sustainable material selection, and on-site energy generation. By harnessing renewable energy sources, the Administration and Visitor Centre will meet its own energy needs while also reducing long term energy costs.