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The Ashmun Link

Nolan Barrios

The Ashmun Link Sports Facility serves as a connective hub for the vibrant winter sports culture of Sault Ste. Marie. Situated on Ashmun Bay, where winter sports converge, the facility acts as a “link” between these seasonal activities and the built environment. The design emphasizes movement and crossing, both conceptually and physically. A snowmobile route cuts directly through the center of the complex, reinforcing the dynamic relationship between architecture and winter mobility. This passage not only divides the facility into two distinct programs, ice sports and indoor recreation, but also unites them through a shared circulation with framed views. Constructed primarily from mass timber, the building is rooted in the natural context of Ashmun Bay. The material creates a warm, tactile interior that contrasts the cold, snowy climate of the Upper Peninsula, offering users a cozy yet open refuge. Channel glass is used along the facade to evoke the appearance of the frozen bay, blurring the boundary between landscape and structure. The Ashmun Link is an inclusive, year-round facility designed for all users, from athletes and snowmobilers to families and spectators, inviting everyone to experience the winter landscape and unique spirit of sport in Northern Michigan.

Major

BSc Architecture

Department

Architecture

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