Guided by the Living Building Challenge, The SOO Rec Center in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, is designed as a space for connection between people, programs, and place. Responding to the city’s relationship with water and its evolving needs.

Its form draws inspiration from the Native American longhouse, with a linear layout and sloped rooflines that optimize solar exposure and support rainwater collection. Though the building aligns with the surrounding city, it subtly tilts its gaze toward the St. Marys River, inviting visitors to reconnect with the natural rhythms of water and place. A double-skin façade wraps portions of the building, enabling passive ventilation, managing solar heat gain, and adding depth to the envelope, transforming climate responsiveness into architectural expression.

The structure is crafted from Michigan-sourced red pine CLT and mass timber, evoking the forests it came from. Steel is used strategically to expand space without excess, balancing strength with restraint and reducing the project’s environmental footprint.

Inside, the layout connects spaces, with generous interior glazing offering views across the gym, natatorium, café, and fitness rooms, fostering shared energy and transparency. More private zones: classrooms, care suites, and offices are tucked away for focus and support, maintaining a cohesive spatial dialogue.