INNISFIL WATER TREATMENT LOW LIFT BUILDING

INNISFIL WATER TREATMENT LOW LIFT BUILDING

Water filtration buildings, whose shoreline sites are usually determined by the pragmatics of their water purifying duties, are typically expressed as fortified, impenetrable boxes, void of any human interaction. At best, attempts are made to hide the buildings within communities by cladding them in materials extracted from the neighbourhood (brick, siding, stone, etc.) and capping them with imitation roofs. As a point of interest, in 18th century England, utilitarian buildings of various industrial functions began to be treated as “follies” and became charged with new architectural interest and purpose.

Folly (dictionary definition): A whimsical or extravagant structure built to serve as a conversation piece or lend interest to a view.

With this in mind, we began to look at how the expansion to the Innisfil water treatment low lift building could work with its site (Innisfil Beach Park), to simultaneously express its water purification function, but in the spirit of an 18th century folly.

The low lift building is positioned right at the entrance of Innisfil Beach Park, at the intersection of Innisfil Beach Road and Lakelands Avenue. Strategically, by expanding the low lift building to the south, we created a long western facade, whose length now participates in guiding visitors to the brick-clad park entrance pavilion. The new southern facade also performs a similar function, guiding pedestrians to an existing gravel pathway, while lending interest to the view of Lake Simcoe, to the east.

As an abstraction of water, the building’s facade becomes expressive of both its inherent clear/silver colour and a bubble-like texture. When combined, the two concepts result in facades which have arching glass block windows located at the building’s corners, allowing views of the building’s inner workings, all framed within a reflective chrome palette. These reflective facades make even greater connections to the setting, by reflecting everything around them, including the trees and lakefront, quietly reminding us that water is fundamentally part of all life. As such, the building’s architectural language is nothing less than a “conversation piece”, true to its 18th century inspiration, while functioning as a guide to its waterfront park setting.

LOCATION: Innisfil, Ontario

ARCHITECT: LINEVISION Architects + Ainley Group Engineers

DESIGN LEADERSHIP: Michael Poitras,
Principal-in-Charge

COMPETITION: Second Place

CLIENT: Town of Innisfil

STATISTICS:

  • No. of storeys: 1
  • Floor area:
    3,606 ft2 (335 m2)

MATERIALS:

  • Chrome finished vertical metal siding
  • Glass block
  • Round acrylic skylights
  • Silver curtain wall doors
  • Outdoor landscaping

GENERAL PROGRAM:

  • Expansion to existing low lift facility
  • Process tank
  • High level pumps
  • Water boosters
  • Screens
  • Blowers
  • Electrical room
  • Hypochlorite room

COST: Withheld

COMPLETION: Project