The Fisher Field Clubhouse augments the inclusivity, accessibility, and engagement of Collingwood’s sports infrastructure. Standing at a prominent threshold between the Town of Collingwood and the Blue Mountains, the Clubhouse blends local rural aesthetics and contemporary design in a community hub that is at once inviting and enduringly functional.
All-gender washrooms and changerooms exceed the barrier-free accessibility regulations so that the diverse forms of being and movement that animate this community are embraced in the space. The Clubhouse links to the fields by way of a new versatile social landscape, including an eating area and flexible path that accommodates food trucks and small events; this design move strengthens the inclusivity of Collingwood’s formal recreational offerings by extending it for informal enjoyment by the public.
The Clubhouse promotes Collingwood’s civic identity while offering a durable face for the rigours of its active and public-spirited environment. Warm red brick cladding is woven into a textural corbelling pattern, expressing the old town’s vernacular; exposed wood decking interprets Collingwood’s shipbuilding industry and history as one of Ontario’s first rail towns. As Fisher Field Clubhouse is located at the edge of the municipality and far from other Town facilities, all finishes, furnishings and findings— from coat hooks to benches—as well as electrical and plumbing fixtures were conceived for longevity, ease of cleaning, and ability to withstand vandalism. Strategic clerestory glazing floods the interior with natural light, enhancing the ambiance and privacy of the changing rooms while reducing energy reliance and the likelihood of damage compared to glazing at ground level.