Bill Fisch Forestry Stewardship & Education Centre

The Bill Fisch Forest Stewardship and Education Centre was built for the residents of the Regional Municipality of York, to educate them about the importance of natural resources and forest ecosystems. The Regional Municipality of York, located on the Oak Ridges Moraine between Toronto and Lake Simcoe, includes the York Regional Forest, which is internationally recognized as a leader in site restoration and forest management. It is the first public forest in Canada to be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The education center is located in the Hollidge Tract, one of 23 tracts that make up the York Regional Forest.

Constructed of wood and accented with stone, the education center reflects the materials of the surrounding forest. The single-story, 4,000-sq.ft. building includes space for corporate meetings and community educational programs. The use of wood in the design was integral to its function as a forest education center. For example, reclaimed ash salvaged from the area was used for the main entry reception desk as an educational feature. It retains the tracks of the emerald ash borer insects that have devastated ash forests in Ontario. The ash was treated to prevent further infestation. Crosslaminated
timber (CLT) panels form the structural elements for the exterior walls and are also their exposed finish. The insulation is located on the exterior of the CLT walls and the cladding is reclaimed Douglas fir.

Structurally, the centre is very unique. Unlike most post and beam structures, the structural beams are located above the CLT roof. The CLT roof panels and the entire structural load of the roof are suspended from the glulam beams by means of selftapping, engineered screws and bolts. This design provides interior clearance and a clean appearance for the ceiling. The glulam columns that support the beams have a shoulder at the top over which the CLT roof panels were placed. The shoulder does not provide structural support for the CLT panels, but provides a gap-free joint between the columns and the roof panels.

The predominant interior finish is the exposed surfaces of the CLT wall and roof panels. The CLT and glulam columns are coated with a zero volatile organic compound (VOC) stain, which is used on all exposed surfaces. Several featured interior wall panels are clad in maple-veneered FSC plywood. These panels are located within the reception area and open office workstations. The open office areas are separated from the circulation corridor by a series of
horizontal maple louvres that are supported on a metal frame. The well-considered use of a variety of wood products enhances both the exterior and interior structure, showcases the simple beauty of warm, natural finishes, and provides environmental benefits throughout the project.