Deerhurst Resort, Lakeside Lodge, Muskoka

The 155,000-sq.ft. Lakeside Lodge is the newest addition on Peninsula Lake, at an iconic Muskoka resort. Commanding scenic views of the water, the building’s architecture reflects traditional design features, showcasing a cottage-inspired interior design theme in its suites. This is the first waterfront hotel to open in Muskoka in over a decade and stands majestically on the site of the original lodge built in 1896 by Charles Waterhouse.

The $60-million, five-story Lakeside Lodge is made up of 150 suites, comprised of one-, two- and three-bedroom models. Early in the design, the development design team chose to incorporate prefabricated factory-built wall panels and a lightframe roof truss system as the method of construction. This was not only a cost-driven decision, but it gave the design team some flexibility with the layout of the building; it also helped because of the project location, and limited accessibility to skilled trades and materials. The structural design used a combination of materials, utilizing dimensional lumber, engineered wood and beam products and panel sheathing. The sheer size, and scale of the project meant the build cycle encompassed two full winters, so optimizing a workable schedule was a key factor in this ambitious project being realized.