Upper Canada College - Lindsay Boathouse

Constructed on Toronto’s Outer Harbor, the Lindsay Boathouse provides Upper Canada College’s rowing program with its first purpose-built facility while extending the school’s public-facing mission. Developed in partnership with Ports Toronto, the project supports both the school’s 160-year-old rowing tradition and broader community access to the waterfront and adjacent nature preserve.

The 9,400 sq. ft. facility is organized into three longitudinal volumes, its concave roof forms inspired by the motion of boats, the buoyancy of hulls, and the wave patterns created by oars on water. The elegant hybrid timber–steel structure employs cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and slender steel framing to create naturally lit vaulted interiors, echoing the lightweight technologies of boat construction. Views of Lake Ontario and the Toronto skyline anchor the project in its setting, while flexible program spaces balance school and community needs.

The building accommodates boat storage bays, crew docks, a launch area, locker rooms, and a multipurpose training room that can be transformed for fundraising, exhibitions, or public gatherings. Designed for universal accessibility, the facility supports both the daily operations of the rowing program and the wider community.

Sustainability strategies address the sensitivity of the peninsula site. The facility is naturally daylit and ventilated, operates seasonally without heating or cooling systems, and minimizes energy and water use. Bird-safe glazing, green roofs, and native landscaping further reduce ecological impact while enhancing biodiversity and managing stormwater. Collectively, these measures root the project in its lakefront setting while safeguarding the surrounding ecosystem.