The new Dorsay Community & Heritage Centre explores the intersection of memory institutions—museum, library, gallery, and archive—all combined in an integrated, dynamic facility that will serve as a community gathering place. When it opens in 2026, it will become a community hub and gateway to the heritage components and nature trails of the 27-acre Pickering Museum Village.
This public facility is perched on the edge of a ravine, designed to be sensitive to the natural ecology of the site while opening views to adjacent forests and stormwater gardens. The building connects various environmentally controlled programmatic spaces around a fully accessible central spine bathed in natural light. The east and south wings house three galleries, collections storage and vaults, a conservation lab, a quarantine room, a heritage resource centre, and municipal archives. These programs are arranged around a landscaped court that opens and connects to the ravine’s natural ecology. To enhance community engagement, the building features a multipurpose flat floor events and performance hall with retractable seating and staging that can be divided into two distinct areas. Versatile back-of-house support spaces with staging, loading, and a catering kitchen support all programmatic requirements.
The project is also a model of environmental stewardship and is CaGBC Zero Carbon Building Design certified. Sustainably sourced materials, inspired by existing heritage buildings in the village—such as naturally aged, weathered wood and dry-stacked field stone—are applied throughout. User engagement has been critical to the design process, ensuring the project will be an attraction for both the local community and visitors alike.
