Autumn Hendrickson
ahendrick@ltu.edu Autumnshingle@gmail.com LinkedInI am Autumn Hendrickson, and I grew up in Unadilla Township, Michigan. I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture and Sustainability from Ferris State University, and am currently one year into an M.Arch degree at Lawrence Technological University. I’m interested in placemaking, sustainability, and housing equality. It is the goal of my career to make sustainability accessible to all groups of people, regardless of wealth.
TITLE 
The Soo Sports and Recreation Hall
MajorArchitecture [M.Arch]
DescriptionThe Soo Sports and Recreation Hall is a building meant to serve the community of Sault Ste Marie, Michigan and is located near downtown, sandwiched in between two local landmarks. It is designed to balance all 7 needs of HVAC, envelope, and structural systems, requirements of 4 petals of the Living Building Challenge, respect to local context, program requirements, and beauty.
Following the natural slope of the site’s topography, the building is split into two levels. The upper level houses the lobby, a cafe space, building support spaces, and locker and spa rooms that open to an interior courtyard meant for nordic cold plunges. Ramps lead from the main corridor to the lower level. From there, occupants have their choice of activities. A jogging track encircles a fitness area, weight lifting space, 6 multi use and classrooms, and lies adjacent to a 50ft climbing wall as well as 10 single-use restrooms.
Also included in the site is covered parking with access to the existing Soo Locks Boat Tours, a greenhouse, an apple orchard, and a “backyard” space for social gathering. The structure of the building consists of mass timber “trees” and concrete columns that support butterfly roofs meant to mimic the fractured ice sheets that line the shores of Lake Superior. The exterior, using concrete columns and cladding panels made of recycled plastic, also gives a cold appearance to mimic the ice sheets. However, from the exterior one can also see the wooden girders and beams that make up the roof structure, hinting at the warmth of the interior.