Sheila Mellen
scampbel1@ltu.eduGoal-oriented management professional working on my path to licensure through LTU’s 3+ M-ARCH Program. Partner (member) in an architecture firm based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 15+ overall years of experience in the industry, serving in various roles. I enjoy the work I do every day!
TITLE 
Eau Aki Wellness Center
MajorArchitecture [M.Arch]
DescriptionEau – French word for water & Aki – Ojibwe (Anishinaabe) word for earth/land/ground
Originally settled by the Oceti Sakowin and Anishinaabeg people, this area of natural rapids was diverse in natural resources and cultural ecosystems that provided a wide range of resources for human well-being. French fur traders eventually settled this area and gave it the name Sault Ste Marie. Though the territory was highly contested, the Ontario and Michigan cities now self-identify as a single community known collectively as The Soo .
This center is intended to provide nourishment between the land, community, and self by supporting the history and culture of the community, while addressing community objectives and goals. Those overarching goals are health, resiliency, and order.
This City owned site has been included in the Sault Ste Marie 2018-2038 Master Plan for future development of recreational use and perimeter wetland restoration. This design proposal takes into consideration those improvements and attempts to integrate the City’s future vision in the best way possible. The placement and orientation of the proposed structure is a holistic approach including the encouragement of being with nature and outside activity.
With resiliency and sustainability as imperative goals, the design of the building is framed in mass timber & steel, wrapped with a combination of hi-performance glass and prefabricated CLT panels. Organized as a radial grid, the plan has three very distinct “cores”, water, gym and common.