description
The Fircom Amphitheatre (nicknamed ‘the sanctuary’) is a design-build project born out of the camp’s desire to bring life back to an overgrown forest clearing that was the historical site of Camp Fircom’s chapel – a place for celebration and reflection.
Taking advantage of the existing slope, the Amphitheatre is a series of rolling wooden platforms that provide both formal and playful seating toward a stage that is set at the bottom of the site. Each platform is unique in its sectional dimensions according to its place in the topography. The relationship between platforms creates zones for smaller group activities or quiet moments while altogether being able to accommodate up to 110 people for a performance or ceremony.
The platforms were designed with custom dimensioned slats, cut from LSL (laminated strand lumber) material donated by StructureCraft, uniformly spaced and fastened to a pressure-treated wood sub-structure. The platforms cantilever beyond the post and beam support structure, giving the impression that they are floating above the forest floor.
photos
drawings
designed & built
Camille Bianchi | Azin Etesami | Pera Hardy | Pauline Moskal | Christine Rohrbacher | Brittany Shalagan
teaching assistants
Lys Hermanski | Ryder Thalheimer