Simcoe Woods Community Centre & Horseshoe Heights Public School

Set within the rolling landscape of Horseshoe Valley, the Simcoe Woods Community Centre and Horseshoe Heights Public School stand as a shared investment in the Township’s future—one that unites education, recreation, and civic life under a single, forward-thinking vision. Designed as a central hub for the growing Sugar Bush and Horseshoe Valley neighbourhoods, the facility creates a gathering place that serves every generation, from the youngest learners to lifelong residents.

The partnership between the Township of Oro-Medonte and the Simcoe County District School Board was born from a shared commitment to community value and fiscal responsibility. By co-locating a 570-pupil elementary school with a modern recreation centre, both organizations achieved efficiencies that unlocked broader opportunities: a double gymnasium with an operable wall for large community events, a full-sized auditorium, multipurpose rooms, and shared outdoor amenities that connect to walking paths through the surrounding woodlands. The site was planned with safety and accessibility in mind, featuring roundabouts, drop-off loops, and pedestrian routes that balance traffic from both school and community use.

The design reflects adaptability and long-term stewardship. Classrooms and learning spaces are organized around daylight, views, and flexibility, while durable finishes and energy-conscious systems reduce operational costs. On the municipal side, the community centre provides changerooms, administration offices, and flexible programming areas that can transition from fitness classes to town meetings.

Delivered through a collaborative and transparent process led by Salter Pilon Architecture, the project weathered pandemic-era cost challenges through strategic scope management and grant support. Now fully realized, the shared campus stands as a lasting investment and welcoming hub in Town’s evolving landscape and growing community. It is quickly becoming a gathering place for all ages, where students, residents, and families come together in a setting that blends learning, play, and community pride across generations.

The project sets a new benchmark for community-school partnerships in Simcoe County, providing a model of how shared investment can deliver exceptional facilities that serve residents, educators, and families alike, while supporting a vision for sustainable growth and a strong sense of local connection.