Host Kilmer Service Centers (HKSC), the partnership that has been selected to be the new developer and operator for Ontario’s 23 travel and service centers along Canada’s Highways 400 and 401, has promised a line-up of modern LEED-Silver certified roadside centers that will change the driving experience in the province. Ontario’s EllisDon, Quadrangle Architects and Bruce Mau Design are among the companies lending their expertise to the HKSC project.
The design of each center will blend with its own unique locality using a contemporary architectural form that is also rooted in a traditional vocabulary of forms and materials. The objective is to create an accessible and safe environment for the traveling public; exhibiting consistent and clearly identifiable image for Highway Service Centres throughout the province.
The three sizes of centers are designed by integrating three distinctive and readily recognizable components. A glass atrium with sloped glass walls covered by a sloped metal roof; traditional indigenous stone walls that anchor the buildings to the ground; and wood trellises and canopies are some of the distinctive elements that give identity to each of the centers.
The glass atrium is intended to provide visual focus for the center from both the exterior and interior. The atrium’s sharp-edged shape invokes the rock outcroppings of the Canadian Shield, which forms much of the topography of northern Ontario. The glass atrium also helps in making the facility airy and bright. The energy-efficient glazing allows ample natural light inside. During night time, the light of the atrium functions as beacon for travelers.
The stone veneer walls, reminiscent of traditional Ontario stone structures, helps in giving the structure a design that reflects the historic roots of the province.
The Ontario service centers are expected to feature international food brands as well, such as Starbucks Coffee, A & W, Burger King, Brioche Dorée, Cold Stone Creamery, and Quiznos. At each new center, a full service fuel station with an adjacent convenience store will be operated by Canadian Tire, an iconic brand and Canada’s largest independent gas retailer, and will feature a full complement of pumps for both motorists and commercial vehicles.
