Pauline Moskal
landscape architect

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 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 dimension according to its place in the topography. The relationship between platforms creates zones for smaller group activities or quiet moments, while also 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. Although an initial site survey was conducted, adjusting the design on-site was an important part of the process in order to optimize the relationship between the platforms and the landscape within which they sit.

After construction, native plants from the surrounding forest such as ferns, moss, and huckleberry were replanted to enhance the edge condition of the site. Douglas Fir mulch was used to regrade the site and restore health to the soil.