Fort Rodd Hill National Historic site is a 19th century coastal artillery fort in Colwood, BC located on the west side of Esquimalt harbour. Visitors are also drawn to the historic Fisgard Lighthouse and sweeping Garry Oak meadows set against the spectacular backdrop of the Salish Sea. Ratio worked together with Pubic Services and Procurement Canada and Parks Canada to develop a cohesive, strategic and long range vision for the site. The vision was informed by stories and collected experiences that were identified during the initial phase of the project.

Ratio worked with stakeholders to develop a scheme that would reinvigorate the entrance plaza and connect visitors seamlessly to diverse site amenities. Specifically, our design included a new Visitors Centre with a café, ticket kiosk and flexible multi-purpose space for events, renovated washroom facilities, reconfigured parking lots, security features and a way finding system.  

Ratio conducted an in-depth review around the appropriateness of the planned interventions, noting scale and materiality, and sought to introduce elements that reflect to character of the place while utilizing a minimal pallet of materials that reference those found on site; namely steel, concrete, gravel, wood and brick. Planned landscape elements such as boulders were introduced to bridge the connection between the new landscaped areas, at the entrance to the historic gazette, and the character defining stone boulders found throughout the site.

The introduction of CorTen steel as a principal design material was taken to both reflect the use of steel on site, especially as a threshold material and for its appropriateness within a wooded setting.