Nunavut Arctic College Nunatta Campus Expansion Building, Canadian architecture design
Nunavut Arctic College Expansion
NU Higher Education Architecture Development in Canada design by Teeple Architects
Architect of Record: Teeple architects ; Associate Architect: Cibinel Architecture
Location: Iqaluit, NU, Canada
Nunavut Arctic College Nunatta Campus Expansion
Photos by Julie Jira
3 + 1 Aug 2019
Nunavut Arctic College Nunatta Campus Expansion
General and Technical Report:
The Nunavut Arctic College Nunatta Campus Expansion is a major expansion of a vital academic and cultural institution in Iqaluit, the capital of the Canadian territory of Nunavut.
Nunavut Arctic College provides a wide variety of programs at the highest national standard with a core mission to support lifelong learning and protect and promote Inuit language and culture. The Nunatta Campus is a vital cultural hub and social centre for both the local Iqaluit community and the many students who have traveled far from their homes in remote communities throughout Nunavut to attend.
Conceptual Design & Spatial Organization
The internal organization of the building maximizes transparency and spatial interconnectivity to foster student engagement, breaking down potential social barriers. In this way, the project has sought to reflect northern values and self-consciously include elements that promote Inuit identity. In an animated and inclusive way, it links together all of the public functions of the new Nunavut Arctic College – Nunatta Campus.
The first space one enters is a circular social space—the heart of the building. The circular geometry is intended to reflect the Inuit value of collaboration. It is a place where the Arctic College community will gather to learn, to eat, and to celebrate.
Consideration was given to the traditional use of space for gathering and interaction. The Inuit Studies and Fur Design & Production facilities are centrally located and highly visible to visitors, animating the public space with the activity of learning and creation.
The design of the building is also rooted in the powerful Baffin Island landscape. The building emerges from the dark bedrock of the hill behind as an ambiguous natural form, in part shaped by the wind to minimize drifting and to provide substantial protection from the elements at the entrance. An angled wall on the south façade parallels the existing Inuksuk on site—respecting its place.
Technical Design
The design sets forth a strong emphasis on innovative form combined with a warm interior spatial presence. A balance is achieved between the competing desires of insulating the building as much as possible against the Arctic cold while simultaneously bringing in natural light and taking advantage of the beautiful views to the harbour and the landscape beyond. Glazed fibreglass curtain wall slivers are placed strategically on the exterior façade to further maximize the distribution of natural light to the perimeter program spaces.
A combination of Solera insulated glazing and clear triple glazed panels is used on the south façade and clerestory windows to direct equal amounts of light in all directions, creating a diffused and full spectrum of light. A strategic cut through the roof generates a clerestory that scoops southern light deep into the heart of the building. Internally located classrooms have glass wall openings that allow this light to permeate to the interior of the building.
The cold dry climate permits the use of a standing seam metal roof with no gutters as well as a stained Western Red-Cedar vertically applied cladding which encloses the compact design. The exterior envelope insulation values range up to as high as R57 (RSI 10.0) and through the use of Cascadia fiberglass thermal spacers, the transfer of the harsh cold climate to the inside via thermal bridging is mitigated when fastening the exterior cladding elements to the remainder of the wall assembly.
The exposed glulam wood structure creates warmth to the spaces that are located on the second level and the double-height central space. Wood wall panels and a mountainous feature guardrail contribute to the idea of bringing elements of the natural environment to not only the exterior but to the interior of the project.
Logistical Considerations
Construction sequencing was an important consideration in the design of the project. As Iqaluit, Nunavut is in a remote community located on an island in the Arctic, all construction materials are either shipped or flown in. Because the community is ice-bound for most of the year, the shipping season is limited to 3 times a year in the months between June and October.
Materials are stored outdoors or in heated warehouses in order to allow for construction to continue throughout the year. The design of the building intentionally accommodated constraints due to cold weather, labor trade sequencing and material thermal limits.
Through digital BIM modeling of the architectural and structural design, the speed of completing the fabrication of the structural materials was expedited to accommodate the shipping schedule. Steel and Glulam models were built by the fabricators and coordinated with the architectural and structural design teams.
Issues were resolved through Requests for Information rather than complete shop drawing reviews. The fabrication of structural members could then be advanced, packaged and shipped in time to make the barge in Montreal and shipped to Iqaluit for installation.
Nunavut Arctic College Expansion – Building Information
NAME OF BUILDING: Nunavut Arctic College Expansion – Nunatta Campus
ADDRESS: Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
CLIENT/OWNER: Government of Nunavut & Nunavut Arctic College
FACILITY TYPE: Academic
COMPLETION DATE: 2018
SIZE: 3000 m2
VALUE: $27 Million
ARCHITECT: Teeple Architects Inc.
ASSOCIATE ARCHITECT: Cibinel Architect
PROJECT TEAM:
Teeple Architects
Stephen Teeple, Martin Baron, Julie Jira, Jason Nelson, Cameron Parkin, Miguel Sanchez Enkerlin, Allen Shariat, Petra Bogias, Guido Charito, Marine de Carbonnieres, Patrick Harvey, Melanie Lo, Fadi Salib, Nicole Vigneux, Robert Cheung, James Janzer, Mahsa Majidian, Tomer Diamant
Cibinel Architecture
George Cibinel, Michael Robertson, Mallory Briggs, Anne Cholakis, Steff Beernaerts
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Kudlik Construction Ltd.
SUBCONTRACTORS:
Mechanical: Narwhal Plumbing & Heating Ltd.
Electrical: Arctic Electrical Ltd.
CONSULTANTS:
Structural Engineers: Crosier Kilgour & Partners Ltd.
Mechanical Engineers: WSP
Electrical Engineers: WSP
Civil Engineers: WSP
Sustainability: WSP
Geotechnical: Journeaux Assoc.
Wayfinding: Entro Communications
Landscape Architecture: PFS Studio
PHOTOGRAPHER: Julie Jira jjira@teeplearch.com
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS: marketing@teeplearch.com
Nunavut Arctic College Expansion from Julie Jira on Vimeo.
BRANDS + PRODUCTS:
1- Nordic Structures- Glulam Structure
2- Imetco- Standing Seam Metal Roof
3- GlasCurtain Inc – Fibreglass Curtain Wall
4- Solera Real Daylighting Solutions – Translucent Glazing
5- Cascadia Windows & Doors – Fiberglass Thermal
Furniture Supplier – KISIK Commercial Furniture
Photographs: Julie Jira
Arctic College in Nunavut information / images received 010819 from Teeple Architects
Location: Nunavut, Canada
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Nunavik Cultural Centre, Kuujjuaraapik, Nunavik, Québec, Canada
Design: Blouin Orzes architectes
photos : Heiko Wittenborn and Blouin Orzes architectes
Nunavik Cultural Centre Building
Comments / photos for the Arctic College in Nunavut Canada Architecture page welcome
Website: Nunavut Arctic College