Our Work in the North

Every project tells a story of resilience, adaptation, and respect for the arctic environment. We've spent years figuring out what actually works when you're building where temperatures drop to minus forty and winds can rip shingles off roofs like they're nothing.

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Iqaluit Family Residence
Residential

Iqaluit Family Residence

This one was a challenge - the clients wanted big windows for that endless summer daylight, but we had to make sure the place wouldn't turn into an icebox come winter. Triple-pane glazing with argon fill did the trick, plus we angled the roof to shed snow naturally.

Yellowknife Business Centre
Commercial

Yellowknife Business Centre

They needed 15,000 square feet of office space that wouldn't cost a fortune to heat. We went with a super-insulated envelope and geothermal heat pumps - cutting their energy costs by about 60% compared to similar buildings in the area.

Whitehorse Mountain Retreat
Residential

Whitehorse Mountain Retreat

Built for a couple who wanted their retirement spot off-grid but comfortable. Solar panels handle summer power, wood backup for winter, and the building envelope is tight enough that a couple of space heaters keep the whole place cozy even at minus thirty.

Inuvik Community Hub
Community

Inuvik Community Hub

Probably one of my favorite projects. The community wanted a gathering space that felt welcoming year-round. We incorporated traditional design elements with modern materials - the curved roofline references traditional structures while handling massive snow loads, and the central gathering space has this amazing skylight that brings in natural light without losing heat.

Dawson City Heritage Restoration
Heritage

Dawson City Heritage Restoration

Gold rush era building that was basically held together by paint and hope. Had to preserve the historical facade while completely redoing the interior systems. Added insulation in every possible cavity without changing the exterior appearance - took forever but worth it.

Hay River Logistics Center
Commercial

Hay River Logistics Center

Industrial spaces up north are tricky - you need them functional but heated warehouses are expensive. We designed a hybrid system with heated work areas and climate-controlled storage zones. The roof's engineered to handle 200 pounds per square foot of snow without breaking a sweat.

Tuktoyaktuk Compact Home
Residential

Tuktoyaktuk Compact Home

Small footprint, big performance. Only 850 square feet but designed to feel way bigger. The modular construction meant we could pre-fab most of it in Yellowknife and truck it up, which saved a ton on site time in brutal conditions.

Cambridge Bay School Retrofit
Consulting

Cambridge Bay School Retrofit

Consulted on upgrading a 1970s school that was hemorrhaging heat. We didn't do the full reno, just helped them prioritize what'd give the biggest bang for their buck. New windows, upgraded HVAC controls, and better insulation in the attic cut their heating bills by 40%.

Fort Smith Passive House
Residential

Fort Smith Passive House

First certified Passive House in the NWT - that was intense. The certification standards are tough enough in mild climates, but up here? Every detail mattered. Heat recovery ventilation, super-insulated walls, airtight construction. The owners basically don't have heating bills anymore.

Rankin Inlet Health Center
Community

Rankin Inlet Health Center

Healthcare facilities have specific needs - constant temperature, excellent ventilation, backup power. We designed redundant systems for everything critical. The mechanical room alone is bigger than some houses, but when you're hundreds of miles from the nearest parts supplier, you plan for every contingency.

Norman Wells Lodge
Commercial

Norman Wells Lodge

Twenty-room lodge for workers and tourists. They wanted something that didn't look like a sterile dormitory but could handle heavy use. We used local timber where possible and designed common areas that actually encourage people to hang out instead of hiding in their rooms all winter.

Fort Simpson Mission Winterization
Heritage

Fort Simpson Mission Winterization

Historic mission building from the 1800s that's still in use. Couldn't touch the exterior or change the character, but had to make it usable year-round. Interior insulation, modern HVAC hidden in original casework, and upgraded foundation to deal with permafrost shifts. Looks the same, works way better.

Baker Lake Housing Assessment
Consulting

Baker Lake Housing Assessment

Brought in to assess a bunch of residential units dealing with ice damming and moisture problems. Turns out the ventilation system was undersized and the attic insulation was installed wrong. Sometimes it's the simple stuff that causes the biggest headaches. Our recommendations fixed about 90% of the issues.

Behchoko Cultural Learning Centre
Community

Behchoko Cultural Learning Centre

This one meant a lot to everyone involved. Worked closely with elders to incorporate traditional knowledge into the design. The building faces east for morning sun, uses natural materials where practical, and the layout encourages community gathering. It's part library, part cultural center, part community living room - and it needs to work in all seasons.

Arviat Multi-Family Housing
Residential

Arviat Multi-Family Housing

Four-unit building designed to be affordable and durable. Shared mechanical systems cut costs, but each unit's completely independent. We used fiber cement siding because it stands up to wind-blown ice better than anything else we've tried. Practical beats pretty up here, though this manages to be both.

Got a project you're thinking about? Let's talk about what'll actually work for your site, your budget, and your climate.

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What We've Learned

After years of working in some of Canada's toughest climates, we've figured out what separates buildings that last from ones that fall apart in five years.

Every project teaches us something. That school in Cambridge Bay showed us how important proper ventilation is when you've got 150 kids in a building that's sealed tight against minus forty temps. The passive house in Fort Smith proved that super-efficient design can work even in extreme cold - you just gotta be willing to sweat the details.

We've seen buildings fail because someone skimped on vapor barriers, or used the wrong fasteners, or didn't account for permafrost movement. Those mistakes are expensive and miserable for the people living there. Our portfolio represents not just successful projects, but years of learning from both our wins and our screw-ups.

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